IAI Discusses New Projects

Hello reader!

It follows one communicates published in english on the day (22/06) in the website of the National Institute for Space Research (INPE) noting that the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI)  held the annual meetings of the Executive Council (EC) and the 18th Conference of the Parties (CoP) in Asuncion, Paraguay, on June 14-17.

Duda Falcão

IAI Discusses New Projects

22/06/2011

Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) held the annual meetings of the Executive Council (EC) and the 18th Conference of the Parties (CoP) in Asuncion, Paraguay, on June 14-17. Nineteen countries are IAI members and Brazil is represented by National Institute for Space Research (INPE), a Brazilian Science and Technology Ministry agency.

"The EC is composed of nine representatives from member countries: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Mexico, Paraguay and United States. Each of whom is elected by the Conference of the Parties for a two-year term, and has two mandates. They have basically two tasks: to develop policies recommendations for submission and approval by the CoP and ensuring that adopted policies are implemented by IAI Directorate," said Maria Virginia Alves, INPE's staff head and Brazilian representative.

Besides EC member countries, also participate in CoP Bolivia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Jamaica, Panama, Peru, Dominican Republic, Uruguay and Venezuela.

During the meeting had been presented document storing a profile of Brazilian relationship with IAI (available here), as well as a briefing of the projects involving Brazil and funded by IAI (available here).

"It is important noting that none projects funded by IAI is currently coordinated by INPE's researchers. A large proportion of projects in which Brazilian researchers participating are co-ordinate by other countries," said Maria Virginia Alves. "Soon, bids will be presented to submit projects under III Program of Cooperative Research Network (CRN III). It is important that Brazilian people be aware and participate.

Schedule

During the 31st EC Meeting had been discussed the steps to the 18th CoP. At the beginning of the meeting, representatives from United States, Paraguay, and Brazil were chosen to the CoP Steering Committee, that discussed the 17th CoP's minute and featured presentations from each of the parties regarding the progress made in global change issues, also from some observer organizations present at that moment.

The meeting schedule featured the activities and IAI founding approval to 2010-2011 periods; Directorate and EC activities report; definition of the Parties annual contribution, which was the same of 2009-2010; presentation and approval of IAI Strategic Program and a new methodology to choose its headquarter, besides Activities Report of Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) presentation and four members election – among them, Dr. Jose Marengo, from Earth System Science Center at INPE.

The Headquarter

Brazilian Government ratified IAI Establishing Agreement in 1993, which since 1996 is based at INPE's campus in Sao Jose dos Campos (SP), Brazil. After 15 years in Brazil, IAI Directorate issued a statement to member countries on January 27, 2011, reporting their difficulties operating in Brazil and inviting all members, including Brazil, to submit proposals to host IAI Directorate.

The proposals must be sent until November 15 and include all items provided by an agreement to host an international institution, as agreed at 32nd EC meeting. All member countries will receive detailed report about this subject to be defined at extraordinary meeting in U.S. on February, 2012.

Source: WebSite of the National Institute for Space Research (INPE)