California committee sponsors exchange (09/01/91)

California committee sponsors exchange

SAN FRANCISCO - Viktor Korenha, a water chemist and hydrologist from Kiev, has joined the Sonoma Research Co. of Napa, Calif., as a visiting scientist for three to nine months. He is also a visiting scholar with the Committee on Environmental Engineering of the University of California at Berkeley.

The Sonoma Research Co. is a research and development laboratory whose areas of activity include the control of pollution related to agriculture, and chemical problems connected with the reliable operation of nuclear power plants.

Mr. Korenha was a member of the Emergency Assessment Team that determined damage to water supplies caused by the Chornobyl accident in 1986. From 1986 to 1991, Mr. Korenha supervised the radiation analysis laboratory of the Ukraine-Dnipro Water Supply Co. in Kiev.

Mr. Korenha is now the director of Eco-Dnipro, a private sector environmental services company in Kiev. He is also deputy chairman of the Rukh Committee in the Zaliznychy ward in Kiev, and organized the Rukh Committee within the Ministry of Water Resources.

Mr. Korenha's visit to California was arranged by Dr. Oleh Weres, president of the Committee to Aid Ukraine of Northern California, and also president of the Sonoma Research Co. Mr. Korenha was selected for the exchange by Rukh in Kiev, with coordination by Dr. Viacheslav Briukhovetsky.

Mr. Korenha's visiting scholar status at Berkeley was arranged by Prof. Alexander J. Horne, chairman of the Committee on Environmental Engineering at UC Berkeley.

Mr. Korenha's purpose for visiting the United States is to learn American methods of preventing water pollution and purifying water to remove radioisotopes, and to develop appropriate professional and business contacts.

He is also visiting other companies, research institutions and government agencies concerned with environmental protection.

The Committee to Aid Ukraine of Northern California considers Mr. Korenha to be a pathfinder for what is hoped will mature into a broader program of professional and scientific exchanges with Ukraine.

Organizations interested in joint efforts in this matter, and companies or agencies able to sponsor a professional intern from Ukraine are urged to contact: Committee to Aid Ukraine of Northern California, c/o Dr. Oleh Weres, P.O. Box 116, Vineburg, CA 95487.