2025 Integrity of Creation Conference

Dr. Douglas Letsholathebe  
Former Minister of Education in Botswana

Douglas Letsholathebe is a Physics senior lecturer at the University of Botswana. Until recently, he has been the Minister of Education in Botswana. He was elected to serve as a member of Parliament for the Tati East constituency and immediately also was appointed as the Minister of Tertiary Education Research, Science, and Technology. In 2022 he was appointed Minister of Education and Skills Development in the Cabinet of Botswana by then Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi. 
 
The resilient, hardworking Minister has been commended by Public Sector Global and warmly selected as the Public Sector Global Minister of the Week (19 February 2024). The Honorable Minister is known for his efforts in the Botswana educational sector, for improving the quality and relevance of education for Batswana citizens, and for having an overwhelming impact across the country. 
 
Dr. Douglas Letsholathebe is a strategic thinker and a brilliant leader, who has been able to put his creative innovations into action. He effectively has raised awareness of the importance of education, having an impact that has helped to grow the sector under his Leadership. His Ministry has been recognized for facilitating scientific discoveries and innovations.
 
Following his outstanding contributions and laudable achievements to the educational sector, he has introduced several reforms aimed at incorporating educational best practices and promoting greater involvement for students and for Batswana society at large. The Minister recently revealed that the senior secondary school curriculum has been transformed from being objective-focused to being outcome/skill-based. The new reforms facilitate syllabus content and instructional delivery methods to change from theoretical to practical, with skills acquisition aligned more to the world of work than ever before. These are among the reasons that he was   celebrated by Public Sector Global.
 
The Public Sector Global’s Minister of the Week recognition is targeted at showcasing the achievements of Ministers across the African continent and at promoting their good works, effective policies, and exceptional leadership in various Ministries across Africa. It also is aimed at inspiring public service officials to be competitive and promote efficient service delivery for African citizens.

Presentation: Moringa oleifera and Sustainable Water Decolorization in Botswana: Providing Quality Water for All
Date and Time: March 24, 2025 at 6 p.m.
Abstract: Access to clean and safe water is a fundamental human right and a critical component of sustainable development. Maun, a tourism town in northwestern Botswana, faced a challenge of discolored water. Water pollution in this tourism area is mostly from dissolved organic compounds from plants, which gives water a brownish color, unlike in most developing regions, where it likely would be caused by industrial dyes. This posed a significant threat to water quality, already in high demand in an arid country like Botswana, which is mostly covered by desert. 

This presentation outlines how we investigated the potential of Moringa oleifera, a readily available plant in Northern Botswana, for sustainable water decolorization. We developed a green synthesis method for producing nanoparticles, using Moringa oleifera leaf extract.. This research demonstrated the effectiveness of these nanoparticles in degrading Titon yellow dye under UV irradiation, offering a promising solution for wastewater treatment and dye removal. We continued with this same approach, but instead of Titon yellow dye, we used the colored water found in Maun and had a great success.

Using green research to help provide clean water aligns with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), by providing a method for water purification (SDG 6), by promoting green nanotechnology (SDG 9), by using a natural resource for sustainable water treatment (SDG 12), and by mitigating the negative impacts of dye pollution on aquatic ecosystems (SDG 14). By using locally sourced Moringa oleifera and harnessing the power of photocatalysis, the results of this study offer a sustainable and cost-effective solution for water decolorization, contributing to the provision of quality water for all, particularly in resource-constrained regions like Northwestern Botswana.

José Altevir da Silva, CSSp
Bishop of Prelazia de Tefé   
Brazilian, born in Amazonas, on 09/30/1962.
He entered the Congregation of the Holy Spirit in 1980.
He studied Philosophy at the Catholic University of Minas Gerais. Novitiate, in Ceilândia - Federal District, Theological Study in São Paulo. He did a missionary internship in Nigeria for three (3) years. He was ordained a priest in 1992, in the city of Cruzeiro do Sul, in Acre - Brazil. Advisor to the National Conference of Religious of Brazil in the area of ​​missiology, in São Paulo. From 2007 to 2012, advisor to the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil in the missionary commission, at the same time he was secretary to the National Missionary Council of the Church in Brazil. IN 2010, he visited Haiti several times, during the earthquake, following the missionary project of the Church of Brazil in that country. In 2012 he was elected Provincial of the Province of Brazil and coordinator of the Union of Circumscriptions of Latin America (UCAL). In September 2017 he was appointed bishop, taking over the Diocese of Cametá in Pará. In 2022 he was transferred to the Prelacy of Tefé, taking over as Diocesan Bishop of this Church, where the Spiritans have been operating for over 100 years continuously.

Presentation: The Amazon at the Epicenter of Climate Change: A Global Alert to Care for Creation
Date and Time: March 25, 2025 at 6 p.m.
Abstract: The talk will address the crucial relationship between global climate change and the Amazon Rainforest. I will start with a general introduction to what climate change is and how it affects our planet, presenting the main concepts and causes of this global phenomenon.

Next, I will direct the attention to the Amazon, exploring its extraordinary biodiversity and its fundamental role in the planet's climate balance. I will present how this immense tropical forest influences the climate not only in South America, but across the globe.
I will address the main challenges faced by the Amazon region, with emphasis on deforestation and its impacts. I will show how climate change is affecting the forest and, at the same time, how the degradation of the Amazon intensifies these climate changes, creating a worrying cycle.

I will end with a hopeful outlook, presenting possible solutions and actions, including Pope Francis' thoughts and recommendations.

The lecture aims not only to inform, but also to raise awareness about the urgency of preserving the Amazon, demonstrating how its environmental issues are interconnected with social issues and linked to the future of all humanity. It will be an opportunity to understand why preserving this forest is a global responsibility and how each of us can contribute to its protection. 

Guidelines for Posters & Presentations

Guidelines for Essay Submissions

Duquesne University Forbes Garage - 1180 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15219

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