United Nations Holds Workshop on Space-Based Monitoring, Protection of Environment

(Reissued as received.)

VIENNA, 26 August (UN Information Service) -- The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (OOSA), within the framework of the United Nations Programme on Space Applications, is organizing a six-day Regional Workshop on “Monitoring and Protection of the Natural Environment:  Educational Needs and Experience Gained from UN/Sweden Training Courses on Remote Sensing Education for Educators”.  The Workshop is being organized in cooperation with the Government of Pakistan and is co-sponsored by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and by the University of Stockholm.  The Workshop will be held in Islamabad, Pakistan, from 30 August to 4 September 2004, and is being hosted by the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO).

The Workshop aims at evaluating the International Training Course on Remote Sensing Education for Educators, which has been organized annually since 1990 by OOSA and the Government of Sweden to enable educators from developing countries to introduce or to enhance remote sensing courses, in their respective academic institutions.  The Regional Workshop specifically targets past participants from Asia and the Pacific who have attended the International Training Course from 1992 to 2003.  The outcome of the Workshop will be used by co-sponsors to determine the future direction of the Training Course.

The Workshop will be composed of a series of technical and evaluation presentations, and will have sufficient time for discussions.  Morning sessions will be devoted to presentations on advanced topics related to applications of remote sensing to monitoring and protection of the natural environment, new remote sensing techniques and instruments, and new teaching methods.  Afternoon sessions will be devoted to presentations by former participants of the International Training Course and discussions on the experience that the participants gained in the application of their knowledge at their respective institutions, the impact of the Training Course on the development of curricula, the needs of the educators and possible changes to the programme of the Training Course.  The discussions will lead to the development of a set of recommendations regarding the future of the Training Course.

More than 60 participants from the Asia and Pacific region, as well as representatives from the European Space Agency, Sida, SUPARCO and OOSA, will attend the workshop.

Background

The United Nations Programme on Space Applications is implemented by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs and works to improve the use of space science and technology for the economic and social development of all nations, in particular developing countries.  Under the Programme, the Office conducts training courses, workshops, seminars and other activities on applications and capacity building in subjects such as remote sensing, communications, satellite meteorology, search and rescue, basic space science, satellite navigation and space law.

The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (OOSA) implements the decisions of the General Assembly and of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space and its two Subcommittees, the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee and the Legal Subcommittee.  The Office is responsible for promoting international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space, and assisting developing countries in using space science and technology.  Located in Vienna, Austria, OOSA maintains a Web site at http://www.oosa.unvienna.org.

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