Latest news

Urban health and wellbeing Steering Committee meeting

Mohd Nordin Hasan — 2013-05-20T04:08:16Z

The ROAP Steering Committee on Urban Health and Wellbeing will meet in Kuala Lumpur from 22 to 24 May to discuss progress in the implementation of its work on urban health and wellbeing and plan future activities. The meeting coincides with the 2^nd Meeting of the ICSU Scientific Committee on Urban Health that will be held at the same venue. A joint meeting of the ICSU Scientific Committee and the Regional Steering Committee has been planned to coordinate the work of ICSU on Urban Health at the global and regional levels. Six pilot projects are in the process of being developed in the region. These projects are being designed using the systems approach in order to address some of the more difficult to understand dynamics of urban systems and anticipate responses to management actions.

WESTPAC Summer School

Mohd Nordin Hasan — 2013-05-20T03:00:43Z

The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific (WESTPAC) will hold the Fourth WESTPAC Summer School on the SEAGOOS Monsoon Onset Monitoring and its Social & Ecosystem Impact (MOMSEI) Summer School in Terengganu, Malaysia, from 19 to 23 August 2013. In 2009 WESTPAC initiated a pilot project entitled “Monsoon Onset Monitoring and its Social and Ecosystem Impact” (MOMSEI) under its South East Asia Global Ocean Observing System (SEAGOOS) to improve the understanding and forecasting of Asia monsoon and its multi-scale variability at the regional level. The Summer School will be co-hosted by Universiti Malaysia Terengganu and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (National University of Malaysia). It is open to those who have a Master’s Degree and/or have working experience in oceanography, meteorology, marine biology and marine ecosystem studies. Prospective applicants should have a good command of English. For more information on how to apply please visit http://www.unescobkk.org/westpac/about-us/ioc-westpac/ioc-westpac/programmes-and-projects/ocean-observations-and-services/seagoos/momsei/meetings/4th-momsei-summer-school/ .

Science Council of Asia endorses Future Earth

Mohd Nordin Hasan — 2013-05-13T03:52:15Z

The Science Council of Asia (SCA) endorsed Future Earth as a very important global research framework, at its 13 Annual Conference held in Bangkok, Thailand on 7 - 9 May 2013. Professor Chao Han Liu (Center for Sustainability Science, Academia Sinica), speaking during a panel discussion on Future Earth at the Conference said that many answers are needed from Asia and the Pacific on the question of global sustainability. Alternatives needed to be sought to the currently energy and material intensive approach to development practised by industrialised countries. In addition research are needed on tipping points arising from albedo changes in the Tibetan Plateau, on transformations of the ENSO trigering mechanism, and on transformations occurring with the Indian Monsoon and on the thawing of the Siberian permafrost and release of greenhouse gasses. According to a recent publication permafrost covers 24 percent of the land surface of the Northern Hemisphere and significant thawing could affect vast areas and release billions of tons of carbon. This has huge implications for ecosystems in the region. Other speakers on the panel highlighted the need fo a new form of science that was more transdisciplinary in character. Professor Supakorn Chinvanno of the Southeast Asia Start Regional Center in Bangkok stressed the need for regional scale research that was holistic and a paradigm shift was required to design appropriate research frameworks on these issues. The theme of the SCA's Annual Conference and General Assembly in 2014 will be Future Earth: Research for global sustainability and a holistic understanding of sustainable development in Asia. The Conference will be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

German Committee of Future Earth launched

Mohd Nordin Hasan — 2013-05-13T02:13:54Z

The German National Committee on Global Change Research (NKGCF), an interdisciplinary committee linked to all global change programmes and launched by German Research Funding Agencies, has ended its activities and initiated the "German Committee Future Earth" (D-FutureEarth).

The "German Committee Future Earth" will serve as the successor committee to NKGCF and will act as a research advisory board and national partner on questions regarding international developments and activities within the framework of Future Earth. In February 2013 the German Research Foundation (DFG) appointed the following committee members with backgrounds in research areas relevant to Future Earth science:

For more information, please visit http://www.dkn-future-earth.de

Regional Committee for Asia and the Pacific meets in Kuala Lumpur

Mohd Nordin Hasan — 2013-04-24T03:15:00Z

The ICSU Regional Committee for Asia and the Pacific (RCAP) met in Kuala Lumpur on 25 and 26 April 2013. This was the 15th meeting of the Committee which meets twice a year. The meeting was chaired by Dr Hong Kum Lee, the Director General of the Korean Polar Research Institute (KOPRI). She has been a member of RCAP since 2009 and was appointed Chair in 2012.

SCAR Visiting Professor Scheme

Mohd Nordin Hasan — 2013-04-18T20:52:32Z

SCAR the Scientific Committee for Antarctic Research recently announced its Visiting Professor Scheme for mid- to late-career stage scientists and academics (at least 5 years after completing their PhD) who are involved in Antarctic research. The scheme is designed to encourage the active involvement of scientists and academics in Antarctic research, and to strengthen international capacity and cooperation in such research. The scheme would provide the opportunity for them to undertake a short-term visit (1 to 4 weeks) to an institute in another SCAR member country, to provide training and mentoring. The ultimate goal of the scheme is to strengthen the scientific research capacity of countries with smaller or less well-developed Antarctic research programmes, promoting capacity building in the host institute and developing long-term scientific links and partnerships which will lead to advances in Antarctic research.

This scheme complements the early-career SCAR Fellowship Scheme (http://www.scar.org/awards/fellowships/) by providing scientists and academics with the opportunity to intensify collaboration among SCAR member countries and to contribute to SCAR’s objectives. It provides awards of up to USD 2500 each, covering the cost of an international return flight and some contribution towards living expenses for the visiting period. Some commitment is required from the candidate's home institute (or the candidate themselves, if retired) and the proposed host institute. Up to four awards will be made in 2013, decided by competitive selection.

Full information on the scheme, including details of the application process and the criteria on which applications will be assessed, is available from: http://www.scar.org/about/visitingprofessor/ The closing date for applications is Friday 16th August 2013.

*SCAR, the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research, is a committee of ICSU the International Council for Science. It is charged with the initiation, promotion and co-ordination of scientific research in Antarctica.

Brain storming on Future Earth in Asia

Mohd Nordin Hasan — 2013-04-10T01:16:44Z

The brainstorming session on Future Earth in Asia ended yesterday,9 April 2013, with a clearer vision of how to take forward the process of developing Future Earth in Asia. It was attended by representatives from Academia Sinica, ICSU, the Science Council of Japan, CSIRO and the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Academics from the Australian National University, National Sun Yat-sen University and National Taipei University also participated in the brainstorming. The meeting discussed a potential framework for developing scientific programmes under the umbrella of Future Earth with a specific focus on issues of urbanization, coastal zones, and demography and core values, towards global sustainability. In terms of its implementation, the meeting discussed the possible layering of governance structures at the whole programme level and at the regional level. It was emphasised that there should be a supranational neutral office in the Asia-Pacific region that would serve to coordinate and promote Future Earth in Asia and the Pacific. A design meeting will be held as follow-up to the brainstorming to refine and finalise the ideas that arose from the meeting and develop an operational framework to take Future Earth forward in Asia. The meeting was hosted and funded by Academia Sinica.

Strong support for Future Earth from MAIRS

Mohd Nordin Hasan — 2013-04-03T05:58:06Z

The 8th MAIRS SSC met in Guangzhou, China on March 25 and 26, 2013. The meeting was hosted by South China Sea Institute of Oceanology (SCSIO), Chinese Academy of Science.

About 35 participants attend the meeting including MAIRS SSC members and observers from related international organizations. The ICSU Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (ROAP) was represented by its Director, Nordin Hasan. Scientists from the Guangzhou Urban Planning Institute and Sun Yat-Sen University also participated in the meeting.

The Annual Report of MAIRS for 2012 was presented by Dr. Ailikun, Director of the MAIRS International programme Office (IPO). Nordin made two presentations to the meeting, one on the linkages ICSU ROAP has established in Southeast Asia, and the other on the Future Earth regional workshop for Asia and the Pacific that was held in Kuala Lumpur in November 2012.

MAIRS has made good progress in establishing the base for interdisciplinary and integrated research on drylands, mountains, urban and coastal ecosystems in Asia that cuts across natural and social sciences. In addition it has an active programme on modeling and observation of earth systems at the regional scale. The decision was taken at the meeting that MAIRS accept the invitation to participate in the new international programme Future Earth. MAIRS will organise its first Open Science Conference on 7 to 10 April 2014 in Beijing. The conference will have as its overall theme Future Earth in Asia.

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

ICSU co-authors paper on sustainable development goals

Mohd Nordin Hasan — 2013-04-02T20:48:05Z

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.

Interdisciplinary Conference of Young Earth System Scientists

Mohd Nordin Hasan — 2013-03-31T02:25:04Z

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

OECD Global Science Forum (GSF) Singapore 18 – 19 March 2013

Mohd Nordin Hasan — 2013-03-27T06:01:36Z

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

ROAP forges close ties with APL-JAMSTEC

Mohd Nordin Hasan — 2013-03-27T01:45:00Z

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.

Regional Workshop for Future Earth in Asia and the Pacific

Mohd Nordin Hasan — 2013-03-23T10:55:16Z

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.

OECD Global Science Forum (GSF) Singapore 18 – 19 March 2013

Mohd Nordin Hasan — 2013-03-13T23:45:57Z

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

Call for Applications: DFG/ICSU/ISSC Young Scientists Networking Conference on Integrated Science

Mohd Nordin Hasan — 2012-11-09T20:20:00Z

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.