IYPE Management Team meeting on June 02-05 at Vienna
This was the first meeting since the approval of the draft resolution of the
UNESCO/IUGS for an International Year of Planet Earth. This step was in fact
the starting point of a delicate process toward the UN proclamation of an
IYPE. In this regards, the next few months will be very busy if we expect
the initiative to record the same success during the General Assembly of
UNESCO and UN late this year (October and November respectively). The United
Republic of Tanzania has again decided to spearhead the process and to
propose a Draft Resolution to UNESCO and UN General Assembly.
The action of the GSAf to support this important initiative for the African
continent should be to take the leadership for
(1) an active lobbying of African governments to support the initiative
during the General Assemblies for both UNESCO and UN late this year. Our
objective is to have all African national delegates being fully informed on
the IYPE and on the possibilities offered by this worldwide event for the
development of geosciences in Africa;
(2) Publicizing the year at all meetings so as to make sure that many
projects dealing with the science and outreach programs will come from
Africa during the implementation phase of the year. Please go to the
following websites to see more about these programs:
www.internationalyearofplanete arth.com ; and www.esfs.org .
When the year is proclaimed by the UN, it will then become a governmental
affair with the contribution of the civil society, some professional groups
such as communicators, teachers, artists .etc, and geoscientists. I imagine
that National Committees will be created to take care of the implementation
of the year in each country. The responsibility of the GSAf at that stage
will be to act as advisors of such National Committees (IUGS, UNESCO or
something else created for the event .).
If each of us can contact only member of government of his home country to
talk about the year!
International Year (IYPE) wins full UNESCO Support! The IYPE project received unopposed endorsement from the UNESCO Executive
Board at the end of April in Paris . The Year was placed on the meeting
agenda by the Permanent Delegation of Tanzania. It was proposed by the
Tanzanian Permanent Delegate and supported by statements from 20 other
countries. The resolution will now go forward to the UNESCO General
Conference and thence to the United Nations General Asssembly in New York
for full ratification. The Year might, if ultimately approved, be either
2007 or 2008. The research and outreach activities associated with it will
take place over a straddling three year period, beginning the year before
and ending the year after.
(The above report is taken from Geoscientist, the magazine of the Geological
Society of London, v15, no.6, p21 (June 2005). GSAf warmly congratulates
Tanzania for taking the initiative in promoting this important project.
Thanks are due also to the efforts of GSAf President and Secretary General
in mobilising support from countries where GSAf has an active presence. Now
is the time for GSAf members to be formulating ideas and plans for
IYPE-related research and outreach projects, to encourage understanding and
take-up of earth science and its applications at all levels in Africa, from
government to grassroots.)
John Bennett
June 2005
IUGS E-Bulletin #9, January 2005
The 9th IUGS E-Bulletin is now available at the IUGS website. In this issue:
- UNESCO - Division of Earth Science
- Members of the IGCP Scientific Board 2005
- International Year of the Planet Earth
- IUGS Mid-Term Strategic Plan 2001 - 2011
- New Editor of Episodes
- Meetings
We encourage all our activity leaders, members and affiliated organizations to contribute relevant information to the E-Bulletin. Previous bulletins are also available at www.iugs.org . Please visit the IUGS website regularly for the most up-to-date listing of IUGS related activities.
IUGS Developments 2004 - make the most of the opportunities!
Letter from the IUGS Secretary General
Recent Developments in Geosciences: International Research Programs
The attached message from Sospeter Muhongo contains news on the following international research programs:
IGCP Response to Proposed Budget Cuts to IGCP
Article International Year of Planet Earth
Dear Secretary-General,
In 1999 the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) was reviewed by a largely external Strategic Planning Committee (SPC). That Committee developed some 32 recommendations for improved performance of the Union in particular and for the Geosciences in general. Several of these recommendations focused on boosting new science and on exposure to fellow geoscientists, to the general public, politicians and the mass-media.
In response, the current Executive Committee of IUGS prepared a Strategic Action Plan addressing all these recommendations. In addition, a mid-term vision was developed for the Union: Where should the Union stand in 2012 when it hopes to celebrate its 50th anniversary? Information on progress in the Strategic Action Plan is provided in the IUGS Electronic Bulletin, number 2 . The Vision document and the Strategic Action Plan will be published together in a small booklet in spring 2003.
In the opinion of this Executive Committee only a very major event with sufficient good science and great outreach will be capable of generating the necessary degree of exposure. The International Year(s) of Planet Earth, 2004 - 2007-event was initiated to meet this need. The International Geophysical Year (IGY) served as a model for this Initiative. Over the proposed four-year period we intend to build-up significant exposure and to highlight up to eight big-science issues. Attached you will find a flyer with a First Announcement of this four-year long "Year".
This Initiative will be jointly proclaimed by both the IUGS and the UN System. As you will appreciate, only concerted action across a broadly global front, including all geo-oriented disciplines will ensure achievement of the ambitious goals. We therefore invite your organisation to join this initiative.
Yours truly,
Prof. Ed F.J. de Mulder
President of the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS).
IUGS Initiative for IYPE
December 2002
Update
February 2005
Status Report
March 2005
E-Update #1
April 2005 |
