HR: 1340h
AN: U33A-0804 INVITED    [Abstracts]
TI: International Collaborations in Large Geophysical Experiments: A Win-Win Situation
AU: * Keller, G R
EM: grkeller@ou.edu
AF: School of Geology and Geophysics University of Oklahoma, 100 E. Boyd, Norman, OK 73019, United States
AB: It has been my privilege to be involved in a significant number of large international cooperative geophysical experiments. These logistically challenging efforts all took place in developing or under-developed countries and were co-driven at least to some extent by scientists in the host country. A team of scientists from developed countries were involved in each case but were not always the leaders of the effort. The host countries were all supportive and played roles ranging from simply facilitating the effort to providing most of the funding. Some lessons learned from these efforts were the following: 1) permissions for large efforts must come from very high levels in the host government; 2) the host scientists should never be overlooked or underestimated; 3) involving students from both the host country and developed countries produces big educational and cultural dividends for all involved (it is a life experience for the visitors and a chance to widen perspectives and even acquire advanced degrees for the students from the host countries); 4) providing funds for scientists and students from the host country to visit their international partners to participate in the data processing and analysis and to attend scientific meetings is extremely important; 5) return trips to the host country to collaborate on data processing and analysis and to consolidate partnerships are also important; 6) the partnership with the host country should be viewed as a long term commitment to scientific cooperation and education that benefits all involved. Our experiences have encountered only a few roadblocks and have been ultimately universally positive. Lifelong relationships have been forged, students have been educated and enriched, and excellent scientific results have been produced.
DE: 0800 EDUCATION
DE: 7218 Lithosphere (1236)
DE: 8110 Continental tectonics: general (0905)
DE: 9305 Africa
DE: 9335 Europe
SC: Union [U]
MN: 2007 Fall Meeting