This award supports an international workshop on desertification to be held in La Serena, Chile at the University of La Serena in October, 1989. The U.S. organizer is Walter Whitford of New Mexico State University and the Chilean organizer is Julio R. Gutierrez of the University of La Serena. The participants include eight U.S. scientists who represent the areas of plant and animal ecology, microbial and physiological ecology, soil science, system modeling and nutrition. In addition, six Chilean and two Brazilians will attend. Their fields are similar except for some representation of remote sensing, biometeorology, climatology and geomorphology. The workshop will consist of prepared papers and oral presentations resulting in published papers in spanish and english. All workshop participants will benefit by broadening their knowledge and perceptions of ecosystem ecology and arid ecosystems in particular. The Chilean scientists have generally had experience in U.S. deserts; this workshop will afford the U.S. scientists the opportunity to become familiar with southern desert systems. Also, the Chileans will be introduced to new conceptual frameworks and simulation models. In this way and through the initiation of graduate student training, this workshop is a good example of the fulfillment of the goals of the Science in Developing Countries program.
