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UK ISP E-Bulletin
News and Updates on the UNESCO Intergovernmental/International Scientific Programmes (ISPs) in the UK
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Dear Colleague,
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Welcome to the February E-Bulletin on UNESCO's major Intergovernmental / International Scientific Programmes (ISPs) in the UK.
This e-bulletin is part of
a regular biannual series aimed at providing updates on UNESCO's environmental programmes - the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), the International Hydrological Programme (IHP), the Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB), and the International Geoscience Programme (IGCP).
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UK IOC National Committee
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2010: 50th Anniversary and a Change at the Top |
2010 marks the 50th anniversary of IOC and Member States are being encouraged to create events as part of the celebration. As part of its contribution the UK is hosting or organising the following:
9-11 March, Oceanology International, London26-28 May, 3rd International Ocean Stewardship Forum "Taking stock - the state of the oceans", Southampton
26 May-3 July, research cruise on RRS James Cook (from St Johns Newfoundland to Vigo, Spain)
6-9 September, Challenger Conference for Marine Science "Ocean Challenges in the 21st century", Southampton
The start of the year also heralded another change. Dr Wendy Watson-Wright took over from Dr Patricio Bernal as the Executive Secretary of IOC. Wendy has most recently been the Assistant Deputy Minister of Science for the Department of Fisheries and Oceans in Canada and her earlier career included shellfish toxin detection and running a
biological station. She even worked for the Canadian Figure Skating Association! Visit the UNESCO website to read her first interview.
Trevor Guymer, chairman of the UK IOC Committee, took the opportunity to meet with the new Executive Secretary a few days into her new appointment. They discussed some of the decisions made by Member States at the IOC Executive Assembly in 2009 and how they were being followed up. Wendy was also interested in developments in the UK, notably the recent passage of the Marine and Coastal Access Act and the publication of the UK Marine Science Strategy. |
JCOMM-III
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The third session of the Joint WMO-IOC Technical Commission for Oceanography and Marine Meteorology(JCOMM) took place in Marrakech (Morocco) last November. Attending from the UK were Keith Groves, Jon Turton and Karen McCourt (Met Office) and David Meldrum and Trevor Guymer (NERC).
Held every 4 y ears, these meetings provide an opportunity for Member States to:
- see what is being achieved by the various expert teams that make up the three programme areas;
- make new appointments to these teams that ensure a balance of the necessary expertise;
- advise on priorities for the future.
As a result the UK will continue to participate in all of the teams during the next intersessional period. David Meldrum was also elected as vice-chair of the Observations Coordination Group. Following lobbying by the UK, JCOMM-III agreed that a review of JCOMM was timely. Results should be available by the WMO and IOC governing body meetings in 2011. The JCOMM-III summary report can be viewed here.
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| For Further Information: |
Natasha Bevan
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UK MAB National Committee
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MAB Programme grows around the world
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The MAB
programme continues to grow. In the UK there is a programme of consultation being undertaken in
South-west Scotland for the
designation of two of the old style reserves (Cairnsmore of Fleet, Silver Flowe
and Merrick Kells) to be merged into a large regional approach over large parts
of Dumfries, Galloway and South Ayrshire.
Members of the
UK MAB National Committee have also been supporting work on Biosphere Reserves in Tanzania to build capacity for management and monitoring through
remote sensing. A visit to Bagamoyo was undertaken at the end of last year as part of pilot work focusing on East Usambara Biopshere Reserve.
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Urban Issues
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 Urban systems is a key thematic focus for the MAB Programme as part of its Madrid Action Plan 2008-2013. The UK MAB National Committee has expertise in this area and has been involved in advising UNESCO on the establishment of an
Urban Systems working group.
Within the UK, the MAB National Committee's Urban Forum meets four times a year. Much of the Forum's
work is done through networking and by informal sub-groups of members dedicated
to specific areas of development. The current
annual work programme has remained highly strategic, setting targets which are
aimed at influencing policy towards the delivery of guiding principles for healthy
urban green space.
Forthcoming UK MAB Urban Forum activities include: - Chapter contributions to new monograph "Handbook of Urban Ecology", emphasising cultural and ethical connections with ecology (forthcoming August 2010, Routledge).
- Production of a policy-influencing publication "Discovering Yourself Outside", highlighting the benefits of developing uninteresting and abandoned patches
of land into landscapes designed to promote outside leisure and well-being.
- Annual public event "Do Street Trees Have a Future?" Symposium to be
held at University College London on 12 May 2010. The conference will consider
the case for and against street trees and will address issues such as health
and well-being, economics, aesthetics, wind throw effects on trees, and
insurance. For further information and to register click here.
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UK HELP Basins - Latest Update
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The HELP cross-cutting programme of IHP has entered its 3rd Phase beginning
with a review of basins incorporated by
the global evaluation committee which met in Ecuador early in 2009.
In the UK, six active basins are identified: the Dee (Scotland), the Tweed, the Don (England), the Welland,
the Eden and the Thames.
Further information on these basins can be obtained on the UNESCO HELP web portal or by contacting Sarah Hendry at the UNESCO Centre for Water, Law,
Policy and Science at the University
of Dundee (S.M.Hendry@dundee.ac.uk). |
IHP Region 1 Meeting
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A meeting of IHP
Region 1 - Europe and North America - was held in Washington in September 2009, hosted by the US IHP
National Committee. The meeting focused on the status and delivery of IHP Phase VII - IHP's strategic plan for 2008-2013 -
and the role that Region 1 can play to facilitate the work of other regions. Outcomes from the meeting included the establishment of a new web site for Region 1
delegates, agreement by the secretariat to provide periodic update of IHP-VII activities, an initiative to
bring a more hydrological science focus back to the IHP,
and an agreement to suggest a draft strategy for the future use of the Category
II Centres as operational arms of UNESCO in implementing IHP-VII.
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UK IGCP National Committee
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 IGCP Scientific Board Selects New Projects for 2010
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 The IGCP Scientific Board meets in Paris on 17-19 February to assess annual reports from current projects and consider new project proposals for 2010. In addition members will start preparations for the International Geological Congress 2012 in Brisbane, Australia.
As part of its open session, the Board will review major
geoscientific activities of UNESCO such as Geopark networking activities, the
International Research Centre on Karst (China) research programmes, the International
Year of Planet Earth research and outreach activities, the cooperation with the
Commission for the Geologoical Map of the World (CGMW), and the Africa Earth
Science Education initiative.
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New Website Launch by UK National Commission for UNESCO
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The UK National
Commission for UNESCO has just
launched its new website at www.unesco.org.uk, which includes information about UNESCO's Intergovernmental/International Scientific Programmes.
The new site is an engaging
and interactive way of showcasing the work of the UK National
Commission. It
features entirely new content including video, podcasts, news feeds
from UNESCO
and an interactive map of UNESCO sites and programmes in the UK.
Please take a moment
to browse the site. We would appreciate your feedback and comments as
we
continue to develop the site over the coming months. |
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The UNESCO Intergovernmental/International Scientific
Programme (ISP)
National Committees ensure the presence of UNESCO's Intergovernmental /
International
Scientific Programmes on a national level and promote awareness of programme activities within Government, governmental agencies and among
researchers.
The UK ISP National Committee Chairs Working Group was set up by the UK
National Commission for UNESCO in 2007 to
help increase cooperation and coordination among the UNESCO ISP
National Committees in
the UK.
This e-bulletin is part of
a biannual series aimed at providing updates on the UNESCO
Intergovernmental
/International Scientific Programmes (ISPs) in the UK.
The UK National Commission for UNESCO (UKNC) is the focal point in the
UK for UNESCO-related policies and activities. As an independent body,
the UK National Commission brings together a network of over 200
experts from across the UK in the fields of education, culture,
sciences and communication. Working closely in partnership with HM
Government and UK civil society, the UKNC aims to provide expert advice
to the Government on UNESCO related matters, develop UK input into
UNESCO policy-making and programme implementation, promote reforms within UNESCO, and encourage
support in the UK for UNESCO's ideals and work. |
| To receive further information, or to comment, contact:
Natasha Bevan
UK National Commission for UNESCO
nbevan@unesco.org.uk / +44 (0)207 766 3468
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