Advanced Training Institute 2002
Advanced Training Institute
on Climatic Variability and Food Security
Palisades, New York, USA
8 - 26 July 2002
The Advanced Training Institute on Climatic Variability and Food
Security is designed to equip young developing country professionals with
expertise in agriculture and food security to apply advances in climate prediction
to their home institutions' ongoing efforts to address climate-sensitive aspects
of agricultural production, food insecurity and rural poverty. Nineteen
early- to mid-career agriculture and food security professionals from fourteen
countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America participated.
The Institute is comprised of three components: intensive training,
follow-up research, and a final workshop. The intensive training component
of the workshop was held at the IRI facility in Palisades, New York, 8-26
July 2002. The workshop curriculum provided a balance of relevant concepts
and methods from the physical, biological, social and integrative
systems sciences. Nineteen faculty led the participants through the
following topics:
- Understanding and predicting climate fluctuations
- Understanding and predicting agricultural impacts
- Understanding decision makers
- Analyzing management responses to forecasts
- Communicating forecast information
- Institutionalizing support for forecast applications
- How all the pieces fit together in the design of practical, problem-focused
projects
- How to obtain resources for projects
The curriculum was heavily oriented toward practical methodology.
Hands-on exercises in the afternoons reenforced concepts presented in morning
lectures.
A unique element of this training institute is seed grants for follow-up
project work. The competitive seed grant program provides a mechanism
to ensure immediate follow up and to embed the concepts and approaches within
the long-term programs of the participants' home institutions. Training
in proposal development, feedback from peers and organizers before and during
the workshop, and methods learned during the workshop improved project design
and presentation. Every participant left with a funded project, and
has been provided a senior scientist to serve as a mentor. Home institutions
have committed to support the projects with in-kind contributions.
The result is 19 funded projects led by participants, focused on aspects
of climate and food security in 14 countries.
In approximately two years, after completion of the projects, the
participants will re-convene at a summary workshop to present their results,
share their experiences, and synthesize lessons learned.
The Training Institute is the product of the committment and dilligence
of many:
- The Faculty, who shared their expertise and turning a
curriculum outline into an invaluable learning experience: Tony Barnston,
Henrick Feddersen, Marian Fuchs-Carsch, Jere Gilles, Lisa Goddard, Jim Hansen,
Peter Hayman, Peter Hildebrand, Matayo Indeje, Jim Jones, Jacob Kijne, Upmanu
Lall, David Letson, Simon Mason, Holger Meinke, Carlos Messina, Jennifer
Phillips, Andy Robertson, Chet Ropelewski, Corinne Valdivia, and Neil Ward.
- The International Advisory Committee, who guided applicant
screening, curriculum content and follow-up project award decisions: Walter
Baethgen, Sulochana Gadgil, Hartmut Grassl, Peter Gregory, Jim Jones, Michael
Manton, Giampiero Maracchi, Guillermo Podestá, Cynthia Rosenzweig,
and Ramadjita Tabo.
- Project Mentors: Emma Archer, Walter Baethgen, Maxx Dilley,
Sulochana Gadgil, Hartmut Grassl, Peter Gregory, Jim Jones, Willem Landman,
Michael Manton, Holger Meinke, Jennifer Phillips, Guillermo Podesta, Corinne
Valdivia, Neil Ward.
- The IRI staff and managment including: Antonio Moura,
Carolyn Mutter, Reid Basher, Neil Ward who supported the collaborative effort
with START; James Hansen, Training Institute Director; Galit Marcus, Training
Institute Coordinator; Brendon Hoch and colleagues who provided audiovisual
and computer support; Tricia Ramsey and Sandy Vitelli who helped with training
materials; Matayo Indeje, Brendon Hoch, Ashish Sharma and Benno Blumenthal
who contributed to training exercise and demonstrations.
- The Global Change System for Analysis, Research and Training
(START), who initiated and co-sponsored the effort with the IRI, negotiated
funding, arranging participant travel, and managed resources for the workshop
and the follow-up projects: Roland Fuchs, Hassan Virji and Amy Friese.
- The David and Lucille Packard Foundation, whose generous
financial support made the Training Institute possible.
Archives
More Information
- For more information about the Training Institute contact:
- Dr. James Hansen, Training Institute Director
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