CTR facilitates Memorandum of Agreement between UCLA and Ecuadorian University

On August 26, 2002 University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and Universidad de San Francisco de Quito (USFQ) formalized a cooperative academic agreement between the two institutions. This effort was spearheaded by Dr. Thomas B. Smith (Professor of Biology at UCLA and Director of Center for Tropical Research) and Dr. Santiago Gangotena (President of USFQ), both of whom are shown in the adjacent photo immediately after signing the agreement.

The agreement paves the way for increased collaboration and cooperation between the two prestigious institutions, including exchange of students, professors, and researchers as well as jointly developed academic symposia and curricula. The agreement particularly strengthens ties between the Center for Tropical Research, which is housed in UCLA’s Institute of the Environment, and USFQ’s Tiputini Biological Station, which is located in the Amazon basin, and the newly opened GAIA institute, on the Galapagos Islands. This will increase the quantity and quality of scientific research projects being conducted at these unique localities, benefiting both institutions and the scientific community in general.

Dr. Santiago Gangotena, President of thr Universidad San Francisco de Quito, signing academic agreement between UCLA and USFQ	Dr. Thomas Smith and Dr. Santiago Gangotena immediately after signing the agreement.

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