Panama City, Panama. June 8, 2010 --- Sixteen students arrived to Panama on June 6, 2010, to begin the first Study Abroad Program on Climate Change and Sustainable Development in Latin America and the Caribbean conducted by CATHALAC (the Water Center for the Humid Tropics of Latin America and the Caribbean) in partnership with UAHuntsville (the University of Alabama in Huntsville).
The Study Abroad participants, now in Panama for the 8-week long summer program arrived with great excitement and are eager to learn not only about climate change and sustainable development from the Latin American perspective, but also about the Panamanian culture, customs, traditions, and especially the language.
We are delighted to have such an enthusiastic group of people that shares CATHALAC’s interests in learning about climate change and sustainable development from this region’s perspective. It is exciting to have students here that are willing to leave their own country, families and friends, in order to learn about a different culture, language, people and customs” says Zvia Leibler Danon, Study Abroad Program Coordinator.
Through professional training, hands-on learning, and cultural immersion, students will embark on experiencing how global climate change influences sustainable development in Latin America and the Caribbean. Students will have the opportunity to explore firsthand the diverse direct and indirect effects of a changing climate on natural and human systems. The course is comprised of professors from UAH’s Department of Atmospheric Sciences and CATHALAC’s senior scientists.
Students will also carry out a four week internship research project that addresses challenging questions relevant to contemporary regional and national climate change problems. Potential Research Topics include: the effects of climate and land cover change on water quality and supply; Impacts of sea level rise on coastal communities; Sustainable energy alternatives for indigenous communities; Historical analysis and future trends of agricultural production; and Climate change’s impacts on species or ecosystem distributions. CATHALAC’s research scientists will guide and mentor students in their learning process. Students will draw inspiration about these potential research topics during the first four weeks of the Study Abroad program from lecturers and weekend field visits.
Dave Cook, from the UAHuntsville Office of International Programs and Services, accompanied the participants to Panama for the first week of the program to assist in the successful launch of the program and to help the participants make the initial adjustment to their time in Panama. “Working with CATHALAC to bring this program to fruition has been a rewarding experience for me, and I can see it will be a life-changing one for the participants. In just the first few days of classes, they have had the opportunity to hear from Latin American experts from Mexico, Nicaragua and Panama on the science of climate change, climate change and policy issues, and sustainable development in Latin American countries. The upcoming weeks of instruction and the internship opportunity make this a truly unique program, and UAHunstville is very proud to be a part of it.”
The Study Abroad participants are: Tiffany Keeton, Amanda Bosserman, Casey Calamaio, Kirstin Cooksey, Nicole Dsouza, Claire Herdy, Zachary Langford, Corey Manberg, David McConnell, Joshua Myrick, Emma Norton, Melanie Phillips, Nancy Pospelov, Jason Pounders, Joshua Smith and Joseph Wayman. The group represents both graduate and undergraduate students from various majors.
Further information is available on: www.cathalac.org/study_abroad
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About UAH
Founded in 1950, UAH is an autonomous campus of The University of Alabama System dedicated to excellence in teaching, research, and service. UAH is a key participant in one of the nation's major international centers for advanced technological research and utilizes its position in this environment to provide unique opportunities and creative programs for students, faculty, and the community. UAH is committed to maintaining a diverse academic community of the highest quality, and to providing an environment that facilitates intellectual, cultural, personal, and professional growth. UAH fosters leadership, creative and critical thinking, clear communication, a respect for knowledge and the pursuit of truth, and an engagement in the challenge and pleasure of a lifetime of learning.
About CATHALAC
Established in 1992, CATHALAC is an autonomous international organization dedicated to promote sustainable development through applied research and development, education, and technology transfer in the areas of integrated watershed management, climate change, environmental modeling and analysis, and risk management in Latin America and the Caribbean.
CATHALAC’s Study Abroad Program is part of the Center’s Education Programs. The objective of these programs is to form a community of professionals with multidisciplinary backgrounds who are capable of responding to both the challenges and opportunities related to Integrated Watershed Management, Climate Change, Environmental Modeling and Analysis, and Risk Management. The skills and knowledge gained in CATHALAC’s Education Programs prepares participants for competitive professional leadership positions in a variety of public and private institutions. CATHALAC’s education programs translate into success through the energy and enthusiasm that students, along with our staff, bring to their individual and community endeavors.
CATHALAC
Zvia Leibler-Danon
Study Abroad Program Coordinator
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Physical Address: 111 City of Knowledge, Clayton
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 0843-03102
Panama, Republic of Panama
Tel: +507 3173206/3245/3207
Fax: ++ 507-317-3299
www.cathalac.org/study_abroad
