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One of the main outcomes of the Rio+20 Conference was the agreement to develop a set of sustainable development goals (SDGs). Such a tool could be useful to measure progress towards sustainable development at a global level. ICSU co-authored a paper published in Nature last week that discusses how the goals may be formulated taking into account science-based knowledge.The authors argue that the protection of the Earth life support system and the alleviation of poverty must be the twin priorities of the SDGs. According to them, it is not enough to just extend the MDGs because humans are transforming the planet in ways that would undermine gains that have been made through development. To read the publication please visit http://www.igbp.net/news/news/news/sustainabledevelopmentgoalsforpeopleandplanet.5.561163a13d60576e12c4.html.

An international and interdisciplinary conference is being organised by ICYESS for young scientists (Master's and PhD students as well as young PostDocs). The conference will bring together scientists from various disciplines contributing to the understanding of processes and interactions in the Earth system. This also includes natural and anthropogenic forces of its transformation, the impacts of global change on ecological and social systems as well as human responses to this change. This conference addresses natural, social and political sciences, economics and sustainability research.If you consider yourself a young Earth system scientist, ICYESS is for you.

The primary aim of the conference is to promote interdisciplinary exchange and mutual understanding between the diversity of research fields in Earth system science. ICYESS gives you the opportunity to present and discuss your research in an interactive and innovative way. It will provide you with the possibility of expanding your contacts and networks at an early stage of your career.

The conference will focus on uncertainties in Earth system sciences. There is a multitude of causes for uncertainties in different research fields and they are sometimes multiplied in interdisciplinary research. Examples include:

• Limited understanding of physical, chemical and biological processes and interactions;
• Finite resources in modelling, observation and analysis;
• Limited understanding of environmental impacts on the Anthroposphere;
• Uncertainties in the context of  Earth system governance, its goals, effects and costs;
• Societal interpretation of scientific knowledge and its limits.

These types of uncertainties and its consequences are dealt with in our daily scientific work; they are explicit focus, implicit motivation, boundary condition or constraint to our work. In this conference you can explore ways of embedding your own research into the bigger question of how your specific discipline deals with uncertainty.

To guide our discussion we will have three invited lectures:

• Physical aspects of the Earth system by Eli Tziperman (Harvard University, US)
• Economics of climate, energy and the environment by Richard Tol (University of Sussex, UK)
• Environmental law and politics by Joyeeta Gupta (University of Amsterdam, NL)

To participate in ICYESS means to make an active contribution. You will have the opportunity to your research and give an assessment of how you deal with uncertainty in your work or respective discipline. Uncertainty as common focus of all presentations will guide the interdisciplinary discussions throughout the conference.

Information about participation and registration may be obtained from http://meetings.copernicus.org/icyess2013/home.html

The Global Science Forum (GSF) provides a venue for consultations among senior science policy officials of OECD member countries. It produces findings and action recommendations on high-priority science policy issues requiring international consultations/co-operation, and identifies opportunities for collaboration on major scientific undertakings. Specifically, the GSF serves its members in the formulation and implementation of their science policies by: 1) exploring opportunities for new or enhanced international co-operation in selected scientific areas; 2) defining international frameworks for vital national or regional science policy decisions; and 3) addressing the scientific dimensions of issues of global concern.

The Forum conducted a Workshop on Research Cooperation between Developed and Developing Countries in the Area of Climate Change Adaptation and Biodiversity in Singapore on March 18-19, 2013. It was hosted by the Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. ICSU ROAP was represented at the Workshop by its Director.

The Workshop sought to refine and expand the findings of the OECD Global Science Forum (GSF) study of research cooperation between developed and developing countries in the area of climate change adaptation and biodiversity conservation that was undertaken to explore ways in which both the scientific and development benefits of research cooperation can be optimised. This study is a follow-on to earlier work: the OECD GSF entitled Opportunities, Challenges and Good Practices in International Research Cooperation between Developed and Developing Countries that was completed with the publication, in April 2011, of a report that can be found on the GSF website (http://www.oecd.org/sti/scienceandtechnologypolicy/47737209.pdf). This workshop aimed to go further to document good examples of international research cooperation between developed and developing countries countries, to understand how best to design such cooperation and discuss how to create impacts from collaborative projects.Key speakers at the Workshop included the following experts::

• Dr. Kazuhiko Takeuchi, Director, Integrated Research System for Sustainability Science, (IR3S), the University of Tokyo, and Senior Vice-Rector, United Nations University, Japan

• Dr. Heinz Gutscher, President, Swiss Academies of Humanities and Social Sciences, Switzerland
• Dr. David O’Brien, Senior Program Specialist, Science and Innovation, International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada
• Mr. Osamu Kobayashi, Director, Singapore Office, Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), Japan
• Ms Dewi G.C. KIRONO, Senior Research Scientist, CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research, Climate Adaptation Flagship, and
• Gerhard SCHMITT, Senior Vice-President, ETH Global

The Director of ROAP recently visited the Application Laboratory (APL) of JAMSTEC, the Japan Agency of Marine Earth Science and Technology, to learn of its functions and activities. The Application Laboratory does research on ways and means of applying the results of climate change prediction, climate modeling, and atmospheric composition studies, simulation technologies, and tropical pacific ocean climate study to benefit society.The visit was made in conjunction with attendance of the the APL-SATREPS Symposium entitled Living in the Changing Planet that was held to mark the end of the collaboration between Japan and South Africa that aimed to build capacity on the prediction of climate variations and its applications in South Africa. The director of the APL that sponsored and hosted the visit is a member of the ICSU Regional Committee for Asia and the Pacific. The visit and attendance at the Symposium enabled ROAP to forge closer ties with JAMSTEC and other JAMSTEC agencies responsible for research on global environmental change, the evolution of the earth, and on biogeosciences.

ICSU held at the end of 2012 a consultation with the scientific community in the Asia-Pacific region on the new programme called Future Earth – research for global sustainability it launched at the Rio+ 20 event in Rio de Janeiro in June 2012. The Asia Pacific region is seen to have the capacity to drive the transition towards global sustainability under the Future Earth programme. Its scientific community is ready to make the changes needed to support integrated research that would build the knowledge and solutions for the transition to sustainability. Through Future Earth, the region can develop new ways to engage with developed and less developed countries and help to ensure development which is socially inclusive and environmentally sound. Read the full report of the Regional Workshop.

The OECD Global Science Forum (GSF) will conduct a Workshop on Research Cooperation between Developed and Developing Countries in the Area of Climate Change Adaptation and Biodiversity in Singapore on March 18-19, 2013. It will be hosted by the Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. ICSU ROAP will be represented at the Workshop by its Director.

The Workshop will seek to to refine and expand the findings of the OECD Global Science Forum (GSF) “Study of Research Cooperation between Developed and Developing Countries in the Area of Climate Change Adaptation and Biodiversity” that aimed to explore ways in which both the scientific and development benefits of research cooperation can be optimised. This study is a follow-on to earlier work: the OECD GSF activity ”Opportunities, Challenges and Good Practices in International Research Cooperation between Developed and Developing Countries” that was completed with the publication, in April 2011, of a report that can be found on the GSF website (http://www.oecd.org/sti/scienceandtechnologypolicy/47737209.pdf).

The focus of discussions during the Workshop will be:

1: Examples of international research cooperation between developed and developing Countries

2: Designing Cooperation

3: Creating impacts

All topics have strong relevance to the development of international collaborative research in the new international research programme on global sustainability Future Earth that is being developed by ICSU and its partners.

Key speakers at the Workshop will include:

Dr. Kazuhiko Takeuchi, Director, Integrated Research System for Sustainability Science (IR3S), the University of Tokyo, and Senior Vice-Rector, United Nations University, Japan

Dr. Heinz Gutscher, President, Swiss Academies of Humanities and Social Sciences, Switzerland

Dr. David O’Brien, Senior Program Specialist, Science and Innovation, International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada

Mr. Osamu Kobayashi, Director, Singapore Office, Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), Japan

The Global Science Forum (GSF) provides a venue for consultations among senior science policy officials of OECD member countries. It produces findings and action recommendations on high-priority science policy issues requiring international consultations/co-operation, and identifies opportunities for collaboration on major scientific undertakings. Specifically, the GSF serves its members in the formulation and implementation of their science policies by: 1) exploring opportunities for new or enhanced international co-operation in selected scientific areas; 2) defining international frameworks for vital national or regional science policy decisions; and 3) addressing the scientific dimensions of issues of global concern.

The 2-day International Symposium on Future Asia began today, 13 December 2012, at the Research Institute for Humanity and Nature. The theme of the symposium is Bridging Science, Technology and Society: Practices of Transdisciplinary Implementation on Sustainability and Environmental Change in Future Asia. In his opening remarks, the Director of RIHN informed participants that the purpose of the symposium is to focus Asian particularities to with regard to the implementation of global change programmes and how this relates to the new ICSU-led initiative on Future Earth. He stressed the "futurability" of the GEC projects will depend on the ability of the GEC programme to connect with national and global research frameworks. The President of ICSU who is also attending the symposium once again stressed that what Asia decides to do in the next decade will make or break global sustainability. Hence, in his view, Future Earth has special relevance to Asia

The International Social Science Council ( ISSC) and ICSU, in collaboration with the German Research Foundation (DFG), are planning to assemble a large group of young researchers with diverse research perspectives to reflect on Food Futures and debate relevant issues as part of a series of conferences on Integrated Science. The aim is to bring together creative multidimensional, interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary perspectives to address such a complex topic like food systems. These early career scientists will ask what are and will be the challenges related to food, now and in the future, and they are expected to devise the next generation of research programmes and projects, looking for a suitable definition and means to reach global sustainability goals.

Young scientists are invited to submit applications for participation in a Networking Conference on Integrated Science.

The DFG/ICSU/ISSC Young Scientists Networking Conference on Integrated Science discussing the Future Earth theme Food Futures will take place in Villa Vigoni, the German]Italian Centre for Cultural and Scientific Exchange at Lake Como in Italy, from 14- 19 April, 2013. The International Council for Science (ICSU), the German Research Foundation (DFG), and the International Social Science Council (ISSC) are inviting applications for participation by young scientists. The conference is kindly funded by the German Research Foundation.

Closing date for applications: 14 December 2012.

The Networking Conference is open to post-doctoral researchers interested in the collaboration between the social and the natural sciences. The conference will bring together senior and leading scientists and researchers with a diversity of perspectives on food to identify top priority questions for future research on the topic.

The meeting is designed to become the starting point for new international integrated science research on Food Futures. They will provide not only a chance to fully realise the overview of the state of the art in the topic/field, but also to interact and network with leading thinkers . forging new collaborations, and fostering new compelling integrated science.

Travel expenses (economy trip) as well as cost for the stay at Villa Vigoni will be covered for successful applicants for the duration of the conference.

Please note that the seminar will be held in English only. Candidates should indicate if this would be a problem for them.

Selection criteria

1. General eligibility of Candidates

. Post]doctoral researchers with no more than 10 years work experience following their PhD;

or individuals with equivalent qualifications (preferably under the age of 40)

. Interest in international, transdisciplinary, intercultural research cooperation

Application requirements

. A) A full (no more than 1 page) CV to include:

o Education

o Current position

o Other relevant experiences or academic awards

o Candidate’s current research topic(s)

. B)

o List of up to 5 of the candidates publications, which he/she values highest of which the best paper should be included as a reprint

o A brief outline (1 page) of how the candidate’s work is relevant to the seminar topic

o A half page outlining why she/he should be participating in the meeting

o A half page abstract for candidate’s proposed poster

Eligible, interested candidates are welcome to apply by emailing the requested documents to the email address

below:

net-conf@worldsocialscience.org

Or forward the application by mail to:

International social Science Council (ISSC)

UNESCO Building

1, rue Miollis

75732 Paris Cedex 15

FRANCE

Successful applicants will be notified in January.

The 14th Meeting of the ICSU Regional Committee for Asia and the Pacific (RCAP) was held in Hyderabad, India on 1 and 2 November 2012. It was hosted by the Indian National Science Academy (INSA) the ICSU National Member for India, in Association with the Dr Reddy's Institute of Life Sciences (DRILS). A half-day symposium was organised by ICSU and DRILS in conjunction with the Meeting. It explored the energy, environment and health nexus. Speaking at the symposium were Dr R Chidambaram, Principal Scientific Advisor Government of India, Professor Keith Hunter of University of Otago, Academician Professor Dato' C. P. Ramachandran of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia, and Professor Indira Nath, Raj Ramanna Fellow and Emeritus Professor National Institute of Pathology (ICMR), Safdarjung Hospital Campus, New Delhi, India. The symposium was held from 09:30 am Friday 2 November 2012 at the DST Auditorium, University of Hyderabad.

The Director of ROAP, Nordin Hasan met with the Minister in the newly established Ministry of Environment and Green Development Mongolia, and the staff of its Department of Green Development Policy and Planning in Ulaanbaatar recently. The meeting discussed ways of enhancing the impact of science on green development policies in Mongolia. Sanjaansuren OYUN who recently became minister in the new coalition government in Mongolia, has a background in geology. Also present at the meeting were Professors Rick Leemans of Wagenigen University, the Netherlands who is also the Chair of the Science Committee of the Earth System Science Partnership (ESSP), Mark Stafford Smith, Science Director at CSIRO Australia and Masataka Watanabe of Keio University, Japan. The meeting was organised by Chuluun Togtokh, a member of the ICSU Regional Committee for Asia and the Pacific (RCAP). Chuulun was recently appointed Director General of the Department of Green Development Policy and Planning, Mongolia. He is the programme lead for Future Earth in the Regional Committee.

The Global-Regional Integration Workshop on Natural Hazards and Disasters began in Kuala Lumpur on 13 September 2012.  It plans to develop a framework to harmonise the work on hazards and disasters in ICSU at the global and regional levels. The Workshop will seek a common implementation strategy for the ICSU programme on hazards and disasters.

All three Regional Offices of ICSU have developed science plans on hazards and disasters independent of the ICSU global science plan on hazards and disasters. These plans were prepared with recognition that hazards and disaster concerns in each of the three ICSU regions (Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean) have their own characteristics and priority concerns.

Commonalities and differences of the proposed plans in each region and at the global level will be discussed and a common implementation framework will be developed during the workshop. Gaps will be identified and suggestions for their closure will be discussed. Possible and realistic sources of funds to support the implementation of the proposed framework will be identified.

The workshop is made possible by Sida support to ICSU that is aimed to:

• Strengthening high-quality research in the regions and integrating regional and global research activities;

• Enhancing research capacity in developing countries; and
• Ensuring that there are policy impacts

At the end of the Workshop a framework for the implementation of the ICSU plans on hazards and disasters that integrates both global and regional priorities will be developed..

The Asia – Pacific region is urbanizing rapidly. Currently about 45% of the region’s population lives in urban areas and the annual population growth rate is 2.3%. Across the region more than 40 million people are added to the urban population each year. The urban population is growing more than twice as fast as the population as a whole.

Urbanization needs to be carefully managed if it is to enhance, not threaten, human health and wellbeing. The increasing complexity of urban systems had led to an awareness of the need for practical systems approaches. Such approaches range from simple ‘systems thinking’ methods, through conceptual models, to quantitative dynamical analyses. ICSU ROAP recommended a systems approach as a first step in implementing the systems analysis proposed in an ICSU report on urban health and well-being.

The research scoping workshop on 28 and 29 August was held in Bangkok, Thailand,  hosted by the ICSU National Member the National research Council of Thailand (NRCT). It was attended by 8 key health and urban environment researchers mainly from Asia and the Pacific. It was aimed to draft a research programme on urban health and wellbeing in the changing environment in the Asia – Pacific that can be promoted for funding and implementation in the short and medium – term. Specifically, it:

• Elaborate the priority research areas identified at the pre-scoping workshop on urban health and well-being held in Hyderabad in July;
• Scope research programmes to be undertaken in first year (12 months) of implementation;
• Identify research teams with solid results and ability to produce high-quality publications who would engage with the work in Asia and the Pacific; and
• Identify opportunities for research funding and agencies that can support the implementation of the programme.

Read the Research Scoping Workshop Report.

The workshop discussed possible directions of work on urban health and wellbeing that will be considered priority in Asia and the Pacific in the next 3 to 5 years. It aims to promote the use of the systems approach. Indira Nath the newly appointed Chair of the ICSU Scientific Committee for the new 10-year international programme on Health and Wellbeing in the Changing Urban Environment: A Systems Analysis Approach attended the workshop.

The workshop which is the first step in the implementation of ICSU ROAP’s Programme on Health and Wellbeing in the Changing Urban Environment, identified active output-oriented research teams that can potentially contribute towards attracting new funding support and enhancing the success of the programme in the long-run. A full-fledged scoping workshop is planned to be held in August this year.

Read the Pre-scoping Workshop Report.

The Centre for Climate Change Research (CCCR) at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) in collaboration with WMO's World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) and System for Analysis, Research and Training (START) is organizing the Coordinated Regional Downscaling Experiment (CORDEX) South Asia Training Workshop, 17-20 October 2012 at IITM, Pune, India.

The four-day training workshop will focus on skill development in analysis and verification of results from the CORDEX climate models, compilation and writing of analytical results to be eventually submitted for publication in peer reviewed journal(s). The workshop will be augmented by focused mentoring from a team of experts from the climate modeling and VIA (vulnerability, impacts and adaptation) communities. This capacity building effort will help foster trans-disciplinary collaborations between individuals from the physical sciences and the VIA research community.

The online application and registration form is available at the workshop webpage:

http://cccr.tropmet.res.in/cccr/home/CORDEX/oct2012/index.html

A workshop (Think Tank) and field visit on green growth in Australia organized by the Australian Academy of Science in conjunction with the Academy of Sciences Malaysia  has just been concluded. The workshop and field visits were fully sponsored by the Australian-Malaysian Institute (AMI). The three-day event (15 to 17 of May 2012) was jointly organised by ICSU ROAP with the help of the Australian Academy of Science and the Academy of Sciences Malaysia, involved researchers (natural and social sciences) and business and industry representatives from both countries. The event aimed to enhance exchange of knowledge, awareness and interest in green growth strategies in both countries, and increase their ability to jointly engage in activities that promote the greening of the economy  in Malaysia and Australia. The green economy is one of the two themes of the forthcoming United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) Rio+20 summit that will be held on 20 - 22 June 2012 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The Think Tank provided the opportunity for researchers from both countries to explore possible future collaboration, and to share cutting edge developments in strategic areas relating to green growth. It enabled initial discussions between a core group scientists, decision makers, business and industry representatives from Malaysia and Australia on the development of green growth initiatives for both countries. Nine papers were presented, three by Malaysians and six by the Australians. The Malaysian delegation was represented by Dato’ Ghazali Dato’ Mohd Yusoff from Nusatek Industries, Associate Professor Abdul Hadi Harman Shah and Associate Professor Dr. Ahmad Fariz Mohamed both from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.

Field visits were organized to facilitate exchange of knowledge on renewable energy and solar cell technologies in Australia and Malaysia. This included visits to companies conducting research and development for dye solar cell technology, and with photo-voltaic renewable energy technology. A visit was also made to the materials research facilities of New South Wales University where a brief but detailed tour was given of its solar and renewable technology research and sustainable materials research technologies. A tour was made to the TYREE: Energy Technologies Building a new building in the University. It was built based entirely on the need to prioritize the use of renewable energy and materials. Discussions were also held with Sustainable Business Australia (SBA) that links research in universities to business and industry.

The workshop and field visits provided good insights on the accomplishments of Australian universities, research institutes, business and industries in developing, promoting and taking the renewable energy and solar energy technologies to the current level of achievement. It pointed to potential future directions for the development of joint research and collaboration between Malaysia and Australia towards promoting a greener economy in Malaysia and elsewhere in Asia and the Pacific.

Norizan obtained her Bachelor's Degree (with Honours) in Biology in 2005 from Universiti Teknologi MARA (UITM). Upon graduation she served with the Population and Family Development Board of the Malaysian Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development. Prior to being assigned to ICSU ROAP she was Science Officer at the Academy of Sciences Malaysia (ASM) that she joined in 2008. She has project management experience and was involved in establishing the science and technology information database at ASM which was linked to the search engine of Thomson-Reuters (ISI) Web of Knowledge, and toScopus. She also served on the ASM Emerging Technologies Committee where her main task was to identify frontier sciences, cutting-edge technologies and associated research opportunities.

The signing of the supplementary agreement between ICSU and the Government of Malaysia took place in Kuala Lumpur on Friday 27 April 2012. In conjunction with the event, there was a brief science forum entitled “Cutting Edge Science and the Future of Mankind”. Professor Yuan Tseh Lee the President of ICSU delivered a keynote address to kick off the Forum.

The need for cutting edge science has never been greater than at present. New knowledge is needed to find new solutions to intractable problems related to resource and energy use, loss of natural ecosystems and growing income disparities worldwide. The forum was aimed at raising the awareness of decision- and policy-makers on the need to enhance support for the basic sciences in the context of the sustainability of development in Asia and the Pacific.

To view the signing ceremony and keynote lecture by Professor Yuan Tseh Lee (starts at 0:42:46), visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LefQjWRE3h8&feature=relmfu

To view the Science Forum please visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79UgPb1jIx8&list=UUn54oFdnNDgLiV5nYG8COYQ&index=1&feature=plcp

The Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR), the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC) and the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP), the International Council of Scientific Unions (ICSU), the International Glaciological Society (IGS) and the International Association of Cryospheric Sciences (IACS) are pleased to announce the kick-off workshop of the renewed Ice-Sheet Mass Balance and Sea Level (ISMASS) expert group. The workshop aims are as follows:

1) To assess the current knowledge of the contribution of the Antarctic and Greenland Ice Sheets to global and regional sea-level rise, taking into account ongoing and proposed projects including the ESA/NASA-supported Ice Sheet Mass Balance Inter-Comparison Exercise. The focus will be on quantifying the uncertainties, and understanding and resolving the current discrepancies among the estimates from different observational and modelling methods. New techniques will also be explored.

2) To analyze how model-based predictions of ice-sheet discharge contributions to sea-level changes can be improved. The emphasis will be on identifying the main shortcomings of the currently available models and suggesting improvements for the next generation of icesheet models. Particular attention will be given to the interactions of ice sheets and shelves with the oceans and the atmosphere.

3) To reach a consensus on the magnitude of the current contribution of ice-sheet surface mass balance and discharge to sea-level change, and disseminate this knowledge not only to other researchers, but to policymakers and the general public.

4) To analyze the feasibility of preparing updates of the estimates of the contribution of icesheet discharge to sea-level rise between successive IPCC reports (e.g. every two years).

5) To study the regional distribution of sea-level rise and its impacts on coastal areas.

6) To determine how the renewed SCAR-IASC joint expert group on Ice Sheet Mass Balance and Sea Level (ISMASS) should be organized to effectively meet the above objectives.

A limited amount of travel support is available to attend the ISMASS 2012 Workshop. Preference will be given to early career scientists and researchers from developing countries. Visit the workshop website for details on how to apply (deadline 30 April) http://www.climate-cryosphere.org/en/events/2012/ISMASS/Home.html

The 7th meeting of the Scientific Steering Committee (SSC) of the Monsoon Asia Integrated Regional Study (MAIRS) will be held in Zhangjiajie, China, on 23 and 24 April 2012. It will review the progress of the projects of MAIRS and discuss future directions and activities. The SSC meeting will be followed by an International Workshop entitled “Developing Asian Megacities Toward a Sustainable World” that will be organised jointly with the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), and Peking University.

MAIRS research focuses on the human-monsoon system interactions. It aims to generate knowledge and understanding as to the extent human activities modulate the Asian monsoon and how the changed monsoon will in turn impact social and economic development of Asia.

More information about MAIRS may be obtained from http://www.mairs-essp.org/