NM WRRI Hosts Proposal Planning Workshop

By Holly Brause, NM WRRI Research Scientist

NM WRRI hosted the Border Water Solutions: Proposal Planning Workshop on August 1-2, 2019 in Las Cruces with support from New Mexico State University and the West Big Data Innovation Hub, and in collaboration with the Border Solutions Alliance and the Autonomous University of Chihuahua (Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua). Thirty-three participants attended, representing diverse disciplinary backgrounds from institutions in New Mexico, Texas, Arizona and Chihuahua.

The event began with welcome statements from Héctor Rubio Arias of Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua (UACH) and Sam Fernald (NM WRRI), and followed with “flash talks” given by each attendee to introduce the participants to one another. Morning presentations were given on the topics of Binational Institution Collaboration, and Proposal Fundability. During the afternoon session, the participants were divided into small groups to identify unifying water concerns, integrative approaches to study those concerns, and desired outcomes of the collaborative research. Each group later presented their ideas, and a lively open group discussion followed.

On day two of the event, Saeed Languardi (NM WRRI) presented the possibility of working collaboratively on a National Science Foundation AccelNet proposal. Small groups then formed to discuss opportunities, actions, and desired outcomes of an AccelNet grant. The participants then reconvened to share ideas and for further discussion.

This event was a follow up to the June 11, 2019 breakout session, Innovative, Multidisciplinary Water Research to Address the Needs of the US-Mexico Border Corridor, that is part of the NSF sponsored Border Solutions Alliance (BSA). The goal of BSA is to bring together innovative research to address the needs and opportunities specific to border communities in both Mexico and the United States.