Memorandum of Understanding

On October 31, 2003 the University of Arizona signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the The Mexican Ministry of Science and Toxicology (CONACyT) to establish a Binational Center entitled, “US/Mexico Transborder Consortium for Environmental Studies”. The memorandum of understanding establishes a partnership between CONACyT, a consortium of Mexican Institutes and the Univresity of Arizona to operate the Binational Center.

A copy of the original MOU in Spanish is available at this link [ MOU ].

The main points covered in the MOU are:

• The center will be co-directed by a US researcher and a Mexican researcher.
• The principal office of the center will be The College of Pharmacy at the University of Arizona.
• The center will search for funds from US and Mexican institutes to support research and other programs.
• US and Mexican partners will make sincere effort in searching for funds to support the center.
• An Advisory Committee composed of US and Mexican individuals will be created to directly help with the general objectives of the center.
• The US and Mexican partners have a period of three years to acquire funding.
• The center will be established immediately after signing the MOU.
• CONACyT and the University of Arizona are in agreement to scientifically collaborate on a range of issues of mutual interest. These should include (but are not limited to):

• Build capacity to improve the common environmental problems through offering education to professionals and graduate students in environmental science, environmental engineering and public health.
• Support collaborative research directed at solving common environmental problems of Arizona and Mexico, focusing on areas that the researchers and society agree upon and are revised by the an Advising Committee.
• Promote the transfer of technology by local application of techniques and through efforts to establish businesses in Mexico that will be instrumental in providing solutions to environmental problems.
• Provide outreach to the community through participatory actions.