Professor earns Climate Change Fellowship

Editor’s Note: This news release was provided by Partners of the Americas

Dr. J. Anthony Abbott, Stetson University associate professor of geography and environmental science and director of the university’s environmental science program, will travel to Colombia on a Climate Change Fellowship offered by Partners of the Americas through the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs from July 26 to Aug. 5.

During the fellowship, Abbott will work at Universidad de los Andes with its Interdisciplinary Center for the Study of Development (CIDER). CIDER is a research center which seeks to contribute to the understanding of the development processes at local, regional, national and global levels. One of just nine fellows chosen this summer, Abbott will represent Stetson, a university working actively on implementing climate change solutions.

Abbott was chosen by representatives of the U.S. Embassy in Colombia, USAID, and other U.S. Department of State officials in conjunction with members of Partners of the Americas on the basis of his work with Stetson. He has conducted two campuswide greenhouse gas assessments with students as part of the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment. In coming months, he will work with administration and students to formulate a plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

While in Colombia, Abbott will interact with leading climate change professionals and organizations to harness the power of citizen diplomacy and link it to long-term engagement around climate change issues that affect multiple communities. The professional talents of fellows like Abbott generate long-term partnerships between institutions like the Colombian Ministry of the Environment and The World Bank, Universidad de los Andes and Stetson.

Recent headlines from Colombia show the need for increased understanding of climate change. Colombian President Santos declared recent heavy rains that negatively impacted the lives of more than 2.3 million people the worst natural disaster in the history of the country.

The Climate Change Fellows Program seeks to build bilateral relationships and capacities between climate change institutions in the United Statesand Colombia. In 2011, 44 fellows, evenly representing both Colombia and the United States, will travel to their respective countries to exchange knowledge through their work and experiences. The Climate Change Fellows are a first step to constructing a global network of climate change institutions in the Americas. To learn more, visit www.partners.net/climatechangefellows.

Partners of the Americas is an international grassroots network that connects volunteers, institutions and communities to serve and to change lives. Inspired by President John F. Kennedy, today Partners is one of the largest volunteer-based organizations in the Western Hemisphereengaged in social, economic and cultural development. By linking Latin America and the Caribbean with counterparts in the United States, Partners acts in long term, focused partnership with the people and places of the Americas. For more information, visit www.partners.net.

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) sponsors exchange programs and activities for students, educators, artists, athletes and professionals in many fields in the United Statesand in more than 160 around the world. Alumni of ECA exchange programs comprise more than one million people, including more than 40 Nobel Laureates and more than 365 current or former heads of state and government. The Climate Change Fellows Program is among the Department’s Professional Exchanges. For more information, visit http://exchanges.state.gov/citizens/profs.html.