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In conjunction with the 22nd Pacific Science Congress, ICSU Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (ROAP) and its Science Planning Group on Health and Wellbeing in the Changing Urban Environment is supporting the Symposium on Health Challenges and Urbanization. The symposium is being convened by Professor Anthony Capon, of the National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, The Australian National University (ANU) who is also a member of the ICSU ROAP Science Planning Group on Health and Wellbeing in the Changing Urban Environment. The ICSU ROAP science plan Health and Wellbeing in the Changing Urban Environment: A Systems Approach will be launched during the symposium. Other than Professor Capon, speakers at the symposium will include Professor Indira Nath, Raja Ramanna Fellow, Institute of Pathology (ICMR), India, Professor Philippa Howden-Chapman, University of Otago, New Zealand, Dr Barry Newell of the Fenner School of Environment and Society, The Australian National University, and Dr Katrina Proust, National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, College of Medicine, Biology and Environment, The Australian National University. A copy of the programme and venue for the symposium is available from this brochure.

In conjunction with the 22nd Pacific Science Congress, ICSU Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (ROAP) and its Science Planning Group on Health and Wellbeing in the Changing Urban Environment is supporting the Symposium on Health Challenges and Urbanization. The symposium is being convened by Professor Anthony Capon, of the National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, The Australian National University (ANU) who is also a member of the ICSU ROAP Science Planning Group on Health and Wellbeing in the Changing Urban Environment. The ICSU ROAP science plan Health and Wellbeing in the Changing Urban Environment: A Systems Approach will be launched during the symposium. Other than Professor Capon, speakers at the symposium will include Professor Indira Nath, Raja Ramanna Fellow, Institute of Pathology (ICMR), India, Professor Philippa Howden-Chapman, University of Otago, New Zealand, Dr Barry Newel of the Fenner School of Environment and Society, The Australian National University, and Dr Katrina Proust, National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, College of Medicine, Biology and Environment, The Australian National University. A copy of the programme and venue for the symposium are available from the symposium brochure.

This meeting is being organized as a contribution to the preparatory process of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) that will take place in 2012, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The International Council for Science, aware of the importance of providing the independent point of view of Science and Technology for the intergovernmental process, has taken the initiative to organize, together with UNESCO, four regional workshops, bringing together prestigious scientists and engineers of each region to discuss the main themes of UNCSD 2012 from the point of view of the scientific and technological community, and to prepare joint positions and concerted input into the intergovernmental Rio+20 Regional Preparatory Meetings.

The workshop will focus on the Rio+20 themes of Green Economy in the Context of Poverty Eradication and Sustainable Development, and Institutional Framework for Sustainable Development.

The ICSU-UNESCO Rio+20 Regional Workshop for Asia and the Pacific is supported by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, Malaysia and the Academy of Sciences Malaysia.

For further information, please see the workshop brochure.

As science is inherently global, we look forward to using this new website to improve our communications with each other in our region and with our colleagues worldwide. Register and join in.

Bruce McKellar

Chair, ICSU Regional Committee for Asia and the Pacific

The ICSU-UNESCO-UNU report on Ecosystem Change and Human Well-being is now available. This provides the rationale for the development of a major new interdisciplinary research initiative as part of the follow-up to the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. As mentioned in the report, the follow-up strategy aims to a) build the knowledge base; b) integrate the MA ecosystem service approach into decision-making at all levels; c) disseminate the MA through outreach programmes; and d) plan for future Global Ecosystem Assessments

Ecosystem Change and Human Well-being report

The latest electronic newsletter of DIVERSITAS the international programme of biodiversity science is downloadable from the following site.

DIVERSITAS electronic newsletter

The East West Center (EWC) and the global change SysTem for Analysis Research and Training (START), together with a number of partners including the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP), International Human Development Programme (IHDP), Urban Global Environmental Change (UGEC) programme, Land-Ocean Interactions in the Coastal Zone (LOICZ), and ICSU Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (ROAP), with financial support from the Asia Pacific Network (APN) and ICSU, collaborated to host a major workshop on Cities at Risk: Building Adaptive Capacity for Climate Change in Asias Coastal Megacities on 26 to 28 February 2009 in Bangkok. It brought together scientists, urban planners and officials, and representatives of disaster management and development agencies to review scientific findings and projections regarding climate-related risks (e.g., sea level rise, extreme climate events, intensification of storms and storm surges) for Asia’s coastal megacities.

Workshop participants examined potential vulnerabilities and current coping mechanisms as well as means for improving networking and communication between urban planners/officials and the scientific community. Case studies from Dhaka (Bangladesh), Shanghai and Hong Kong / Shenzhen / Guangzhou (China), Mumbai and Calcutta (India), Jakarta (Indonesia), Karachi (Pakistan), Manila (Philippines), Bangkok (Thailand), and Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) provided examples that anchored discussions during the workshop.

Workshop participants worked to develop recommendations relating to future priorities for policy-relevant research and science-based capacity building to promote adaptation for climate change in Asia’s coastal megacities. A workshop report will be produced that will include recommendations for follow-up activities, a monograph or special journal issue that will include selected workshop papers, and a policy brief based on workshop presentations, discussions, and recommendations.

For additional information, please contact Prof. Roland Fuchs (FuchsR@EastWestCenter.org) at the East West Center (www.eastwestcenter.org) or Ms. Clark Seipt (cseipt@agu.org) at START (www.start.org).

This is to announce the ICSU-funded Spring School on the subject "Fluid Mechanics and Geophysics of Environmental Hazards” that will be held from 19th April to 2nd May 2009 at the Institute for Mathematical Sciences, National University of Singapore. This is an activity under ICSU priority area on "Natural and Human-Induced Environmental Hazards and Disasters".

The School is aimed at Graduate Students and young Researchers in Mathematics, Physics, and Engineering Sciences, and the organizers hope to attract students particularly from Asia and the Pacific Region. *Grants are available for the support of suitably qualified applicants.

*Details on the School and method of application can be found at http://www.ims.nus.edu.sg/Programs/09fluidss/index.htm

The Conference will bring together leading experts, from both research and operational meteorological environments. The event aims to be a first step towards an ongoing international focus on the potential impacts of climate change on the Indian Ocean, and its proceedings will be published as a WMO technical document. Members of the World Weather Research Programme Expert Team will present papers on various aspects of climate change impacts on tropical cyclones.

• The broad thematic areas of the conference are:
• Operational Tropical Cyclone Forecasting and warning Systems;
• Progress on tropical Cyclogenesis;
• Climate Change and Tropical Cyclone Activity;
• Assessment of Risk and Vulnerability from tropical Cyclones, including construction, archival and retrieval of best-track and historic data sets;
• Disaster Preparedness, Management and Reduction;
• Recent high impact tropical cyclone events in the Indian Ocean: Nargis, SIDR, Gonu and other events.

For details visit http://web.squ.edu.om/tropicalcyclones/Registration.htm

The 6 th Meeting of ICSU Regional Committee for Asia and the Pacific was convened on 26-27 November 2008 in Guilin, China. It was hosted by the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST). In attendance were Prof. Motonori Hoshi, Prof. Mingsarn Kaosa-ard, Prof. Ali Akbar Moosavi Movahedi, Prof. Zhang Kan, Prof. Derek Gardiner, Prof. Muhammad Awang, Dr. Patricia Ocampo-Thomason, and Prof. Mohd Nordin Hasan.

At this meeting the Regional Committee for Asia and the Pacific agreed on a road-map to develop fully the potential of the Regional Office in the next three years. It was also suggested that the ICSU explores the use of the action plan matrix developed by the Regional Office for its science plan on hazards and disasters as a template to initiate work on the recently launched ICSU programme on Integrated Research on Disaster Risks (IRDR). A half-day forum on sustainable energy in Asia and the Pacific, with a special focus on China (the host country), was held in conjunction with the meeting. Scientists from the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, and the Guangzhou Institute Energy Conversion (both belonging to the Chinese Academy of Sciences), the China Association for Science and Technology, and ICSU ROAP participated in the forum.

The 3 RD Meeting of ICSU ROAP Science Planning Group on Sustainable Energy was held in Kuala Lumpur on 14 and 15 November 2008. The group is at the stage of compiling and furnishing the required information on each topic in the science plan. In attendance were Derek Gardiner as Interim Chair (ICSU ROAP Regional Committee Member), Momir Djurovic, Yoshino Hiroshi, Sukanta Roy, Ajith de Alwis, Atul Raturi, Arun Kumar, S. Dasappa and Nordin Hasan ( Ex-officio ). One other member of the planning group, Richard Corkish was unable to attend.

The science plan is expected to enhance the understanding of research needs to promote sustainable energy use and potential in Asia and the Pacific. It will guide the work of the ICSU Regional Office for the next three to six years. The plan focuses on seven energy sources i.e. wind, solar, geothermal, hydro, biomass, ocean energy and energy from waste. It will take stock of the availability of each sustainable energy source, highlight current and emerging technologies, their potential applications in the region, and ways of enhancing efficient energy use for building and lighting. The topic on capacity building was also discussed to take into account education and training needs for the development of sustainable energy resources of the region.

The 4th Malaysian International Seminar on Antarctica (MISA4) is a biennial event which brings together researchers from various polar and non-polar nations to share their research findings as well as to generate interest on Antarctica among the general public and school children. The theme of MISA4 is ‘Legacy of IPY to the Tropics’.

The ICSU Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific Science Planning Group (SPG) on Ecosystem Change met in Kuala Lumpur on 16 and 17 October 2008. The Group is chaired by Dr Doris Capitrano, Senior Fellow, Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), Los Banos, Laguna, Philippines. Present were Distinguished Professor Kamaljit Bawa, President of the Ashoka Trust for Research on Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Professor Lu Yonglong of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Associate Professor Toshimori Takahasi of Utsunomiya University, Japan, Professor Muhamad Awang of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia, Ms Tran Thi Le Anh the Deputy Director, Integrated Coastal Zone,Marine and River Basin Management Division, Vietnam Environment Protection Agency (VEPA), and Professor Mohd Nordin Hasan, Director of ICSU ROAP. Professor Thomas Elmqvist of Stockholm University was unable to attend. The Group discussed inter alia plans for enhancing research on ecosystem change in Asia and the Pacific region, and how to make more effective use of knowledge about ecosystems in the interface between science and society towards achieving a more sustainable and equitable development.

Professor Kamaljit Bawa, Distinguished Professor, Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts, Boston and founder of the Ashoka Trust for Research on Ecology and the Environment, Bangalore, will be giving a seminar entitled “Sustainability and Human Wellbeing: Can We Meet the Challenge?”. The seminar will be held at the Resource Centre, Institute for Environment and Development (LESTARI), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia at 2.30 pm on Wednesday 15 October.

• Sustainability and Human Well Being: Can We Meet the Challenge?

ICSU ROAP released today two science plans for work in hazards and disasters in Asia and the Pacific. The first, Science Plan on Hazards and Disasters: Earthquakes, Floods and Landslides focuses on the knowledge on earthquakes, floods and landslides needed to prevent hazards from becoming disasters in Asia and the Pacific. Loss of lives and property from earthquakes, floods and landslides is highest in Asia and the Pacific compared to other parts of the world. The second, Science Plan on Hazards and Disasters: Special Vulnerability of Islands addresses the need to highlight the special vulnerability of islands in the Pacific to hazards and disasters. Many of these islands are found along active tectonic plate boundaries, and have a high probability of being exposed to tropical cyclones. Both reports can be downloaded from Publication page

The ICSU-UNESCO-UNU ad hoc Group on follow-up activities to the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA) was tasked with developing a science agenda based on experiences from the MA. This group of experts with relevant natural and social science disciplinary competence representing experiences from the MA as well as the relevant sub-global assessments, was convened with the following Terms of Reference:

1. Based on the outcomes of MA in general, and subsequent literature that has been developed [1] , identify key knowledge gaps that should be filled through additional scientific research;
2. Prioritize research needs and indicate, whenever possible, the need for research at global versus regional scales;
3. Consider whether scientific progress will best be achieved through a decentralized bottom-up approach, regional foci through research/assessment projects, and/or an internationally coordinated research effort;
4. Suggest ways by which a research agenda could be further developed to address the identified priority knowledge gaps; and
5. Discuss and agree on possible mechanisms for implementing research to fill targeted knowledge gaps.

The report of the work of this group is now available for download . The research that this report and other publications will stimulate can provide a firm scientific basis for a possible second assessment of how ecosystem services contribute to, and depend on, human well-being.

[1] Carpenter, S. R., R. DeFries, T. Dietz, H. A. Mooney, S. Polasky, W. V. Reid and R. J. Scholes. (2006). "Millennium Assessment: research needs." Science 314 : 257-258; Mooney, H. A., J. Agard, D. Capistrano, S. R. Carpenter, R. DeFries, S. Diaz, T. Dietz, A. K. Duraiappah, A. Oteng-Yeboah, H. M. Pereira, C. Perrings, W. V. Reid, J. Sarukhan, R. J. Scholes and Anne Whyte. Submitted. “Research for global stwradship: Building on the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. PNAS (submitted). .

ICSU ROAP visited the National Research Council of Philippines (NRCP http://www.nrcp.dost.gov.ph/ ) on 19 October 2008 to follow-up on earlier discussions with the President of the Council, Dr Jamie C. Montoya on strengthening ties and enhancing collaboration between ICSU ROAP and the NRCP. In conjunction with the visit, a presentation was made to the Governing Board of the NRCP on the future directions of ICSU and potential areas where relations between ICSU ROAP and the NRCP may be strengthened and improved. The NRCP, established in 1933, is the oldest science council in Asia. The Philippines, it should be noted, has been a member of ICSU since the establishment of the NRCP.

The discussion identified common areas of interest including research on hazards and disasters, sustainable energy, and ecosystems. These areas of research had been identified as priority for further development by ICSU ROAP in the next three to six years. Members of the Governing Board expressed keen interest in interacting with ICSU at all levels. Many of the Divisions of the NRCP are aware of the activities of ICSU and have in the past engaged with various ICSU Unions and Interdisciplinary Bodies. Nevertheless it was noted that there are still many areas of collaboration that can be developed further. This includes enhancing the ability of NRCP to efficiently tap the intellectual resources available under ICSU, greater access to data and information, wider engagement of NRCP in capacity building activities organized by ICSU and greater participation in ICSU panels. The Undersecretary for Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology, Dr Garciano P. Yumul, Jr., that oversees the NRCP, was also present at the meeting.

The National Science Council of Lao PDR was established in 2002 to promote the development of scientific research activities in Laos. It was anticipated that such activities would be gradually upgraded to include activities at the international level. In December 2007 Laos established the National Authority of Science and Technology (NAST). This is a major boost for the development of science in Laos and ICSU can have a significant role to play, through its Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, in enhancing the ability of scientists from Laos to participate in research programmes in the region that will benefit Laos. Details of the Lao National Policy on Science and Technology may be accessed from the following link (Lao National Science and Technology Policy .pdf) However Laos is not yet a member of ICSU.

The ICSU Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (ROAP) held in-depth discussions with the NSC on 5 September 2008 in Vientiane to encourage Laos to become a member of ICSU . Present at the meeting were the Vice President of NSC, Dr Maydom Chantanansinh, the Director General of the National Authority of Science and Technology, the Deputy Director General of Cabinet, the Deputy Director of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and all the Directors of the divisions within (NAST). Ir. Somphone Phanousith, the Permanent Secretary of the National Science Council who is also the Secretary General of the Lao Union of Science and Engineering (LUSEA) graced the visit by ICSU with a memento from Lao PDR.

The Spring School on Fluid Mechanics and Geophysics of Environmental Hazards that will teach the mechanical fundamentals of geophysical fluid dynamics, and on geophysical hazard and risk in the atmosphere and ocean, will be held at the Institute of Mathematical Science, National University of Singapore. It will focus on four specific environmental hazards:

1. typhoons and tropical cyclones;
2. monsoons and flooding;
3. tsunamis; pollution of atmosphere, ocean and
4. the urban environment.

The objectives of the School is to promote active and collaborative research activity among the participants. Its long-term objective is to initiate a network of young scientists in countries of Asia and the Pacific who will be committed to work in this interdisciplinary area, and to launch a program of research addressing these problems.

The School is promoted jointly by two of the International Scientific Unions of ICSU (the International Council for Science): IUTAM (the International Union of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics) and IUGG (the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics). The School is supported also by ICSU's Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific Region, based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and it contributes to two of ICSU's priority areas: Natural and Human-Induced Environmental Hazards and Disasters and Building Scientific Capacity .

Graduates in mathematics, physics or engineering, and who wish to undertake research in this broad area are encouraged to apply .

Interested candidates may obtain the application form and further details from http://www.ims.nus.edu.sg/Programs/09fluidss/index.htm

or write to:

Secretary

Institute for Mathematical Sciences

National University of Singapore

3 Prince George's Park Singapore

118402 Republic of Singapore

or email to imssec@nus.edu.sg .

The UNEP Eco-Peace Leadership Center is offering a year-long Program to enhance international cooperation in the field of the environment. The aim to enable participants to have the capacity to independently develop solutions to environmental problems that they face in their own country through participation in the programme. Training will be available in 7 different topics which are ‘ Peace & Cooperation ' , ‘ Urban Ecology Environment ' , ‘ Water & Dam ' , ‘ Desertification & Forest ' , ‘ Local Community Revival ' , ‘ Environment & Culture ' and ‘ Renewable Energy ' . EPLC will provide successful participants with a grant of USD2,000 for completion of the program, in addition to meals, accommodation and air ticket for travel to Korea.

Those interested should submit all required documents to EPLC by 30 September. More details may be obtained from the documents linked to this announcement and the EPLC website www.unep-eplc.org .