CATHALAC

Three students from The University LAVAL in Canada presented results of their guided research as part of the internship program in Sustainable Development in Panama
Panama City, June 29, 2009. The Water Center for the Humid Tropics of Latin America and the Caribbean (CATHALAC) welcomed the results obtained by three students of The University of LAVAL (Canada) during the "Training Program on Sustainable Development in Panama."
The students, Aurélie Couture-Boissinot, candidate for a degree in Geography, Maxime Déry and Martin Thériault, candidates for a degree in Civil Engineering with emphasis on water from The University of LAVAL, presented the results of their study led "Floods in Panama", obtained through analysis of satellite data, historical records and field trips.

During their presentation, the students indicated as areas of increased susceptibility to flooding, the provinces of Panama, Bocas del Toro, Chiriquí, and some areas of the Azuero Peninsula, stressing that "Despite the impact on these areas to natural disasters, residents still rebuild their homes in the same places, often in areas identified as flood areas, thus increasing the risks to physical and material damage.”

As one of the key objectives of the program that CATHALAC offers is to develop projects of value for the country through the guidance of a professional from the center. With the support of Ayanleh Daher Aden, current intern at CATHALAC and a Masters candidate in Environmental Health in the University of Montreal, and Debby Wang, current intern at CATHALAC from Yale University in United States of America, the students from The University of LAVAL conducted a field research in the province of Chiriqui for the purpose of interview and learn directly from the staff of National Civil Protection System (SINAPROC) and observe the damage caused by the floods in Panama which occurred in November, 2008.

 "Aurélie, Maxime and Martin are pioneers for their university, as they are the first students to participate in this research program conducted in Panama" said Eric Anderson, Research Scientist at CATHALAC. "We are confident that this initiative will be replicated by many other students and universities. CATHALAC is very pleased with the work done by the students of the University of Laval”.

The Internship Program offered by CATHALAC gives participants the opportunity to contribute to the Global Initiative for Latin America and the Caribbean with a more prosperous environment and water resources sustainability. The education proposal consists of an interdisciplinary program that offers students the opportunity of a theoretical and practical experience, as well as learn and refine techniques of great scientific value in environmental management through training, standards and models empirical research, exhibitions and direct experimentation, using tools such as the technology of Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Participants will develop skills and experience, while being culturally immersed in an international environment.

For more information, visit www.cathalac.org or contact:
Jennifer Croston
Official of International Cooperation and Development
CATHALAC
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
 Tel + 507-3173200 ext. 245
Fax +507-3173299

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Established in 1992, CATHALAC is an international organization that aims to promote sustainable development through applied research and development, education and technology transfer in integrated management of watersheds, climate change, environmental analysis and modeling and risk management, providing the means to improve the quality of life in the countries of the humid tropics of Latin America and the Caribbean. Since 2006, CATHALAC serves as the Ibero-American Center for Analysis of Emerging Environmental Issues and Climate Change on the Mesoamerican region and the Caribbean, according to decision of the VI Ibero-American Forum of Environment Ministers.