This Pan-American Advanced Studies Institutes (PASI) award, jointly supported by the NSF and the Department of Energy (DOE), will take place at the University of Concepcion in southern Chile on the topic of "Balancing Hydropower Development and Biodiversity." Organized by Dr. Klaus Jorde of the University of Idaho, the institute will involve 11 lecturers and over 40 students from North and South America. The purpose of the institute is to explore the boundaries of sustainability of aquatic systems through adaptive management. The long-term goal is to promote collaborative research and education programs in this important area.
The PASI will explore how closely the conservation of biodiversity can co-exist alongside water resource development, with specific emphasis on hydropower projects. Two meetings will be hosted to present the current state of understanding in the Americas and to coordinate current research activities and student exchanges at participating institutions. A scientific framework considering adaptive management will be developed in order to learn from observed ecological consequences of hydropower projects and improve criteria for designing future projects and selecting river systems that should be protected.
