|
What's
new in October?
In the October
issue of A World of Science, the Director of the US National
Foundation for Science gives her views on the implications of the
US return for UNESCO's science programmes. The issue also looks
at the origins of the freshwater crisis and what lies in store if
nothing is done.Horizons takes us to the Regional Post-Graduate
Training School on Integrated Management of Tropical Forests and
Lands in the Democratic Republic of Congo - and to South Asia, where
there is growing realization that coral reef conservation will only
be effective if the reef-dependent poor are involved.
In
remembrance of Dr Kazim Ergin
Known affectionately to his peers as 'the professor of the professors',
Dr Kazim Ergin will be remembered as a geophysicist who excelled
both in academia and in industry. In the course of an illustrious
career, he served as chairman of the Scientific and Technical Research
Council of Turkey, the NATO Science Committee, UNESCO Working Group
on Seismicity and Seismotectonics and European Science Foundation,
among other accomplishments [More].
Benefits
beyond boundaries
The three main outcomes of the Vth
World Parks Congress, which wound up in South Africa on 17 September,
are the Durban Accord and Action Plan, consisting of a high-level
vision statement for protected areas and an outline of implementation
mechanisms; 32 recommendations approved by workshops during the
nine-day Congress; and a Message to the Convention on Biological
Diversity (CBD).
The decadal World Parks Congress is organized by the World Conservation
Union (IUCN)
to take stock of the state of protected areas, appraise progress
and setbacks, and define the agenda for protected areas for the
following decade.
UNESCO was an active participant in the Durban Congress, the theme
of which was 'Benefits beyond boundaries'. During the symposium
on Community and Parks, Francesco Bandarin presented the World Heritage
Convention and UNESCO's Man
and Biosphere Programme, which includes a number of transboundary
biosphere reserves. Noting that biosphere reserves have become places
for people and nature, Walter Erdelen, Assistant Director-General
for Natural Sciences at UNESCO, said these mobilized communities,
provided neutral ground for cooperation within and between countries;
and promoted research into biodiversity. Mr Erdelen called for education
on sustainable development, increased financial support and capacity
building.
Applications
open for fellowships in environmental research
Young post-graduate researchers working in the environmental
sciences in developing countries have until 16 January 2004 to submit
their application for a UNESCO/Keizo Obuchi Research Fellowship
worth a maximum of US7,500. Applicants must be under 40 years of
age. They should contact their country's National
Commission for UNESCO to make known their interest in applying
for one of the 20 fellowships on offer. Each country is entitled
to propose two candidates for the fellowship programme, which is
financed by Japan through funds-in-trust dedicated to the development
of human resources.
Workshop
on Technology and Poverty Reduction
The report of a workshop held in Ghana last February on Technology
and Poverty Reduction is now available on
line. The meeting looked at how to put poor people more closely
in touch with technology, so that technology can empower them by
enabling them to address their basic needs, alleviate their poverty
and promote sustainable development. The workshop was organized
by KNUST and the African Technology Policy Studies Network with
the support of UNESCO's project on Technology for Poverty Eradication.
Sacred
Natural Sites and Biodiversity Conservation
The proceedings of the International Workshop on the Importance
of Sacred Natural Sites for Biodiversity Conservation, held in Kunming
(China) last Februaryand jointly organized by UNESCO-MAB,
IUCN, WWF-Mexico and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, are now available
on-line.
Hard copies will be made available soon.
UNESCO-IHE
Institute involved in European research on water liberalization
Funded by the European Union, the EUROMARKET
project , which began in January 2003 and ends in December 2005,
provides insights into the possible liberalization of water in Europe.
Rather than taking a pro- or an anti-liberalization position, the
project elaborates different water liberalization scenarios and
analyses their potential ecological, socio-economic and institutional
impacts. UNESCO-IHE, in charge
of the administrative and financial coordination, is playing a strong
role in the project. [You can now access the first
newsletter online]
|
International
Basic 
