The region is experiencing deforestation, erosion, drought, floods, and desertification. The Motagua River Basin, spanning 97 municipalities in Guatemala and 27 in Honduras, faces a growing environmental crisis. The pressure on its resources is increasing, and climate change is worsening an already critical situation.
To address these challenges, the Copernicus Academy Guatemala launched the virtual Ideathon "Proactive Risk Management in the Motagua River Basin" on February 10, an innovation space that will run until February 20. More than 90 participants will use satellite data from the European Union’s (EU) Copernicus Program to develop proposals focused on water management, waste management, and ecosystem conservation.
Enrique Pazos, Deputy Secretary of Guatemala’s National Secretariat of Science and Technology (Senacyt), welcomed the participants and stated, "With initiatives like this, we promote data-driven solutions, strengthen the country's ability to respond to environmental challenges, benefit communities, and contribute to national development."
Mark Urban, Director of International Cooperation, Academic Relations, and Communications at RedCLARA, noted that "The Copernicus Academy Guatemala promotes the use of science and technology to address environmental challenges and foster sustainable development in the region. This effort will enable early warning generation, deforestation monitoring, and the strengthening of local capacities through joint work with communities, institutions, and the government."
Meanwhile, Claudia Herrera from the Copernicus LAC Center emphasized the commitment to bringing Earth observation data closer to the region to maximize its use through the EU’s Copernicus program. "Our goal is for decision-makers, academia, and other stakeholders to use this data to develop sustainable solutions. We work to foster research and innovation and provide technical and scientific support to the region," she affirmed.
For his part, Luis Furlán, Director of the Guatemalan Advanced Research and Education Network (RAGIE), highlighted that "Copernicus represents a key technological evolution to tackle Guatemala's social and environmental challenges. This event will be a starting point to consolidate the presence of the Copernicus Academy in the country and contribute to a sustainable future for the Motagua Basin."
The Process
Throughout the Ideathon, participants will receive support from five speakers, seven mentors, and five judges.
On the first day, teams were formed, and project titles were registered. On February 11, they will have space to organize and define their work strategies.
Between February 12 and 13, mentors will provide guidance in their areas of expertise, while teams will present a pitch to share their ideas and receive feedback. By the end of February 13, each group will submit their final concept note, the result of these intensive development days.
From February 14 to 18, evaluators and judges will analyze the proposals and select the winning projects.
Finally, on February 20, a jury representative will officially announce the winners, marking the event's conclusion.
The Ideathon is organized by the Copernicus Academy Committee in Guatemala, composed of the National Secretariat of Science and Technology (Senacyt), the Guatemalan Advanced Research and Education Network (RAGIE), Universidad del Valle, the European Union Delegation in Guatemala, the Copernicus Program, and RedCLARA, with the support of the BELLA II project.
This initiative is part of BELLA II, a project led by RedCLARA and co-funded by the European Union.
