Visits to the

University of the Balearic Isles

Chuck Doswell

1. 1995-96 visit:

During 1993, I was invited to make a some presentations at a Joint U.S.-Spain Workshop on Natural Hazards, as a part of the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction. This workshop was organized by K.P. Georgeakakos (Iowa Institute of Hydraulic Research, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa) and J. Corominas (Dpt. Enginyeria del Terreny, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain). It was held in Barcelona on 8-11 June, and sponsored by a number of organizations, including the National Science Foundation. A report of the Proceedings has been published by the National Science Foundation, in October 1994.

During that time, I met Prof. Clemente Ramis, who invited me to a brief visit to the Universitat de les Illes Baleares (the University of the Balearic Isles, or UIB) on the Island of Mallorca in the western Mediterranean. During this visit, it became clear that Prof. Ramis and I shared a deep interest in both basic research and applications and it was decided to seek an opportunity to pursue those interests together. Prof. Ramis worked hard to secure funding for the visit, and succeeded in doing so. As I had already planned to be in Europe as part of my involvement with the MOST Project, it was decided that my extended stay on Mallorca would begin after I had finished my visit to the Czech Republic. Accordingly, I arrived in Palma de Mallorca on 25 September 1995 and stayed until 12 February 1996.

We have developed a summary of the results of that stay that are relevant to our joint interests. I have every expectation that our scientific collaboration will continue for years to come. In view of the fact that I was away from the distractions of the office, I was able to make progress on a number of projects apart from my formal interests. As those projects reach fruition, they will also be reported upon in some form.

During my stay on the island, I found my colleagues in the Grup de Meteorologia to be excellent scientists, as well as good friends. My host, Clemente, is a well-regarded teacher by the students in his classes, as well as an excellent meteorologist. His Ph.D. student, Romualdo Romero, was a real find: not only a diligent, insightful student, but a good friend (and travel guide!). It was a real pleasure to meet Sergio Alonso, whose administrative responsibilities meant I had much less time just talking with him than I would have liked. And another of Clemente's students, Elisa Tuduri, impressed me with her managing to provide a lot of project support, as well as going to classes and meeting her responsibilities at her job with the INM (the Spanish equivalent to the NWS).

2. 1997 Visit

3. Information about Mallorca and the Balearic Isles