Water Resource Management and Sustainable Development Challenges in Light of Local Realities in Africa
Interview conducted by Jean-Philippe Ceppi, journalist at RTS
Born in Minga, Democratic Republic of Congo, John Pote earned a degree in Chemical Sciences in 1991 from Kinshasa before continuing his studies at EPFL with a post-graduate degree in rural engineering and a Master’s in environmental biotechnology. His academic journey continued until 2004 in microbial ecology and molecular biology at the University Claude Bernard Lyon 1, and in biosafety at the University of Geneva. Currently a lecturer and researcher in environmental microbiology at the University of Geneva, his courses cover diverse topics, including waste management, contaminated sites, and bioremediation. He has also taught as a visiting professor in the DRC, Morocco, Cuba, Senegal, and India. John Pote leads numerous research teams studying the impact of human activities over recent decades on the contamination of aquatic ecosystems. These ecosystems, through urban wastewater treatment plants, receive toxic metals and persistent organic pollutants, which contribute to the proliferation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
In French.
