Vietnam Scholars Win Two U.S. Scientific Research Awards

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HANOI, June 26, 2012 -- Vietnam earned two awards in the first round of a U.S. Government program to fund scientific research in developing countries. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the National Science Foundation (NSF), under the Partnerships for Enhanced Engagement in Research (PEER) awards, announced its initial cycle of research collaboration grants to support and build scientific and technical capacity in the developing world. PEER is a USAID-funded competitive grants program that is being administered by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) in coordination with NSF.

The winning research programs in Vietnam include:

1. Assessment of Impacts of the Emission Reduction Measures of Short-lived Climate Forcers on Air Quality and Climate in Southeast Asia (June 2012 - May 2015): This project will bring together leading Southeast Asia and U.S. research groups to study air pollution and climate interactions. The project will involve assessment of the impacts of various mitigation measures of important strong short-lived climate forcers (SLCFs) in the Southeast Asia region on air quality and climate that will generate a scientific basis for policy recommendations to integrate air quality and climate policies.

Research Associates: Nguyen Thi Kim Oanh, Asian Institute of Technology Vietnam; Hoang Xuan Co, Hanoi University of Sciences Vietnam National University; Asep Sofyan, Bandung Institute of Technology; and Nguyen Tri Quang Hung, Nong Lam University Ho Chi Minh City. U.S. Partner: Philip Hopke, Clarkson University.

2. Research and Capacity Building on Reduced Emissions from Degradation and Deforestation (REDD+) Livelihoods, and Vulnerability in Vietnam (June 2012 - May 2015): The overall goal is to understand the ways in which payments for ecosystem services (like carbon) serve to alter land-use decision making by smallholder households in forested areas and evaluate if these land-use decisions increase or reduce overall social and biophysical vulnerability to forecasted climate changes. Research Lead: Le Thi Van Hue, Center for Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, Vietnam National University. US Partner: Pamela McElwee, Rutgers University.

For more information, please visit: http://sites.nationalacademies.org/pga/dsc/peer/index.htm