EHaz North American Mobility Graduate Exchanges

Emphasis Area: Volcano/Atmosphere Interactions

Principal Investigator(s): W. Rose

Sponsor: NSF Office of International Science and Engineering

Funding Level: $200,000

Period: 8/04 to 8/08

Abstract:

This program is a consortium of six research-based universities in the US, Canada, and Mexico (Michigan Tech, Buffalo, McGill, Simon Fraser, UNAM and Colima). The program is funded by the Department of Education in the US and equivalent organizations in Canada and Mexico as part of the NAFTA agreement. The focus area for the mobility program is mitigation of natural geological hazards in North America. The consortium universities exchange students and faculty in several engineering and science disciplines (e.g. environmental engineering, civil engineering, geological engineering, social sciences and geology) involved in the study of natural geological hazards.

Students in the social sciences also have the opportunity to be exchanged, recognizing that the solution of natural hazards problems involves critical social, political, and economic aspects. Students are mobilized among the participating universities through one- to two-semester visits and up to 60 more students will be mobilized via short-term, intensive courses. Student activities consist of three stages: intensive language training, natural hazards coursework, and professional or research internships with local industries, agencies, or the host university. In each of the next three years there will be a joint advanced volcanology class run via videoconferencing and a three week field trip to areas of volcanological interest in Canada, US and Mexico.

For contacts go to EHaz http://www.geo.mtu.edu/EHaz/index.htm