Priority 1: Engaging a Broader and More Diverse Community

Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research

Background

This three-year project of scientific and educational collaboration was created within NCAR to foster new interactions between NCAR and the IAI member country researchers and postdoctoral students. The IAI consists of 19 countries “dedicated to pursuing the principles of scientific excellence, international cooperation, and the open exchange of scientific information to increase the understanding of global change phenomena and their socio-economic implications” (from the IAI Mission Statement). The project with NCAR includes targeted postdoctoral appointments as part of the annual Advanced Study Program solicitation, collaboration on scientific colloquia and workshops, and targeted scientific and technical visits from Latin American researchers.

Progress

In FY 2006, the first Joint IAI/ASP Colloquium was convened in Boulder. Entitled Policy Planning and Decision Making Involving Climate Change and Variability, this two-week-long colloquium brought together 21 participants from Latin and South America and the Caribbean for lectures, tours, and training sessions on topics concerning water, agriculture, health, and hazards. Over 20 speakers from academia, research institutions, and public- and private-sector organizations presented talks on both theory and applications of climate science, policy and decision making, and the interfaces among these topics.

Plans

In FY 2007, NCAR will host two postdoctoral fellows from IAI for two-year appointments at NCAR, one fellow from Ecuador and one from Brazil. Also with IAI, NCAR scientists are working on the development of a technical course to be held in South America on geographic information systems (GIS) technology that would be organized by SERE staff and held in an IAI member country. Funding for these activities has been provided by NSF.

For Further Information

SERE Annual Report