Guatemala City, May 13, 2025
Today, at the facilities of the Secretariat for Central American Economic Integration -SIECA-, the symposium “Higher Education and Research for Disaster Risk Reduction” was held, an academic dialogue organized by the German Academic Exchange Service -DAAD- and the Central American Higher University Council -CSUCA-, with the support of the German Embassy in Guatemala and SIECA.
The event brought together Central American and German academics with the aim of strengthening and promoting transdisciplinary scientific cooperation on the challenges posed by extreme weather events and disasters in Central America.
The opening ceremony was led by Irena Rusak, representing Christoph Hansert, DAAD Regional Director for Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, Carlos Alvarado, Secretary General of CSUCA and Francisco Lima, Secretary General of SIECA.
In his remarks, Carlos Alvarado emphasized the importance of maintaining collaborative spaces that promote science committed to gender equality, social inclusion, and territorial relevance.
The symposium included keynote lectures by Robert Cárcamo Mallen from Humboldt University of Berlin, on the socio-environmental impact of extreme weather events, and Cécile Stehrenberger from the University of Costa Rica, who presented a critical perspective from the social sciences and humanities on disaster research.
In parallel working sessions, participants explored research areas and regional cooperation strategies, the results of which were presented at the close of the day. The event concluded with a lecture by Christoph Hansert on research and funding opportunities in Germany.
This symposium is consolidated as a firm step in the construction of a regional academic network focused on disaster prevention and response, integrating local knowledge with international cooperation.
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