NMT Hosts Latin American University Delegation

April 20, 2018


Tech launches effort to develop new international research partnerships 

 

SOCORRO, N.M. – New Mexico Tech took the first step toward forming research partnerships with universities from seven Central and South American countries this week.

Tech hosted university and government representatives from the guest institutions Friday, April 20. Administrators and professors gave presentations about the university, research collaboration opportunities, and academic programs.

Representatives of NMT and Latin American universitites pose outside of Brown Hall“We’re trying to work more with Latin America,” V.P. of Research Dr. Van Romero said. “Some of the problems they have to deal with are similar to problems we work on in NM. We have common areas of interest like water issues, mining and other areas. We haven’t done much in the past and we’d like to work with our partners to the south.”

(Pictured are representatives of New Mexico Tech and the Latin American universities interested in forming partnerships.)

Funded by the U.S. State Department, the program is “International Leadership Program: Expanding Hemispheric Exchange in Higher Education.” The program is also supported by Global Ties Albuquerque.

Dr. Juan de Dios Pineda, Tech’s Director of Latin American Research Initiatives and Special Assistant to the V.P. of Research and Economic Development, hosted Friday’s meeting, which concluded with a campus tour. He said each visiting university has specific areas of focus that will mesh well with NMT.  

“We are dedicated to forming agreements with higher education institutions in Latin America,” Juan de Dios Pineda said. “The idea is to share our great academic programs we offer with everyone in the world. We’d like to say that we are a prestigious university with high-class programs and research opportunities. These universities have portfolios and resources to do business with us in technological areas.”

Romero and de Dios Pineda are traveling to Puebla, Mexico, in early May to formalize a research agreement, with the goal of signing an official Memorandum of Understanding. Romero and de Dios Pineda said Puebla has a strong astrophysics program, which will matches well with Tech’s strength in the area.

Several professors talked about their existing work in Latin America or potential collaborations.

Drs. Navid Mojtabai and Bill Chavez, both of the Mineral Engineering Department, talked about their existing work in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Chile. They have worked with mining companies and universities on a variety of geotechnical, and environmental issues.

Dr. Mark Samuels and Dr. Megha Khandelwal presented details about Tech’s Master of Science for Teachers program. They hope to expand the program to offer degrees internationally.

Dr. Mark Person, Chair of the Hydrology Program, talked about Tech’s history in earth sciences and ongoing research projects. He encouraged the visitors to consider collaborations in the important area of water research.

Dr. Rafael Lara Martinez spoke briefly about his work in Central America on indigenous languages and poetry.  A native of El Salvador, Lara Martinez spends several weeks each summer conducting research in Central America.

 “We are trying to build on that foundation that these professors have initiated,” Romero said. “Maybe we can turn these individual efforts into a larger and significant program.”

Tech’s guests represent these countries, universities and agencies:

  • Costa Rica – Universidad Nacional
  • Dominican Republic – Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology
  • Ecuador – Universidad Nacional de Chimborazo
  • Honduras – Universidad Pedagogica Nacional Francisco Morazan
  • Mexico – Autonomous University of Puebla
  • Mexico – Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technologies
  • Paraguay – Nacional Universidad de Asuncion (2)
  • Peru – Universidad Nacional San Agustin de Arequipa

“This meeting is a milestone in the fact that they see that it’s worthwhile to come visit us,” Romero said. “This shows that there’s follow up and there’s interested enough to make the investment to see who we are and learn more about us.”

– NMT –