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	Ing. Carlos A. Vargas
	Carlos A. Vargas received a B.S. from the School of Engineering of the Technological University of Panama. In 1988, the Government of the United States awarded him a Fulbright Grant to pursue graduate studies. Two years later, he obtained an M.S. degree in the field of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, where he concentrated in the areas of water resource systems and hydrology. Additionally, he has taken water resources courses at The University of Texas at Austin and The University of California at Davis. Ing. Vargas is the Manager of the Meteorology and Hydrogrology Branch, Panama Canal Authority, where he has the responsibilities of managing the Panama Canal Water Resources. To accomplish this mission Mr. Vargas’ office operates the Gatun and Madden lakes using a well trained and professional staff of hydrologists and meteorologists. His work is supported with state-of-the-art technology, such as: real-time hydrometeorological models, telemetry systems, weather radar, radiosonde station, and weather satellite receiving equipment.

Professional Activities

At the Panama Canal Authority, Ing. Vargas is responsible for predicting lake levels in the Panama Canal not only in normal hydrological years but also during extended drought and flood seasons. His accurate forecasts during El Niño event of 1997-1998 were issued several months in advance to the Panama Canal clients, which include the maritime community around the world. Besides water for the operation of the locks system and navigation through the Panama Canal, his water allocation responsibilities also include water supply for about half of the population of the Republic of Panama and power generation in two Canal hydroelectric plants. Mr. Vargas’ intensive water management during Flood Control season avoids severe damage to the canal installations and protects lives and property in the area, saving the Panama Canal Authority, on the average, millions of dollars each year. He is the President of the National Weather Service River Forecasting System (NWSRFS) Users Association (NUA), an international organization to share experiences in the use of NWS models .

Mr. Vargas also is an international consulting hydrologist who has worked for “TECK CORPORATION”, a Canadian based company involved in the mining exploration activities in Panama; for “ENCIBRA”, a Brazilian group studying the water surface profiles and inundation problems of several rivers and flood plains in Panama City; for “SWECO” a large Swedish company conducting feasibility studies for hydroelectric developments in Panama; for “INGENDESA”, a Chilean consortium conducting environmental studies for several large projects in the Republic of Panama; and for the US Interamerican Development Bank.

Mr. Vargas has served as local hydrology expert for many other companies in Panama and is the Director, Water Resources Division, Engineering Services Company (ESCO, S.A.) a Panamanian consulting firm solving problems and conducting studies in all engineering disciplines, including: water resource, hydrology, hydraulic, and environmental fields.

Contact Information

Carlos A. Vargas
Manager, Meteorological and Hydrographic Branch
Panama Canal Authority
Adm. Bldg., Office 343
Balboa Heights, Panama
Telephone: 507.272.1729
Fax: 507.272.1628
E-mail: cvargas@pancanal.com

	Dr. Guillermo Castro Herrera
	Dr. Guillermo Castro Herrera is Director of Programs and Institutional Relations, Directorate for Academic Affairs, Ciudad del Saber [City of Knowledge], Panama. He has written several books and essays on the links between the environment, society, and development. Dr. Castro Herrera received a B.S. in Spanish American and Cuban Language and Literature from the Universidad de Oriente, Cuba. He received M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. His dissertation "Elements for an Environmental History of Latin America" received a Mention of Honour.

Selected Publications

Books:

• Naturaleza y sociedad en la historia de América Latina. CELA, Panamá, 1996.
• Los Trabajos de Ajuste y Combate. Naturaleza y sociedad en la historia de América Latina. Premio Casa de las Américas 1994 en ensayo histórico-social. La Habana/ Bogota, 1994.
• Panamá: recuento y perspectivas. CELA, Panamá, 1987.
• Política y Cultura en Nuestra América: 1880-1930., CELA, Panamá, 1985.
• Medio Ambiente y Sociedad en el Atlántico Centro Occidental de Panamá, con Ligia Herrera y Carmen A. Miró. Banco Nacional de Panamá, Panamá, 1984.
• El desarrollo del Atlántico panameño: elementos para una estrategia. Proyectos Especiales del Atlántico. Unidad de Estudios y Planeamiento. Colección La Conquista del Atlántico, Serie "Estudios", Panamá, 1981.

Essays and papers (1999–2001):

• “Para cambiar la vida. Feminismo y ambientalismo”, Temas de Nuestra América, Ediciones Formato 16, Universidad de Panamá, No. 227, enero 2001.
• “Ciudad del Saber. Un centro internacional de servicios académicos y científicos para Panamá”, Lunes en la Ciencia, suplemento de La Jornada, México, 110900.
• “La gestión ambiental”, La Prensa, 190400, Panamá.
• “Para medir el desarrollo”, El Universal, 150400, Panamá.
• “Desarrollo sin pobreza”, El Universal, 190300, Panamá; La Prensa, Sección Política, 220300, Panamá; Premisas, Boletín bimestral, Centro de Estudios Latinoamericanos “Justo Arosemena”, Año 13, No. 62, Panamá, abril de 2000.
• “El país que viene”, La Prensa, 120199, Panamá.
• “Carta de Monseñor”, La Prensa, 030100, Panamá; Canal de Panamá Hoy, Año 9, No. 43, julio 2000. Boletín trimestral del CELA “Justo Arosemena”, Panamá.
• “Pedro en tres y espera”, prólogo al libro Arar en el Mar, de Pedro Rivera, Editorial Formato 16, Panamá, 2000.
• “02-01-99”, en El Universal, 211199, Panamá.
• “Fronteras y futuro”, en Premisas, Año 12, No. 58, junio 1999. Boletín bimestral del CELA “Justo Arosemena”, Panamá.
• “Lo mejor de nuestro futuro”, en Temas de Nuestra América, 208, junio/1999. Ediciones Formato 16, Vicerrectoría de Extensión, Universidad de Panamá.
• “La salud en la reforma del Estado”, La Prensa, 190499, Panamá.
• “La propuesta de los trabajadores”, La Prensa, 050499, Panamá.
• “Continuismo y medio ambiente”, La Prensa, 200399, Panamá.
• “Cultura y coyuntura”, El Universal, 170399, Panamá.
• “Ambiente y desarrollo”, La Prensa, 260299, Panamá.
• “De Gorgas a Hoorver”, La Prensa, 190299.
• “Historia y salud”, en Lunes en la Ciencia, suplemento de La Jornada, México, 040199.

Contact Information

Ciudad del Saber

Telephone:
Fax:
e-mail:

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