Dr. Rosario Sanchez, senior research scientist for the Texas Water Resources Institute, will be a facilitator at one of three sessions at an international transboundary conference in May.
The conference, Advancing Sustainability of US – Mexico Transboundary Drylands: A Binational Workshop, is set for May 2-4 at the Positino Science and Technology Institute in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. May 2 will consist of field observation and a local demonstration. The panel discussions and breakout sessions will be May 3-4.
The workshop will highlight existing sustainability research in the region and identify opportunities to address gaps in research through use-inspired research initiatives. The workshop will help develop a shared understanding of the challenges facing the region, assess the scientific and technical capacity that each nation can bring to bear in addressing these challenges, and identify new opportunities for bi-national research collaboration and coordinated management approaches in the advancement of sustainability science and development, according to the conference website.
This conference is a collaboration between the U.S. National Academy of Sciences and the Mexican Academy of Sciences, Academy of Engineering of Mexico and National Academy of Medicine of Mexico, and is sponsored by the Mexican Academies and the George and Cynthia Mitchell Endowment for Sustainability Sciences at the U.S. National Academy of Sciences.
It will bring together academics, policymakers and practitioners in the region for an interactive discussion to explore the following:
- The key sustainability challenges and vulnerabilities facing stakeholders in the Mexico-US drylands region, which is defined as the border region as well as adjoining drylands with shared ecological characteristics, natural-resource based activities (e.g., mining, irrigated agriculture) and socio-economic characteristics.
- Binational and regional research and sustainability approaches that are already in place to address these challenges.
- Potential binational priorities for research that could advance use-inspired research to promote sustainable development in this region, such as adaptive water management, health ecosystems, strengthening local and regional economics, enhancing community and population resilience, and reducing impacts on vulnerable populations.