From Newsgroup: sci.space.news

April 25, 2011

Steve Cole 
Headquarters, Washington      
202-358-0918 
stephen.e.cole{at}nasa.gov 

Gina Jackson 
U.S. Agency for International Development, Washington 
202-712-1917 
gjackson{at}usaid.gov   


RELEASE: 11-123

NASA AND USAID PLEDGE TO ADVANCE INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT WITH SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY

WASHINGTON -- NASA and the U.S. Agency for International Development 
(USAID) have agreed to expand their joint efforts to overcome 
international development challenges such as food security, climate 
change, and energy and environmental management. 

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden and USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah 
signed a five-year memorandum of understanding on Monday, April 25, 
at NASA Headquarters. The agreement formalizes ongoing agency 
collaborations that use Earth science data to address developmental 
challenges, and to assist in disaster mitigation and humanitarian 
responses. The agreement also encourages NASA and USAID to apply 
geospatial technologies to solve development challenges affecting the 
United States and developing countries. 

"Technologies for NASA missions have long improved life here on Earth. 
Together with USAID, we'll meet even more sustainable development 
challenges here on the ground, solving problems for the world 
community," Bolden said. "As we explore space, we'll also be 
exploring solutions to important health, nutritional and safety 
challenges in developing countries." 

The agencies will continue collaborations to stimulate innovative 
science and technology solutions to international development 
challenges by using Earth science data, research results, computer 
models, visualization applications and remote-sensing techniques. 

USAID is the lead federal development agency implementing U.S. 
development efforts through field-based programs and projects around 
the world. NASA has broad experience with Earth science research, 
development of Earth science information products, and technology 
applications. 

"Through our partnership with NASA, we can apply the latest, 
cutting-edge technology to deliver meaningful results for people in 
developing countries in areas like health, food security and water," 
Shah said. "It's a prime example of our efforts to use the power of 
science and technology to tackle today's pressing development 
challenges." 

Since 2003, NASA and USAID have worked together building and expanding 
the SERVIR program. The program allows people in developing regions 
to use Earth observations for addressing challenges in agriculture, 
biodiversity conservation, climate change, disaster response, weather 
forecasting, and energy and health issues. SERVIR integrates 
satellite observations, ground-based data and forecast models to 
monitor and forecast environmental changes and improving response to 
natural disasters in Central America, the Caribbean, East Africa and 
the Himalayan region of Asia. 

The agencies also collaborate on the LAUNCH program, which supports 
science and technology innovators in the non-profit and private 
sectors. The program's goal is improving innovations to achieve 
greater impact on sustainability issues. NASA, USAID, the Department 
of State and Nike formed LAUNCH to identify, showcase and support 
innovative approaches to global challenges through a series of 
forums. 

The agencies have agreed to explore how efforts promoting science, 
technology, engineering and mathematics education can be advanced 
through joint support of programs such as Global Learning and 
Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE). GLOBE is a worldwide 
primary and secondary school-based science and education program 
funded by NASA and other U.S. agencies. 

For more information about the SERVIR program, visit: 

http://www.nasa.gov/servir 

For more information about the LAUNCH program, visit: 

http://www.launch.org 

For more information about NASA and agency programs, visit: 

http://www.nasa.gov   
	
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