The VLab CoE in Argentina is formed by the National Meteorological Service (SMN) and the Department of Atmosphere and Oceans Sciences at the University of Buenos Aires (DCAO-UBA) and it is sponsored by the National Space Agency of Argentina (CONAE). Both components of the Regional Training Center of Argentina are very active in providing high-quality education and training opportunities to both Argentinian students and individuals from all countries of RA-III and IV.
SMN became a WMO Regional Training Center (RTC) component in 1983, offering regional on-the-job and classroom training. Over the years, rapid advances in technology have increased training demands, and made training even more critical to success. SMN has, therefore, strengthened its national and international training commitments to support the development and maintenance of skilled workforces and bases all its learning outcomes on WMO competency frameworks.
SMN has adopted new technologies and approaches to promote active engagement of students. Distance learning has significantly boosted training opportunities. The SMN Moodle learning management system allows wide reach into the region. It offers easy access to improved training resources, quick revisions, appropriate learning tools for challenging learning activities and a means to connect people and ideas through discussion forums.
SMN offers both online and blended training with national and regional coverage (WMO Regional Association III and IV, Spanish-speaking countries).
Moreover, the RTC components worked on the international WMO/Coordination Group for Meteorological Satellites Virtual Lab (VLab) project Conceptual Models for the Southern Hemisphere, managed by EUMETSAT. The collaboration led to the development of a workbook for the application of conceptual models for forecasters (supported by WMO) and the new GOES-16 satellite training programme.
The DCAO of UBA (www.at.fcen.uba.ar) has a long-lasting tradition in educating meteorologists not only in Argentina, but also across South America. UBA’s Department of Atmospheric and Ocean Sciences, established in 1955, was one of the first institutions officially recognized as a WMO RTC. DCAO-UBA has educated generations of meteorologists and oceanographers, including many professors in universities across RA-III, most professional meteorologists in Argentina, and a significant number in other countries of the region. They are also currently involved in interdisciplinary graduate and post-graduate programs in Data-Science, Paleontology, Biology, Environmental Sciences, and Agrometeorology (in cooperation with the Faculty of Agronomy).
The members of the DCAO-UBA are highly qualified, including internationally recognized scientists involved in international bodies, such as the IPCC and various WMO bodies. Their competencies as educators and trainers, and as an institution complies with WMO-1114, and the post-graduate programs (PhD and Masters) are accredited in the highest category by the National Committee of University Assessment and Accreditation. As part of a higher education institution, DCAO-UBA has both a strong component of face-to-face lectures and is also concerned with delivering education with state-of-the-art technologies and methods. DCAO-UBA also offers special short courses that are also targeted to operational meteorologists, recently in aviation, space weather, nowcasting, radar and satellite applications, climate extremes analysis, and volcanic ash. In addition, DCAO-UBA has developed, at significant effort over one year, a Distance Learning General Meteorology course for non-meteorologists.
CoE Contact Information
Dr. Romina Nahir Mezher
Point of Contact - National Meteorological Service of Argentina (SMN).
Dr. Inés Leyba
Point of Contact - University of Buenos Aires (DCAO-UBA)