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A brief history and mission of SAHRA: a National Science Foundation Science and Technology Center on ‘sustainability of semi‐arid hydrology and riparian areas’
Author(s) -
Sorooshian S.,
Bales R.,
Gupta H.,
Woodard G.,
Washburne J.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
hydrological processes
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.222
H-Index - 161
eISSN - 1099-1085
pISSN - 0885-6087
DOI - 10.1002/hyp.5067
Subject(s) - library science , riparian zone , ecology , computer science , biology , habitat
*Correspondence to: S. Sorooshian, SAHRA, Harshbarger Bldg; Rm 332, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA. E-mail: soroosh@sahra.arizona.edu Five years ago, a group of University of Arizona faculty members got together to brainstorm the possibility of responding to a soon-to-be-announced call for proposals by the National Science Foundation (NSF) for Science and Technology Centers (STCs). The STC program is the NSF’s flagship program to support long-term interdisciplinary and cooperative research centres. In addition to their scientific mission, STCs place great emphasis on education and knowledge transfer. STCs are funded at up to $4 million per year for an initial five year period and, pending the outcome of a major review in the fourth year, receive funding for an additional five years, with the hope that centers will become self-sustaining after NSF funding ends. Our group, consisting of faculty from several departments across campus, held discussions over several months. Ultimately, we decided to submit a proposal to address hydrologic and water resources issues of semi-arid regions. The rationale for this was that approximately one-third of the Earth’s land surface, including 25% of the contiguous USA, is either arid or semi-arid. These regions are experiencing higher-than-average rates of population growth and development, plus conflict between traditional and new uses of water. The resulting challenge is how to support sustainable development and provide assured water resources. As we identified key scientific hydrologic questions and numerous policy, knowledge transfer, and educational issues, it became apparent that they could not all be addressed by one institution alone. As a result, we built partnerships with 11 universities, six federal agencies and national laboratories, local and state governments, and non-governmental organizations. Key stakeholders assisted in articulating our science mission and our knowledge transfer and educational goals. Submission of our proposal was followed by 18 months of various reviews. In the end, SAHRA was one of five centres selected nationwide from nearly 280 original pre-proposal submissions, and the first natural resources/hydrologically oriented STC. We are pleased that the NSF recently announced an additional STC addressing hydrologic issues, led by the University of Minnesota. Five science areas are being pursued by SAHRA, as follows: