São Paulo – Tunisia’s Hédi Ben Mansour was awarded this Tuesday (7th), in São Paulo, for his work in biotechnology and environment. The researcher is attending the 16th General Assembly of the Francophone University Agency (AUF), which will continue until next Friday (10th) at Memorial da América Latina. Mansour, who is 35 years old, won the Francophone Prize for Young Researchers in the Sciences and Medicine category. The prize is an acknowledgement from the AUF to under-40 researchers in French speaking countries who have earned scientific recognition and international renown.
Mansour is a research professor in Environmental Toxicology at Université La Manouba, in Tunis, the Tunisian capital. “This will motivate me into conducting more research,” the Tunisian told ANBA regarding the award. Upon bestowing the award, the AUF takes into consideration the scientist’s entire career, as well as the focus of research. Mansour developed a biological treatment, using bacteria, for the water utilized by industries such as textile and pharmaceutical. The system allows the water used in industrial processing to be reused in sectors such as irrigation and agriculture in general.
The Tunisian arrived in Brazil on Monday (6th). Because he is involved in activities at the congress, Mansour said he has not had time to gain in-depth knowledge of the city São Paulo. What little he has seen of the metropolis, however, he found to be clean and well-preserved. He praised Brazil’s economic performance, which ranks seventh among the world economies, and said he knows the country is growing. The researcher also complimented Brazil’s initiative in using ethanol, and says he would like to establish cooperation between Brazil and the Maghreb countries (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Mauritania and Libya).
Born in the city of Mahdia, on Tunisia’s East Coast, Mansour has a lengthy academic and professional resume. Environmental toxicology, in which he specializes, studies the impact of exposure to contamination on human health. The Tunisian holds a PhD in the area, and has also specialized in research. “He has published roughly 40 papers, one book, is the owner of five patents, and the editor of a newspaper on biology research.
Mansour is also the coordinator of a master’s program in valuation of sustainable industry products at the Université La Manouba, the director and founder of the Bio Geo Biotechnology and Resource Valuation Laboratory, and the founder and chairman of Tunisia’s Scientific Association for Cosmetics. He also engages in collaborative research between his university and other teaching institutions throughout Europe and the Americas, and provides guidance to stricto sensu postgraduate students.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
