"Global Earth Observation System of Systems"
12 October 2007
The 71 member governments (and the European Commission) and 46 participating
organisations of the Group on Earth Observations (GEO) will meet at the Cape
Town International Convention Centre from 28 to 30 November 2007.
The meeting will assess progress on constructing a comprehensive, global
monitoring system that will enable end-users to access a vast quantity of
near-real-time information on changes in the Earth's land, oceans, atmosphere
and biosphere via a single web portal.
This emerging system will interlink the world's widely dispersed ocean
buoys, weather stations, satellites and other Earth observation instruments
into one seamless system. This will reduce humanity's vulnerability to
disasters and environmental change while enabling countries to better manage
their agricultural, energy, water and other natural resources.
The conference will consider some 90 "early achievements" presented by the
various participants. The Plenary meeting which takes place from 28 to 29
November will assess the progress made over the past year and decide on future
actions. The Ministerial Summit on 30 November will review a high-level Report
on Progress and issue a Ministerial Declaration.
During the three days, an exhibition on Earth observation systems will
feature some of the most sophisticated and up-to-date observation instruments
and decision-support tools available today. The exhibit will include PC-based
demonstrations and a series of videos.
Bona fide journalists can register by submitting the attached accreditation
form. Media room facilities will be available at the conference, and a press
conference will be organised on Friday morning, 30 November. A press kit will
be available in mid-November.
For more information, please see http://www.earthobservations.org and
http://www.dst.gov.za, or contact the
following persons:
Nhlanhla Nyide
Department of Science and Technology, South Africa
Cell: 082 871 6767
E-mail: nhlanhla.nyide@dst.gov.za
Michael Williams
Group on Earth Observations Secretariat, Geneva
Tel: 022 730 8293
E-mail: mwilliams@geosec.org
About GEO: GEO is an intergovernmental body that is leading a worldwide
effort to build a Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) over a
10-year period. GEOSS will work with and build upon existing national,
regional, and global systems to provide comprehensive, co-ordinated Earth
observations from thousands of instruments worldwide and to transform the data
they collect into vital information for society.
Request for accreditation of media representatives:
Please submit the form available on http://www.dst.gov.za together with a photocopy of
your valid professional press card to the GEO Secretariat Press Office by
e-mail to press@geosec.org or by fax to
022 730 8520, or to the South African host organisation, by e-mail to nhlanhla.nyide@dst.gov.za or by fax to
086 681 0167.
Please note that for security reasons all accreditation requests must be
received by 26 November. You must still bring the required supporting documents
with you to the conference centre.
Issued by: Department of Science and Technology
12 October 2007
Source: Department of Science and Technology (http://www.dst.gov.za/)
