- June 12, 2007
- Posted by: EARSC
- Category: EARSC News
The International Astronautical Federation (IAF) has organized a seminar on Global Change, one of the key issues for our times, and on the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) proposed to be built over the next 10 years. The seminar will be held at UNESCO Headquarters, 7 place de Fontenoy in Paris on Sunday June 17, 2007 from 6:00 to 7:15 p.m.
The seminar will include presentations by Professor JosÈ Achache, Director of the Group on Earth Observations Secretariat, Ms. Barbara Ryan, Chair of the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites, Dr. Alexis Livanos, President of Northrop Grumman Space Technology, FranÁois Auque, Astrium CEO, and Mr Tadahiko Inada, Associate Executive Director of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. Senior officials from the European Space Agency and the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are also expected to attend and make contributions during the seminar.
The intergovernmental Group on Earth Observations (GEO), comprised of 70 members and 46 participating organizations, is engaged in a worldwide effort to build GEOSS. IAF – with agency, industry, university/institute and professional societies in countries throughout the world – is facilitating information exchange through this seminar and related activities to promote greater public awareness of the capacity and benefits of GEOSS.
Our complex and dynamic Earth is constantly changing. As our global population continues to increase, and as human activities impact on the environment, having current and accurate information is essential to sustainable environmental and economic security. Earth observation satellites, with their unique vantage point from space to view our Earth, contribute significantly to monitor changes around the world. Fifty years of experience has yielded a set of 26 essential climate variables that need continuous monitoring to provide the data needed for a comprehensive, coordinated and sustained capacity for assessing and predicting climate, weather, and natural hazards.
IAF will videotape the seminar which will be available for subsequent viewing on the IAF website.
Journalists planning to attend the seminar are invited to contact Rocio Caparros no later than June 11th by e-mail at rocio.caparros@iafastro.org or by telephone at 01 53 69 71 63.
