Our Projects
Click on the project title below to navigate to the relevant projects
FECT, the International Research Institute for Climate and Society, and Columbia University and its partners have undertaken 12 projects in the Maldives with half of these externally funded. Our programs in Maldives are sustained for the last decade without interruption. We have developed tools on climate monitoring, prediction and analysis specific to Maldives and have been providing a climate bulletin for seven years.
STEM Education
Based on the suggestion of our PEER program manager (Dr. Dalal Najib), we proposed to support Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) learning in the remote island schools in Southern Maldives. The project is being undertaken in the Fares-Maathoda and Thinadhoo islands in the Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll by the equatorial passage.
We were able to prepare instruments and documentation and trialing procedures were undertaken. After obtaining permission to work with the Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll Education Centre and Huvadhoo School, discussions were held with the principals, teachers to plan project implementation. So far,
- Weather stations have been installed in both schools are online
- Water quality instruments, microscopes and a weather station were made available to the students.
- Support for the upcoming science fair is anticipated
- A portal is being developed to provide access to students and their educators to resources at SIRC and FECT.
Hazards and Climate
Assessing Disaster Hazards as Current Early Warning
This project focused on assessing drought, and flood hazard risk using climate, terrestrial and societal information. Data management systems were set up, climate and disaster data were compiled and we provided a weekly, monthly and annual digest of climate diagnosis, monitoring and predictions. For this we partnered with government, private sector and civil society groups. Automatic weather stations with online access, air quality monitoring instrument and soil moisture instrument were setup.
We undertook case studies to diagnose the role of climate and other factors on:
- drought and water scarcity in Greater Male
- water scarcity assessment by island
- dengue risk
Under this project, research papers were written, information provision portals were developed and we were able to contribute for content for teaching at the Maldives National University.
Drought and Climate
Scientists from the Foundation for Environment, Climate and Technology, Maldives National University, Columbia University worked with others in Universities, Water Supply and Meteorological Services to develop monitoring and predictive tools for drought risk and to address a riddle in climate change projections which predict a wetter climate although what has been experienced is sustained drying. This project is sponsored under the PEER program of the US National Academy of Sciences and USAID program in Sri Lanka and Maldives. Project Duration: 2014-2017.
Climate and Water
Climate fluctuations at intra-seasonal time scales (beyond a few days to a few months) have profound influences on management of water resources to generate hydroelectricity and irrigate agricultural lands. Any ability to anticipate these fluctuations is valuable. Recent improvements in understanding of intra-seasonal (IS) climate variability and the availability of real-time satellite based observations have led to the emergence of methodologies for IS climate predictions from a few days up to a month. This project aims to bring to bear climate variability insights from a National Science Foundation-sponsored program called DYNAMO focused on the Western Equatorial Indian Ocean.
The overall goals of the project are
- To promote better understanding of intra-seasonal variability of rainfall around Maldives
- Refine prediction schemes
- Translate this information to support water management
- Upgrade local capacity for climate science and climate services
Even modest improvements in IS predictions can lead to significant social and economic consequences from anticipatory water management. Project Duration: June 1, 2012-2015.
Climate and Water Project Website
Sustainability Education (MDP)
The two year program has been designed to equip development practitioners to address sustainable development challenges across the sciences, health, natural, social and management. This cross-disciplinary academic curriculum promotes the development of knowledge, skills and other attributes of an effective professional. The curriculum has a focus on (1) Coastal Regions and Tropical Islands, (2) Millennium Development Goals and Poverty Measurement and Analysis, (3) Climate Change in South Asia, and (4) Technology for Sustainable Development.
The Ministry of Housing and Environment was an early partner in the development of the Masters in Development Practice. The Ministry recognizes that education and training opportunities for Maldivian students, research programs and collaborations with international researchers and educationists are critical.
We are undertaking the following programs to prepare for greater collaboration.
- Outreach to Ministry of Environment and partners through visits.
- Investigate MDP student, internship and staff placement opportunities.
- Develop specific information for MDP on student enrolment and internship opportunities
- Develop local internship opportunities.
- Conduct Workshops or Joint Research Supervision