Newswise — The University of Alabama in Huntsville has signed a memorandum of understanding with a Latin American agency to help promote sustainable development in the region.
An agreement was signed by Emilio Sempris, the director of the Water Center for the Humid Tropics of Latin America and the Caribbean, and UAHuntsville President Dave Williams.
"This agreement will allow for cooperative activities and projects that will inspire, leverage, and optimize the research, education and innovation strengths of each group," said Dr. Williams.
The purpose of this agreement is to join efforts regarding water resources and environmental management in order to accomplish common sustainable development goals, according to Sempris and Williams.
"This will allow us to address the risks and vulnerabilities prone to emerge as a consequence of the impact of global changes within the Western Hemisphere, particularly in Latin America and the Caribbean," Sempris added.
Sempris manages the Water Center for the Humid Tropics of Latin America and the Caribbean, known by the acronym — CATHALAC. The center is a regional center of excellence that promotes human sustainable development through applied research and development, education and technology transfer on water resources and the environment, facilitating the means to improve the quality of life in the countries of the humid tropics of Latin America and the Caribbean.
In this context, CATHALAC implements the Regional Visualization and Monitoring System (SERVIR) project. SERVIR, which is Spanish for "to serve," is a regional visualization and monitoring system that integrates earth observations, such as satellite imagery, and forecast models together with data and knowledge that puts previously inaccessible information into the hands of local scientists, government leaders and communities to help address concerns related to natural disasters, disease outbreaks, biodiversity and climate change.
Officials said the objective of this MOU will be achieved through mechanisms of cooperation that includes dialogues, meetings and exchange of information as well as definition and implementation of joint activities, projects and programs.
The SERVIR project is managed by NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in partnership with USAID, the World Bank, universities, and other non-governmental organizations. The University of Alabama in Huntsville has played a key role in the development of the program through laboratories in the National Space Science and Technology Center on the UAHuntsville campus.
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