Baton Rouge, LA and Silver Spring, MD — The Water Institute of the Gulf and Deltares USA Inc. have signed a memorandum of agreement to partner on research related to water management projects, coastal modeling applications and international projects. Leaders of both organizations say the partnership will contribute to the improvement of coastal and river water resource management efforts around the country and worldwide.
The agreement creates a research partnership between The Water Institute and Deltares USA Inc., which operates in close collaboration with Deltares Netherlands, an independent research institute, and a global leader in applied research in the field of water, subsurface and infrastructure.
The agreement does not create a financial relationship. Rather, it specifies both organizations' commitment to collaborate on opportunities that are mutually beneficial and that provide value to communities in Louisiana and around the world.
"We're extremely excited to add Deltares to our strong network of partners. Their expertise will add valuable capacity to efforts to meet challenges and develop solutions here in Louisiana and around the world," says Chip Groat, Ph.D., president and CEO of The Water Institute. "Deltares is a global leader in this research, and we're excited to have the chance to share knowledge and expertise between our respective teams."
Toon Segeren, Ph.D., president of Deltares USA, calls the agreement "transformative" in its potential for combining the abilities of researchers throughout the world. "The Water Institute shares a number of interests with our organization, and we're delighted to be able to work together," Segeren says. "We support The Water Institute's goal of sharing research for the benefit of everyone worldwide. Deltares Netherlands has a long-standing tradition of openness and transparency and our principle of 'dare to share' is evident in our open source software and models policy."
Dr. Groat says the partnership will provide opportunities to explore and enhance shared interests, including integrated water resource management, development of coastal modeling capabilities, research focused on subsidence, and creating software and tools to assist with data management efforts.
Dr. Groat and members of The Water Institute board of directors recently returned from The Netherlands, where they toured Deltares' facilities and regional water management projects throughout the coastal area. They also participated in presentations on related scientific issues and met with experts from the scientific and academic communities. The Baton Rouge Area Foundation provided the grant enabling The Water Institute's coordination and participation.
Other participants in the trip included representatives of Louisiana State University, Tulane University, the Baton Rouge Area Foundation, the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu's office and the University of Singapore.
The Water Institute of the Gulf
The Water Institute of the Gulf was formed in 2011 as a not-for-profit, independent research institute dedicated to advancing the understanding of coastal and deltaic systems. In collaboration with public, private and academic partners, The Water Institute of the Gulf was founded to preserve and protect the U.S. Gulf Coast environment, a major source of natural and industrial resources, while developing and sharing water management technology worldwide. For more information, visit www.thewaterinstitute.org.
Deltares USA
Deltares USA Inc. was formed in 2008 as a not-for-profit independent research institute. The institute distributes and expands scientific knowledge of river and coastal water systems in the USA and Canada.
Deltares Netherlands
Deltares Netherlands is a not-for-profit independent research organization for applied research in the field of water, subsurface and infrastructure with a long history. Deltares is based on the merger of different institutes, and it values a collective experience of over 400 years. Throughout the world, Deltares works on smart solutions, innovations and applications for people, environment and society. The main focus is on deltas, coastal regions and river basins. Managing these densely populated and vulnerable areas is complex, which is why Deltares works closely with governments, businesses, other research institutes and universities at home and abroad. Deltares employs over 800 people. For more information, visit www.deltares.nl.