100K UTEC-UTK CLIMA GRANT (Southern Cone trip)
PROJECT SUMMARY
This collaboration between UTEC-UT-CFEWS is part of the 100K CLIMA initiative that aims to build inclusive climate-action and student Exchange Programs between the United States, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay.100,000 Strong in the Americas Alliance for Climate Action (100K CLIMA) is a signature effort by the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs at the U.S. Department of State (WHA-DOS) and Partners of the Americas (Partners) that works to catalyze climate action and collaboration at higher education institutions in the U.S. and Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), equipping the region’s future workforce with the skills needed to lead in a climate-positive, 21st century green economy. This green economy is expected to be built on region-wide alliances between industry, governments, civil society, and education institutions working in alignment to prepare the workforce needed to simultaneously reduce emissions, inequality, and poverty. This 100K Strong UTEC-UT CFEWS project initiative is supported by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs in collaboration with CAF: Development Bank of Latin America (CAF).
The overall goal of this project is to accelerate workforce development, knowledge sharing and climate action through international collaboration. This goal will be achieved through two phases. In phase 1, each institution will create: i) a pilot faculty-led study abroad courses focused on regional energy ecosystems and policies; (UT travel to Uruguay July, UTEC reciprocal visit schedule Nov.) ii) Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) Exchanges (CFEWS workshop conducted); iii) Student-led International Network (CFEWS) for climate action initiatives. In phase 2, a topical workshop titled, “Net Zero Transition and Equity” will be organized by UTEC in Uruguay. Researchers and key stakeholders will be invited from U.S. and multiple southern cone countries to address these specific objectives: (1) design new educational models to train a future workforce capable of implementing energy and climate-smart nexus solutions, and (2) provide unique international learning opportunities for policy brief development and public engagement related to energy related issues (3) visit Southern Cone regional partners to broaden stakeholder engagement, accelerate inter-regional partnerships and prepare proposals.
About UTEC
The Technological University of Uruguay (UTEC) is a public and free-of-charge university created in 2013 under Law 19043 and offers access to higher education. UTEC is created focusing on the contribution to the growth of the Uruguayan socio-economic and geographical environment. The UTEC has spread to several cities in Uruguay, made up of three Regional Technological Institutes (RTI) strategically distributed to reach more high school graduates who are affected by the lack of access to higher education. The North Regional Technological Institute (RTI-N) is located in Rivera – Rivera department – and offers several career degrees, like Post Graduate in Robotics and Artificial Intelligence (PGRAI), Control and Automation Engineering (CAE), Logistics Engineering (LE) and Information Technologies (IT). Our undergraduate students are trained in 21st-century skills, promoting practical tools and problem resolutions from the first semester of each career, offering entrepreneurship and language courses. Our graduated students develop research in the fields of Robotics and Artificial Intelligence in partnership with some of the best universities in Brazil, such as the Federal University of Rio Grande (FURG), Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) and the University of Rafaela (UNRaf) in Argentina
GRANT ACTIVITIES:
GRANT ACTIVITIES:
This collaboration between UTEC-UT-CFEWS is part of the 100K CLIMA initiative that aims to build inclusive climate-action and student Exchange Programs between the United States, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay.100,000 Strong in the Americas Alliance for Climate Action (100K CLIMA) is a signature effort by the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs at the U.S. Department of State (WHA-DOS) and Partners of the Americas (Partners) that works to catalyze climate action and collaboration at higher education institutions in the U.S. and Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), equipping the region’s future workforce with the skills needed to lead in a climate-positive, 21st century green economy. This green economy is expected to be built on region-wide alliances between industry, governments, civil society, and education institutions working in alignment to prepare the workforce needed to simultaneously reduce emissions, inequality, and poverty. This 100K Strong UTEC-UT CFEWS project initiative is supported by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs in collaboration with CAF: Development Bank of Latin America (CAF).
Trip to Uruguay (July 2024)
UDE media: Taller sobre Agricultura Sostenible Adaptada al Clima (ude.edu.uy)
A group of three faculty, one staff and four master’s and doctoral CFEWS-100k CLIMA sponsored students from agricultural and engineering backgrounds presented their research to students and agricultural stakeholders in Uruguay. A hybrid Senior Design CFEWS workshop was organized on July 30, 2024 in Montevideo, Uruguay. Co-organizers included the U.S. Embassy in Uruguay, Business University of Uruguay (UDE), Technical University of Uruguay (UTEC). Presentations covered themes related to computational science applications on farm sustainability, circular bioeconomy, livestock-crop integration and carbon sequestration. Other site visits included the URUFOR plant https://urufor.com.uy/ to demonstrate the circular forestry management and photovoltaic agriculture projects with UTEC Durazno. Lastly the trip finalized in UTEC Rivera campus where we visit robotics/sensors lab, electric bicycle lab, sustainability initiatives on campus. Workshop Agenda: https://fewsus.utk.edu/2024-cfwes-international-student-stakeholder-workshop-2/
International Virtual Student Workshop: The first CFEWS -100K CLIMA international student workshop: “The 2024 International CFEWS-100K CLIMA International Student Workshop of Future Farming for the Net-Zero Emission Goal” was virtually organized on May 8-9, 2024. A total of 12 undergraduate and graduate students presented from 4 countries (Argentina, China, U.S. and Uruguay) with more than 20 student participants from these countries. The event highlighted faculty-mentored student research related to climate-smart-environment nexus. Workshop Agenda: https://fewsus.utk.edu/2024-cfews-student-international-workshop/
U.T – Uruguayan row crop farmers exchange: In July 2024, in person meetings were conducted with the Uruguayan Agricultural Association of Dolores, Pres. Enrique C. Oyharzabal U.S. Embassy FAS Representative, Ing. Agr. Ricardo Romero to discuss research exchanges and the organization of CFEWS thematic workshop on soil resilience. Following virtual meeting were organized with Drs. Forbes Walker and Aaron Smith the Agricultural Association of Dolores farmers to discuss risk management and crop insurance.