Research Activities at the Centre
The Latin-American Centre is an institution that has been founded in the year of 2000, with the objective to strengthen the scientific relations to Latin-America in the fields of research, education and culture. The activities of the centre are mainly based on interdisciplinary networking for new approaches in research projects and education. Within this, the integration of regional research groups from outside the university, like the “Umweltforschungszentrum Leipzig-Halle” is a special objective of cooperation. At present the main focus of the interdisciplinary work is in the fields of natural-, geo- and social sciences.
Research Project: Development of Open Spaces in the Megacity of Recife
Outstanding example of the activities is the interdisciplinary research project „Open spaces in megacities – Potential for nature orientated living“ which has been developed by the Latin American Centre (Prof. Dr. Wilfried Morawetz). The project started in 2005 and is funded by the German Ministry of Education and Research with 360 thousand Euro in the first two years. In this project german and brazilian scientists are cooperating with local and governmental authorities in Recife aiming the development scientifically based, social end ecological sustainable concepts for the management and planning of urban open spaces.
On the German research groups from the University of Leipzig (Botany, Geography, Urban development), the UFZ Leipzig-Halle (Ecology), the University of Applied Sciences Cologne (Technology in the Tropics, Geographic Information Systems, Applied Social Sciences), the University of Bonn (Tropical Crop Production), the University of Dresden (Urban forestry), the University of Innsbruck (Urban Geography) are involved. This research groups are integrated with Brazilian counterparts from the Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (Coordination Prof. Dr. Ana Maria Benko-Iseppon), the Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco and the Universidade de Pernambuco.
In 2006 two workshops took place in Leipzig and in Recife. Furthermore 6 students of Geography, Urban Development and Biology from the University of Leipzig realized their diploma thesis within the project. Two of this thesis were funded by the German Academic Exchange Service.
Exposition of Inka-Gold
A particular effort of the Latin-American Centre in the strengthening of cultural relations with Latin-America is the organization and realization of the exposition “1000 Years of Inka-Gold” under the Direction of Prof. Dr. Wilfried Morawetz together with the Peruvian ambassador, Excellency Carlos R. Higueras Ramos. The exposition was inaugurated in November 2005 and could be visited in the Romanushaus in Leipzig until April 2006. From May to December 2006 the exposition was presented in Berlin. A large number of visitors has been registered in the two locations.
University Cooperation and Exchange of Scientists
An additional part of the continuous work of the Latin-American Centre is mainly funded by DAAD projects on the background of University-Conventions. Since its start in 2000 the Centre does not receive any financial support for staff or budget from the University of Leipzig. There is cooperation in the field of geography with the Universidad La Habana, Cuba or in the field of chemistry with the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos Lima, Peru and the Universidad Santiago de Chile. The results of the joint research activities are published scientifically. Essential parts of such projects are student excursions and academic qualification work in Leipzig, as well as the exchange of scientists. The Latin-American Centre has promoted the student exchange with Latin-American universities, that is continuously growing. This resulted in new bi- and multilateral contacts. For the purpose of evaluation the Latin-American Centre submitted a detailed report of its activities in the past years to the university direction and the faculties.
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