By LEANDRA ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

lrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE University of The Bahamas signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with University of Hawaii yesterday to promote research collaboration between the two institutions.

The aim is to strengthen climate resilience and disaster management.

The signing was held during the Disaster Risk Reduction Summit at Baha Mar, which was recognised as International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDDRR).

During the summit’s opening ceremony Prime Minister Phillip “Brave” Davis said the partnership between the two parties was especially significant because it allows them to explore research-based initiatives aimed at building safer and more resilient communities.

“The partnership between University of The Bahamas and the University of Hawaii will allow us to undertake joint scientific research between our institutions to promote sustainable solutions to help our island states better adapt to the impending crisis we both face,” Mr Davis said.

“Climate change is a slow onset mega disaster that threatens the entire globe, and it requires a scientific foundation of knowledge to ensure that policy and actions are rooted in evidence.

“We can no longer afford to view ourselves in isolation from others, or act without reliable information. We must work together across national borders to create a common scientific foundation, to maximize our collective efforts to build safer, more resilient communities.”

As the partnership progresses, it is anticipated both institutions will engage in technology sharing, joint environmental and social research, faculty and student exchanges and joint course work to provide new opportunities to UB and UH students.

Dr Erik Rolland, UB’s president, said: “The University of Hawaii and its Pacific Disaster Centre are phenomenal resources that are looked up to as you’ve seen globally in terms of their skill sets and abilities.

“What we wish to do within the University of The Bahamas is to coordinate our efforts in disaster relief, in disaster response and climate research. When it comes to data on climate research which drives much of what we do and the University of Hawaii already is quite far ahead both on the research and programmatic side with that.”

He also noted that UH has a certificate programme at the graduate level in disaster management, adding “this is something that is very much of interest to us here in The Bahamas to build up those kind of skill sets within our programmes and within our research centres.”

Meanwhile, University of Hawaii president David Lassner, who gave remarks virtually, described the partnership as an important one given that the two island states share similar challenges.

“We have learned over many years that working and collaborating with like-minded partners, now including The University of The Bahamas, offers us all the best chance to succeed together,” he said.

“It’s clear that our universities share the same desires and scientific capabilities to jointly find solutions that lead us to a better future. This is the basis of the opportunity we are seizing here today, for the University of The Bahamas and The University of Hawaii to work together and lead the world in building small islands resilience.”

For his part, Disaster Reconstruction Authority Executive chairman Alex Storr said officials were looking forward to the joint research between the two that could help the DRA with disaster planning.

“We have seen the increase in the intensity of the storms, so we know that another major storm is coming. Right now, in Abaco we are currently building the Abaco centre which is currently the hurricane shelter which we hope to replicate throughout the country,” Mr Storr added.

“Now, we can use disaster to kind of predict which areas where we should build the next centres in other islands and which areas we should not because we can’t just haphazardly pick a site and decide okay this is the site for shelter and then you have a storm here and it’s flooded or other challenges and so we see a great hope in this partnership and things that can come out of it.”