Progress Reports Archives | Pass NetZero

October 2026 Progress Report

lucy zhao — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 13:53:22 +0000

Continued research momentum, International Collaboration, and Strategic Milestones

Since the last reporting period, Pass NetZero has made substantial progress in transitioning from field experimentation to laboratory analysis and results generation. Between June and October 2026, all five master’s students advanced their research, with several completing experiments and moving into data analysis and thesis writing. The programme’s two university research meetings, held in August at NUST and October at LUANAR, provided opportunities to review findings, address technical challenges, and strengthen research quality.

Major Research Updates

Steven Chirwa (LUANAR): Completed his Kauma wastewater treatment experiment and full statistical analysis. The combined Typha and Phragmites treatment achieved the strongest results across all measured parameters and stored approximately 19 times more carbon than the unplanted control. Steven also attended a DAAD GeoTraining summer school in Germany, opening opportunities for GIS and satellite remote sensing collaboration.
Veruschka Dumeni (NUST): Completed her Goreangab Dam microcosm trial and TN/TP nutrient analysis. Heavy-metal analysis is nearing completion, with further work underway to distinguish plant-driven nutrient removal from the effects of an early algal bloom.
Fenni Amadhila (NUST): Completed CHNS carbon analysis of Ulva samples and mortar testing using freshwater plant species. Preliminary results show better strength retention with freshwater biomass, with data analysis and thesis writing now underway.
Ellen Kachulu (LUANAR): Successfully established a local Spirulina culture, formulated fish feeds containing different Spirulina concentrations, and completed five fish-sampling events. Final sampling and data analysis remain pending.
Hilia Hatutale (NUST): Launched her wastewater phytoremediation experiment and improved the setup following seedling mortality and pump problems. Biomass is prepared for heavy-metal analysis, although laboratory access restrictions and instrument backlogs continue to delay final sampling and results.

Major Organizational Updates

Research Standards and Collaboration: A common reporting standard now requires all students to include statistical variation and measurement uncertainty. Cross-project collaboration has expanded through freshwater biomass testing for sustainable cement applications.
International Partnerships: Steven’s German training has established a pathway for GIS research along the Lilongwe River. Volunteer GIS specialist Meghan Hale has completed Namibia site maps, with Malawi mapping planned next.
Funding and Strategic Partnerships: The UNDP GEF Small Grants Programme proposal for Malawi, developed with YOBO, is ready pending the opening of the funding call. The Windhoek River Walk initiative has advanced to the second stage of the UN-Habitat / IsDB / Earthna process.
Communications and Outreach: The first version of the Pass NetZero documentary has been produced to support engagement with funders and partners. The programme is also preparing to participate in the IEC Stuttgart conference and COP31 in Antalya.
Programme Coordination: Lessons from laboratory delays, seasonal challenges, and differing university calendars will inform improved research planning and better-synchronised progress meetings for December 2026.

We commend all five students for their continued research progress and thank our supervisors, international experts, volunteers, and partners for their contributions to Pass NetZero’s mission of advancing wetland restoration, carbon sequestration, and sustainable environmental solutions.

Read our full 6-week progress report here

The post October 2026 Progress Report appeared first on Pass NetZero.

May 2026 Progress Report

lucy zhao — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 14:50:09 +0000

Progression into active experimentation, expert panels, and strategic milestones

Since the last reporting period, Pass NetZero has successfully transitioned from the planning phase to active data and evidence generation. The General Assembly (GA) held on 13 May 2026 marked a key milestone, with all five master’s students presenting their research progress to an international panel of supervisors and invited experts.

With all five research projects now in active Phase 2 experimentation, student cohorts in Namibia (NUST) and Malawi (LUANAR) are generating substantial datasets and achieving critical fieldwork objectives. This progress is supported by expanded international collaborations, updated evaluation frameworks, and advancements in our communications pipeline.

Major Research Updates:

Fenni Amadhila (NUST): Objectives 2, 3, and 4 are substantially complete. Full CHNS characterisation data has been obtained, and mortar testing across three methods and three locations has been finalized.
Veruschka Dumeni (NUST): Completed 4 out of 6 sampling events at the Goreangab Dam. Quantitative data has confirmed the baseline hypereutrophic status, with clear visual and parametric improvement trends emerging.
Hilia Hatutale (NUST): Successful installation of the Dutch bucket system and procurement of both Cyperus species, with plant acclimatization having commenced on 14 May 2026.
Steven Chirwa (LUANAR): The experiment at the Kauma Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) is fully operational, with bi-weekly data collection ongoing.
Ellen Kachulu (LUANAR): Tanks have been set, fingerlings secured, and primary chemical sourcing completed, positioning the project at the threshold of immediate implementation.

Major Organizational Updates:

International Expert Panel: The GA integrated feedback from external experts representing institutions in Chile (RAMSAR STRP), Botswana, Brazil, and Togo. Notably, Dr. Thaisa Michelan (Brazil) has proposed a dedicated 30-minute presentation for the student cohort.
Documentary Production: Filmmaker Takondwa Senzani presented a 3-minute preview of the upcoming 15-minute Pass NetZero documentary. The initial Malawi footage focuses on community and educational engagement regarding wetland environments; filming will next transition to Namibia.
Evaluation Framework Implementation: The GA marked the first deployment of the 100-point student evaluation framework, utilizing AI performance evaluations to assess reporting consistency and research quality to inform merit-based budget extensions.
Funding & Collaborations: Concept papers are currently in preparation for UNDP SGP OP8 applications in both Namibia and Malawi. Additionally, the core team is exploring corporate ESG outreach and a new research collaboration approach with the AEST organization in Togo.

We commend the student cohort for their rigorous data presentations at the General Assembly and extend our thanks to the international panel of advisors for their continued technical guidance!

Read our full 6-week progress report here

The post May 2026 Progress Report appeared first on Pass NetZero.

March 2026 Progress Report

lucy zhao — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 11:33:53 +0000

Exciting transitions into active research and expanded volunteer team

Since the start of 2026, Pass NetZero has undergone an exciting transitional phase with the formal approval of all five research proposals, with the majority entering or preparing to enter active data collection. In conjunction with the onboarding of 11 new volunteers (two of whom are our very own LUANAR students!), Pass NetZero is off to an exciting start of the year!

Major Research Updates:

All 5 research proposals formally approved with Ellen Kachulu’s proposal (LUANAR) as the last to be approved on 10 March 2026
University of Botswana research agreement signed, opening a sixth research site with Dr. Dikabo Mogopodi (PI) focused on the Okavango Delta
Namibian Police Special Reserves Division confirmed as a sampling partner for Goreangab Dam — a significant milestone enabling representative water sampling by boat

Major Organizational Updates:

Successful onboarding of 11 new volunteers working in three administrative taskforces that encompass SEO + website development, fundraising, and social media management
Documentary filming in progress with Takondwa Senzani, beginning in Malawi and ongoing into April 2026

As such, we’d like to extend a huge congratulations to all our students for receiving formal approvals as well as a warm welcome to all our new volunteers! We’re looking forward to ramping up our active research and fundraising efforts with the help of our expanded team and partnerships.

Read our full 6-week progress report here

The post March 2026 Progress Report appeared first on Pass NetZero.

July-August 2025 Progress Report

lucy zhao — Tue, 30 Sep 2025 15:13:19 +0000

Building New Networks and Expanding our Team

The past two months have been incredibly exciting as we continue our outreach and expansion efforts. Notably, Pass NetZero brought four of our masters students to COP15 in Zimbabwe, where we made critical connections with organizations and climate change leaders around the world. This experience has opened up new partnerships and gave our students the opportunity to represent Pass NetZero on the global stage!

Major Research Updates:

Botswana partnership received approval from the Office of Research and Development, marking a critical step as we solidify our partnership! Now, we are awaiting final contract formalization
New partnerships in Zimbabwe and Zambia are being discussed, which include three total universities across the two countries
NUST research team in Phase II with three students actively conducting experiments and material procurement underway
LUANAR research team wrapping up Phase I with proposal defenses scheduled for September 2025

Unfortunately, we are also sad to announce that our Angola expansion was suspended due to high transportation costs to research sites.

Major Organizational Updates:

Capacity building initiative launched with our new internship and volunteering program receiving over 20 applications! Recruitment is currently underway with the onboarding of new fundraising interns expected in October 2025
Budget allocations remain as projected with strategic reserves maintained. As we pivot away from Angola, resources are being reallocated to more accessible regional partnerships

These past couple of months have brought in new partnerships and new opportunities for Pass NetZero, with encouraging research updates from our students and upcoming new team members to welcome!

Read our full 6-week progress report here

The post July-August 2025 Progress Report appeared first on Pass NetZero.

May-June 2025 Progress Report

lucy zhao — Sun, 29 Jun 2025 13:35:16 +0000

Strategic Expansion and Communications Enhancement

As we reach the end of our second quarter of 2025, Pass NetZero is excited to share significant progress in our mission with multiple strategic developments and communication enhancements underway.

Major Research Updates:

Angola integration is advancing with a research agreement under discussion, potentially adding another key Southern African partner
Botswana operations face administrative delays but alternative funding mechanisms through the Botswana Academy of Science are being explored to prevent further postponement
Both LUANAR and NUST teams are on track to transition from proposal development to active experimental work

Unfortunately, we are also sad to announce the deregistration of NUST student Clifford Hansen due to personal commitments.

Major Organizational Updates:

Expansion of multimedia content via our new partnership with TAKTICAL media, pending detailed utilization plan approval
IP agreements finalized establishing 50/50 revenue sharing (PNZ/partner universities) with Creative Commons licensing for research outputs and joint ownership of commercially valuable applications
Budget proposals under consideration for TAKTICAL Media (€2,500) and Ramsar Convention COP15 participation (€2,500)

This past quarter has brought in new partnerships and new opportunities for Pass NetZero, with encouraging team updates from our students and innovative ideas to expand our outreach!

Read our full 6-week progress report here

The post May-June 2025 Progress Report appeared first on Pass NetZero.

March-April 2025 Progress Report

claudem — Mon, 03 Apr 2023 11:18:37 +0000

Expanding Our Research Network: Progress Across Southern Africa

As we reach the end of our first quarter of 2025, Pass NetZero is excited to share significant progress in our mission to develop cost-efficient carbon capture solutions using aquatic plants across Southern Africa.

Our research network continues to grow and strengthen. At the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST), our four master’s students are nearing completion of Phase 1, having successfully developed experimental methodologies and begun collecting samples of promising species like Ulva rigida. Their work is laying the foundation for understanding how aquatic plants can effectively capture carbon while producing valuable materials like bio-bricks and bioplastics.

In Malawi, our partnership with Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR) has officially launched, with funding disbursed and initial research activities underway. Despite some communication challenges due to infrastructure limitations, the team is making steady progress on literature reviews and site identification.

A Major Milestone: Fourth Research Team

We’re particularly excited to announce the development of our fourth research initiative—a groundbreaking multi-country collaboration focusing on the Kavango River ecosystem. This ambitious project will span Namibia, Botswana, and Angola, representing our most comprehensive regional approach to date.

This expansion is more than just geographic growth. We’re planning to offer six additional scholarships through this initiative, potentially doubling our student researcher numbers by year’s end. This represents a significant scaling of our research capacity and demonstrates our commitment to building comprehensive knowledge across diverse aquatic ecosystems.

Our communications team has been instrumental in this growth, developing standardized reporting systems, enhancing our digital presence, and establishing the frameworks necessary to coordinate research across multiple countries and institutions.

As we move forward, these expanded partnerships position Pass NetZero to deliver more robust, regionally-relevant solutions for carbon capture and environmental restoration across Southern Africa.

Read our full 6-week progress report below.

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