| NSF Org: |
OISE Office of International Science and Engineering |
| Recipient: |
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| Initial Amendment Date: | April 5, 2022 |
| Latest Amendment Date: | April 5, 2022 |
| Award Number: | 2153715 |
| Award Instrument: | Standard Grant |
| Program Manager: |
Kristin Kuyuk
kkuyuk@nsf.gov (703)292-4904 OISE Office of International Science and Engineering O/D Office Of The Director |
| Start Date: | August 1, 2022 |
| End Date: | July 31, 2026 (Estimated) |
| Total Intended Award Amount: | $297,732.00 |
| Total Awarded Amount to Date: | $297,732.00 |
| Funds Obligated to Date: |
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| History of Investigator: |
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| Recipient Sponsored Research Office: |
118 UNIVERSITY HALL COLUMBIA MO US 65211-3020 (816)235-5839 |
| Sponsor Congressional District: |
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| Primary Place of Performance: |
Ciudad Universitaria, 11 Av, Guatemala City GT |
| Primary Place of
Performance Congressional District: |
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| Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): |
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| Parent UEI: |
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| NSF Program(s): | IRES Track I: IRES Sites (IS) |
| Primary Program Source: |
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| Program Reference Code(s): |
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| Program Element Code(s): |
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| Award Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Fund Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Assistance Listing Number(s): | 47.079 |
ABSTRACT
This award is funded in whole under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Public Law 117-2).
The goal of this Guatemala Geohazards International Research Experiences for Students (Guatemala Geohazards IRES) project is for U.S. undergraduate students to develop skills in conducting and communicating scientific research, to utilize an integrative field and lab research approach using digital technology and modern analytical lab equipment, and to learn international cooperation by collaborating side-by-side with Guatemalan students, professors, and industrial partners to address research questions on the long-term Quaternary record of geological hazards in the Guatemala City Graben. The plate boundary setting of Guatemala exposes the country to numerous natural hazards including earthquakes from four source areas, volcanic eruptions along the active Central American Volcanic Arc, and landslides and floods that have intensified by more frequent tropical storms and hurricanes in a warming Earth. The Guatemala Geohazards IRES project has the potential of increasing both the number of women and under-represented minorities conducting research, completing a bachelor's degree, and continuing to graduate programs and careers in geosciences. Our IRES also brings diversity to the face of our role models with six Hispanic mentors and three women faculty mentors. Our collaboration with Guatemalan colleagues, industry mining geologists, and the international nature of the fieldwork will provide an unparalleled avenue for cultural enrichment for the students as well as an experience in global cooperation that will be invaluable for a student's future success in an increasingly global workforce and economy.
The Guatemala City (GC) Metro sprawls over a high plateau composed of volcanic tuff and lava flows from active volcanoes that border the region to the south and southwest including Pacaya, Fuego, Acatenango, and Agua, and other volcanic centers along the arc, although the actual volcanic stratigraphy is poorly defined. The GC Metro area is cut by a system of active faults that define the N-S-trending Guatemala City Graben. Steep ravines or barrancos, that are likely fault-controlled, deeply dissect the landscape causing high susceptibility to landslides. This geologic and tectonic setting make it ideal for investigating the interplay of Quaternary volcanic, seismic, and landslide hazards of the region. Field access facilitated by industrial partners and new road cuts provide the ideal location to leverage high-resolution outcrop and satellite-based imagery alongside geochemical, petrographic, and geochronological data that can be used to quantify recent and active geologic processes including the sequence, style, and timing of volcanic eruptions, the kinematic and displacement history of faults and past earthquakes, and study of the underlying properties leading to landslide failure. The Guatemala Geohazards IRES students will have an unprecedented opportunity to develop field and laboratory skills in volcaniclastic stratigraphy, neotectonics, and landslide hazards while building international experiences and collaboration with Guatemalan students, mentors, and professionals.
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
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