Building a Collaborative Network of Nitrogen Scientists

Overview

Under the auspices of the Latin American and North American Nitrogen Centers of the INI, a workshop was held May 23-27 2004 in Puerto Rico. The workshopwas organized by Luiz Martinelli and Bob Howarth, and has been funded by the Inter-American Institute (IAI). Dr. Elvira Cuevas of the University of Puerto Rico is the host. 

The workshop is a step towards building a network of scientists from across the Americas devoted to study human alteration of the nitrogen cycle. The organizer’s intent is that this network would analyze sources, sinks, and fluxes of nitrogen through the atmosphere and surface waters (freshwater and coastal marine), assess the consequences of nitrogen pollution, and search (together with decision-makers) for possible solutions to mitigate its deleterious effects.

The objectives of the workshop included the following:

• Identify aspects of the nitrogen cycle and related human interventions that are particular to each region of the Americas
• Identify aspects of the nitrogen cycle and related human influence that are common to the Americas
• Discuss common and specific mechanisms of mitigation
• Develop plans for a larger Science Program called the Inter-American Nitrogen

Additional Information

Luiz Martinelli (zebu(at)cena.usp.br)

Robert Howarth (nitrogen(at)cornell.edu)