From January 20 to 29 of the upcoming year, the Copernicus Academy Guatemala will host a virtual Ideathon to develop innovative solutions aimed at preventing risks in the Motagua River Basin. Leveraging satellite data from the European Union's (EU) Earth Observation Program, Copernicus, the event will address challenges such as water management, waste management, and ecosystem restoration and conservation, seeking to promote effective and sustainable strategies in these areas.
The Motagua River Basin, spanning territories in Guatemala and Honduras, is vital for regional biodiversity and water resources. However, it faces significant challenges, including pollution, deforestation, and water management issues. The Ideathon's goal is to generate proposals that help mitigate these risks and foster the ecological restoration of the basin.
Titled “Proactive Risk Management in the Motagua River Basin,” the Ideathon will take place virtually and will include training sessions, mentorships, and collaborative workshops for idea development. Academia Copernicus Guatemala invites public, private, and academic institutions to participate by forming multi-stakeholder teams to develop innovative proposals. Once registration closes, selected teams will gain access to the Ideathon’s communication platform to continue developing their projects.
A panel of experts will evaluate the strategic concept notes produced by each team. The top three ideas will receive recognition and prizes. Additionally, the results will contribute to a roadmap for risk management in the Motagua River Basin, aligned with regional priorities.
The Copernicus Academy Guatemala aims to enhance capacity-building and knowledge management in Earth observation, promoting the use of Copernicus program data in new sectors and bridging the gap between local expertise and advanced technologies.
The Copernicus Academy Organizing Committee in Guatemala, in collaboration with the BELLA II project, brings together the National Secretariat of Science and Technology (Senacyt), the Guatemalan Advanced Network for Research and Education (RAGIE), Universidad del Valle, the Delegation of the European Union to Guatemala, the Copernicus Program, and RedCLARA to organize the Ideathon.
The European Union co-finances this event as part of the RedCLARA-led BELLA II project.
More details and precise event information will be available soon on the official Ideathon website: https://redcopernicus.gt/.
