The Minister of Science and Technology, Mrs Naledi Pandor, will tomorrow, Wednesday, 3 November 2010, travel to Beijing in China, where she will participate in the Group on Earth Observations Seventh Plenary Session (GEO-VII) and ministerial meeting from 3 to 5 November 2010.
South Africa is playing a leading role in the Group on Earth Observations (GEO), which was established with the aim of developing a Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS). GEOSS will provide decision-support tools to a broad spectrum of users, ranging from scientists to decision makers, primarily to support rapid responses to impending disasters and the sustainable management of resources and the environment.
The "system of systems" will proactively link together existing and planned observing systems around the world and support the development of new systems where gaps currently exist. It will promote compatibility and interoperability among different observing systems.
About GEO
The Group on Earth Observations comprises over 81 member states and more than 46 participating organisations. A plenary session is held once a year. In between plenaries, the executive committee meets at least three times to ensure the smooth running of GEO. South Africa is an executive member and co-chair of GEO, together with the United States of America, the European Commission and China.
In South Africa, the Department of Science and Technology is responsible for the implementation of the South African Earth Observation Strategy (SAEOS). The implementation of SAEOS currently focuses on two main functions, namely, the Earth Observation Data Centre (EODC) and the SAEOS portal (web interface).
South Africa will register both the EODC and SAEOS as components it is contributing to the GEOSS common infrastructure, and will hold an exhibition on them during GEO-VII and the ministerial meeting.
Enquiries:
Lunga Ngqengelele
Tel: 012 843 6802
Cell: 082 566 0446
E-mail: lunga.ngqengelele@dst.gov.za
