Ms/PhD assistantships in forest policy & administration at Texas A&M

Funding is available for one or more masters and/or PhD students to work as research assistants on several projects related to forest policy and administrative decision-making. Current projects focus on (a) comparative research on the impacts of forest policy in developing countries at the national level, and (b) comparative research on the decision-making of foresters employed in government agencies & the private sector in India, the US, and Mexico. Students with significant experience in the forest sectors of these three countries, or in other developing countries, are particularly encouraged to apply. Students will have to formally apply to either the masters or PhD programs in Ecosystem Science and Management at Texas A&M University. Students who are accepted will receive funding through a a combination of research and teaching assistantships, which will be sufficient to cover tuition fees and a basic cost of living. 

To apply for these positions, please consult the details of the application process at:http://forrestfleischman.weebly.com/potential-graduate-students.html. 

This website also contains much more detail about the research projects & the programs at Texas A&M. Applications are due January 1st.

Call for Applications (deadline to apply is January 20th, 2014) Annual Darwin Scholarship Programme - Monitoring and Communicating Biodiversity August 20– 30th, 2014

Call for Applications (deadline to apply is January 20th, 2014) Annual Darwin Scholarship Programme - Monitoring and Communicating Biodiversity August 20– 30th, 2014

The scholarship programme is aimed at… 
Young Scientists from around the world, probably working for a non-governmental organisation, government department or in a Biology or Ecology faculty at University. You should be under the age of 35 and studying at graduate or post graduate level or be a young lecturer or work for an environmental organisation. 

The aim of the Darwin Scholar Programme is to develop “better naturalists” in the spirit of Darwin’s love of nature and observing the natural world. The Scholarship will focus on three areas: skills of observation and identification, skills of recording biodiversity and skills of communicating biodiversity to different target groups. 

Funding the Scholarship... 
The full cost of the 10 day scholarship programme is 1450 GBP per person. This covers the costs of all accommodation, teaching, and local travel in the UK during the programme. It does not cover the cost of international travel or getting to Preston Montford Field Centre in Shrewsbury and from Juniper Hall Field Centre near London. 

The FSC will assist successful applicants in this process and provide suggestions of sources of funding and also letters of support for applications to grant organisations. 

There will be a reduction in the course fee available to a limited number of eligible scholars up to a maximum of £625. For scholars who have been awarded a reduction in fee the cost of the programme will be 825 GBPs. 

How do you apply? 
We are looking for up to 25 scholars from countries across the world to join this 7th Darwin Scholarship Programme. 

Before you apply please make sure that you are able to meet these criteria: 
 You are aged 35 or under; 
 You are studying for or have a degree in Ecology, Biology or related subject; 
 You are an undergraduate, postgraduate, postdoctoral student, young lecturer or work for an environmental organisation; 
 You can speak and read English well. This is very important. There will be no interpretation or translation facilities; and 
 You have the support of your University or other organisation for the Scholarship programme.

There is no application form. To apply you will need to send us: 

1. Your CV 
Your CV can be in any format that is usual for your country – but must include your home and work 
addresses, email and telephone contacts, and skype address if you have one. You must also include the name of two referees we can write to. Please do not include reference letters with your application. Do try and keep less than 5 pages. 

2. A short letter in English 
Your letter should be of no more than two sides of A4, explaining why you want to take part in the 
scholarship programme. It should provide the following information – why you want to become a 
Darwin scholar, your personal assessment of your identification/observation capacity, your views on how well science is communicated to a wider audience and the role of scientists in education and what you will do with the new skills that you gain through the scholarship. You need to persuade us that you are the young, dynamic and enthusiastic scientist we are looking for from your country. 

3. A letter of support 
A letter from your University or organisation that states clearly that you have permission to take part in the scholarship programme. 

4. Request for a reduction in the course fee 
If you would like to apply for a reduction of up to 625 GBP please state why you consider that you are eligible in your short letter. 

Your application should reach the Field Studies Council not later than Monday 20th January 2014. It is not necessary to have guaranteed funding before making your application. 

Your application should be emailed to global@field-studies-council.org 
Contact person is Janet Jones

ICIMOD's Youth Ambassadors Champion the Mountain Agenda*

The year 2012 was an important one for ICIMOD; it marked 20 years since the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio recognized the importance of mountains by introducing Chapter 13 as a separate chapter in Agenda 21 – also known as the Mountain Agenda. As part of UNCED’s follow-up (Asia’s regional response to Agenda 21, Chapter 13), ICIMOD organized the first regional conference in Kathmandu, Nepal in December 1994. The participants of this conference adopted a declaration on the Sustainable Development of Mountain Areas of Asia – known as the SUDEMAA Call to Action – which resulted in the creation of the Asia-Pacific Mountain Network (APMN).

APMN is a communication platform that facilitates information and knowledge sharing and advocates for the mountain agenda in the Asia-Pacific region. Over the last two decades APMN has made significant contributions by involving different stakeholders (such as governments, development partners, local communities, civil society, youth and media), facilitating networking and partnerships among them at different scales, and promoting two-way communication and knowledge exchange. 

One of most important steps forward has been realizing the need to engage youth in the sustainable mountain development process and developing suitable platforms for them to advocate for the mountain agenda at the national, regional, and global levels. ICIMOD’s Youth for Sustainable Mountain Development (Y4SMD) initiative is such a platform. Since it began in 2009, the global membership of Y4SMD has grown to almost 4,000 members, the majority of whom are from ICIMOD’s regional member countries – Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan. Y4SMD has been involved in e-conferences, national campaigns, Climate Cafés, knowledge sharing workshops, the Earth Debate, capacity building events, and networking-advocacy meetings on the sideline of international events such as the Annual Adaptation Forum, Rio+20 Conference, and United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of Parties (UNFCCC COP) 17 and 18.

Representative articles/pictures etc are available at https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.570285699671252.1073741825.100000694825417&type=1


Several other youth-led initiatives in the HKH region have also benefitted from ICIMOD’s sponsorship, knowledge, and network. The Asia-Pacific Mountain Courier, APMN’s biannual periodical, and social networking platforms (such as Facebook, Twitter, discussion lists, blogs) have proved to be important platforms for young emerging leaders to share their views and initiatives, network with others, and find out about different opportunities. In the last four years ICIMOD has trained over 500 youth on mountain issues from 20 Asia Pacific countries through capacity building workshops, Climate Cafés, and various forums such as the Asia Pacific and the Hindu Kush Himalayan Regional Forum, Eastern Himalayas Sub-Regional Forum, and national youth forums in ICIMOD’s regional member countries.

In 2012 alone, hundreds of youth were engaged in advocating for the mountain agenda from the national to global level through the Earth Debate (February), Mountain Youth and Green Economy side event at the Planet Under Pressure Conference (March), National Youth Rio+20 preparatory and follow-up campaigns in Nepal and Pakistan (throughout the year), various side events at Rio+20 Conference, and the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) Youth Blast (June). Likewise, the Global Youth Forum in Rio de Janeiro (June), Asia Pacific Youth Forum on Green Economy (September), and national youth forums in Pakistan (November), Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Nepal (all in December) trained over 280 youth on the green economy in the context of mountain development. All of these events were driven by ICIMOD Youth Ambassadors with minimum guidance or support from ICIMOD. Some ICIMOD Youth Ambassadors attended the UNFCCC COP 18 in Doha, at which they organized the Second Global Youth Forum and a knowledge café on mountain issues. Last, but not the least, the Member’s Mountain Courier you are reading now is also prepared by Youth Ambassadors as part of ICIMOD’s efforts to take youth initiatives to the national level.

- Anja Møller Rasmussen, Senior Manager, ICIMOD; and Tek Jung Mahat, APMN Node Manager, ICIMOD

* This is the key highlights of the activities carried out in the year 2012 itself in preparation of and following –up Rio+20 conference in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil in June 2012. All these activities were implemented by ICIMOD through the Asia Pacific Mountain Network (APMN) Project in partnership with several national, regional and global youth initiatives, youth organizations and youth alliances.

Training-Workshop on Iterative Risk Management for Climate Change Adaptation

The Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System for Africa and Asia (RIMES) is organizing a five-day Training-Workshop on Iterative Risk Management for Climate Change Adaptation, from 22-26 April 2013 in Bangkok.

The training shall mentor participants in designing and implementing iterative and flexible risk management plans. It specifically helps them to understand the iterative risk management process in view of the complexities and uncertainties inherent in climate-related risks; and to establish ways to ensure continuous re-evaluation of their risk management plans, so that information is considered and incorporated at regular intervals.

This training is designed for different organizations and entities, and it is limited to 25 participants.

For more information, you can visit the webpage for this training course: http://www.rimes.int/em/?p=1159 or write an e-mail torimes@rimes.int.

National Youth Forum on Green Solutions in Bangladesh in Rangamati District from 18-19 December 2012

ICIMOD and the Bangladesh Youth Forum together with the Green Hill and the Asia Pacific Youth Task Force on Rio +20 organised a two-days long National Youth Forum on Green Solutions in Bangladesh in Rangamati District from 18-19 December 2012. Organised in the framework of ICIMOD’s National Youth Forum initiative that aims to prepare youth from its member countries to take actions to promote green solutions in their countries, the event was attended by 40 youth from different parts of the country, majority of them coming from the hilly background. The two days meeting proved to be instrumental in bringing together central and local government, non-governmental organisations, local communities and youth to discuss on potential areas for development of green solutions in hilly areas of Bangladesh. 

Guests who attended the event included Mr. Md. Shamsuzzaman, Joint Secretary (administration), Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tract Affairs; Mr. Md. Irfan Sharif, Chief Executive Officer, Rangamati Hill District Council; Mr. Moung Thowai Ching, Executive Director, Green Hill; Mr. Tek Jung Mahat, Project Manager, ICIMOD; Mrs. Nazia Shirin, Upazila Nirbahi Officer, Rangamati Sadar Upazila; Mr. Md. Mostafa Kamal, Deputy Commissioner, Rangamati Hill District; Ms. Marufa Ishaque, Programme Coordinator, Bangladesh Youth Forum; and Ms. Tuku Talukder, Chairperson, Green Hill among others. The programme contained technical sessions, world café for ideas development, field visit to nearby villages located in the Kaptai Lake area and community interaction. 

At the end of the Forum, the 40 participating youth prepared the National Youth Declaration on Green Solutions in Bangladesh, which will be guiding the youth activities in hilly areas of Bangladesh in coming days.

Bhutan hosted National Youth Forum on Green Solutions in Thimpu from 14-16 December 2012

Aiming at preparing youth from its member countries to take actions to promote green actions, ICIMOD partnered with the Happy Green Cooperative, a youth organization based in Thimpu and the Asia Pacific Youth Task Force on Rio +20 to organize three-days long National Youth Forum on Green Solutions in Bhutan, 14-16 December 2012. Held at the Department of Youth and Sports, Thimpu, the forum was attended by over 40 youth from different parts of the country.

 

The opening sessions of the forum was inaugurated by honorable Dr. Pema Gyamtsho, Minister of Agriculture and Forests, Royal Government of Bhutan. Dr. Gyamtsho acknowledged the efforts put in by ICIMOD to engage youth in the area of green solutions and also encouraged the youth participants to have open mind in discussing pertinent issues to make the best use of the event. The forum successfully brought together government officials, local green entrepreneurs and youth communities to discuss on potential areas of development of green solutions in Bhutan. Guests who attended the forum included Ms Kesang Tshomo, National Director, National Organic Program, Ministry of Agriculture and Forest; Mr Sonam Dargay, Sr. Planning officer, National Environment Commission; Mr Karma Yoenten, CEO and Founder, Greener Way Waste Management Organization; Mr Vishmal Rai, CEO and Innovator, Green Computing and Green Solutions; Mr Sangay Rinchen, CEO and Founder, Happy Green Cooperative; Ms Anja Moller Rasmussen, Programme Manager, Integrated Knowledge Management, ICIMOD among others. In addition to the technical sessions by experts, the forum also included lively interaction session with young entrepreneurs of Bhutan which provided the participants a platform to share and gain ideas. The participants also had a chance to visit a Druk Organic Farm run by Druk Organic Growers Cooperatives located in Toeb Menchhungna, Toeb Geog, Punakha District. Farm manager Mr Rinchen Dorji and Mr Hitoshi Yokota, Integrated Agriculturist and Organic Foods Consultant from Japan introduced the activities of the farm to the participants. Also, a knowledge café session run by ICIMOD team provided a technical means for the participants to brainstorm on the ideas and come up with the National Youth Declaration on Green Solutions in Bhutan.

National Youth Forum on Green Solutions in India in Rishikesh from 9-11 December 2012

The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development and the YUVA Foundation, together with Plant a Tree India, Asia Pacific Youth Task Force on Rio +20 and SEED, organised a National Youth Forum on Green Solutions in India in Rishikesh from 9-11 December 2012. About 40 youth participants from seven mountain states of India – Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttrakhand, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Mizoram - attended talks by various mountain experts, made presentations on issues facing their states, participated in team building and leadership activities, and explored their role in shaping the emerging green economy, culminating in the joint development of a youth declaration on green solutions focused on the Indian Himalayas.

Mr Shantanu Gupta, founder and director of the YUVA foundation, briefed the participants about the objectives and expected outputs of the NFYGS.  Mr Tek Jung Mahat elaborated on how he saw the saw the event fitting into ICIMOD’s Youth Programme in the post-Rio+20 context. Speakers from various institutes - Dr. Pyar Singh Negi  from the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology,Abdhesh Gangwar from Centre for Environmental Education-Himalaya, Mr. L.P Semwal  from Shri Jagdamba Samiti, Mr. Hemant Dhyani  from the Ganga Ahvaan Aandolan, Mr. Anil Jaggi  from the Green Earth Alliance and Ujol Sherchan from ICIMOD - spoke on a range of topics such as:

• impacts of climate change on mountain ecosystems,;
• need to change consumption habits to reduce carbon footprint and work in areas of mitigation to increase handprint;
• challenges facing mountain agriculture due to climate change and the need to work toward the sustainability of crops through various adaptation and mitigation measures;
• pollution of the Ganges river: issues, challenges and solutions;
• importance of corporate social responsibility, and its implications;
• linkage between the sustainable mountain development agenda and the movement toward a greener economy 

§

An Academy award winning movie, The Inconvenient Truth, was screened to initiate a discussion on how the youth participants conceived of climate change issues facing their states.  A leadership and team building exercise developed around a ‘bridge building contest: longest, strongest and most beautiful” brought out the creativity of the youngsters, and at the same time made them work as a team. The final outcome was evaluated on a few criteria, including leadership potential of team members, after which a winner was declared.

 

However, the main highlight of the event was presentations by youth participants on “Role of youth in the emerging Green Economy to address climate change challenges and opportunities facing the Indian Himalayas”.  All the presentations were followed by aWorld Café session on the ‘Identification and prioritization of climate change and adaptation related challenges and issues in the context of of the Indian Himalayas from a youth perspective‟. 

A SWOT (Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis of five key stakeholders with stakes in the climate change development, - namely the government, community, youth, corporate sector and academia – was conducted and discussed in groups and later presented at a plenary. This activity proved to be extremely helpful in the development of a youth declaration on green economy.

 

On the last day, a field trip to the river Ganges along the Rajaji National Park was led by by Dr. K. K. Upreti. A stop was made at the village where the participants got the opportunity to interact with the villagers that had led a participatory 37-day hunger strike to achieve their right to access various government services and amenities, which subsequently made an enormous difference in their lives. 

Coincided with the International Mountain Day on 11 December, the event concluded finalizing the youth declaration on green solutions in India, which will be guiding the youth activities in across the Indian Himalayas. The event generated wide interest among the youth and media communities in India and beyond.

National Youth Forum on Green Solutions in Nepal held in Kathmandu, Nepal from 6–8 December 2012

The National Youth Forum on Green Solutions in Nepal was held in Kathmandu, Nepal from 6–8 December 2012. Managed under the Youth for Sustainable Mountain Development (Y4SMD) initiative of ICIMOD, the forum was organized through ICIMOD Youth Ambassadors led local NGO the Safe Environment Nepal – Youth 4 Conservation (SEN Y4C) in collaboration with the Asia Pacific Youth Task Force on Rio +20 and the Eco-Friends Nepal (EFN) and in participation of several ICIMOD trained youth in Nepal. The event saw participation from over 40 youth from different districts of Nepal, who were selected through a rigorous application process while maintaining a balance with respect to geography, gender and age.

The three-days long forum offered platform to Nepalese youth to understand theoretical concepts and underlying practical issues related to green economy in Nepal and other mountainous countries, discuss on possibilities of developing environmental entrepreneurship building on them, expand network of with like minded people and get to know about the institutional mechanisms and structure that can help them in the process. In his keynote address Dr Golam Rasul, Programme Manager and Green Economy expert at ICIMOD elucidated the importance of green economy in the mountainous countries, where he emphasized on need of establishing a strong link between water, food and energy. During the forum, participants interacted with several notable scientists and green entrepreneurs, and were briefed on vermicomposting, ecotourism projects among others. Through group exercises, participants also presented their vision for a cleaner country post 2015. The forum culminated with the participants attending the ICIMOD’s Green Solutions Fair at the ICIMOD Knowledge Park at Godavari where they had opportunities to visit market place enriched with participation of several Kathmandu based I/NGOs and environmental entrepreneurs.

Three five posters were awarred including cash prize to winning three. Prizma Ghimire, Nirmal Jnawali, Kanchan Upadhyay, Laxman Kande and Prachan Bhujel respectively were the top 5 entrants to the poster competition). The award was given to them by Dr. David Molden, Director General of ICIMOD.

Interesting opportunity: Apply for Global Power Shift with 350.org by 4th January 2013

Hello,

I’m writing to let you know about Global PowerShift, an international gathering that will take place in Istanbul, Turkey from June 10-17, 2013. This gathering will bring together 600 young organizers from around the world to skill share, trade tactics and connect on how we will be the generation that turns the tide on the climate crisis. Organizers who attend Global PowerShift will then return to their own countries and help to organize a regional gathering, developing regional campaigns, goals, actions and networks. As co2 levels and sea levels rise exponentially - so must our movement.

We know that the ecological crisis is merely a symptom of an unjust system and unsustainable culture. To accomplish the deep systemic change needed to avert complete catastrophe we will need to bring together a wide diversity of movements and thus we strongly encourage young organizers from a diverse backgrounds and struggles to apply. You can apply here, and please share this email with anyone you think might bring unique skills to this historic gathering. Application deadline is December 16th, and all expenses will be covered for participants.
______

Hola,

Te escribo para compartir información sobre Global Powershift, un encuentro y conferencia internacional que pasará en en Estambul (Turquía) el 10-17 de Junio. En este conferencia se juntaran unos 600 activistas joven de todo el mundo para compartir ideas, tácticas y conocerse en cómo podemos ser el generación que da la vuelta al cambio climático. Organizadores que participan en Global PowerShift después se volverán a sus comunidades y organizarán encuentros regionales, desarrollando campañas, objetivos comunes, y acciones. Los niveles de co2 y los niveles del mar están creciendo exponencialmente. Nosotros también.

Sabemos que el crisis es solo una síntoma de una sistema injusto y una cultura insostenible. Para llegar a los profundos cambios sistemáticos que son necesarios para prevenir un catástrofe inimaginable necesitaremos participantes de un gran diversidad de movimientos y luchas, no sólo de movimientos ecológicas. Manda tu solicitude aquí, o por favor comparta el página de ArtShift por tus redes y con los que piensas tendrá interes. La fecha límite es el 16 Diciembre, 2012, y todos gastos incluidos.
___

Salut!

Je vous écris pour vous informer sur Global PowerShift, une rencontre internationale qui se tiendra à Istanbul, en Turquie, 10-17 Juin 2013. Cette rencontre réunira 600 jeunes organisateurs du monde entier pour partager les compétences, tactiques et pour discuter sur la façon dont nous allons être la génération qui tournera la marée sur la crise climatique. Les participants à Global PowerShift retourneront ensuite dans leurs pays et lanceront une réunion locale, pour développer des campagnes des objectifs, des actions et des réseaux régionales. Comme les niveaux de CO2 et des niveaux de la mer augmente de façon exponentielle - il doit en être de notre mouvement!

Nous savons que la crise écologique n'est qu'un symptôme d'un système injuste et d'une culture non durable. Pour réaliser le profond changement systémique nécessaire pour éviter une catastrophe complète, nous aurons besoin de rassembler une grande diversité de mouvements et donc nous encourageons fortement les jeunes organisateurs des horizons et des luttes divers. Vous pouvez vous inscrire ici, et partager ce message avec quelqu'un que vous pensez pouvoir apporter des compétences uniques pour cette rencontre historique. La date limite d'inscription est 16 Décembre et tous les frais seront couverts pour les participants.

National Youth Forum on Green Solutions in Bangladesh, 11, 18-19 December 2012

National Youth Forum on Green Solutions in Bangladesh, 11, 18-19 December 2012

The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) values the potential role that young people can play in promoting sustainable mountain development in the greater Himalaya region. Through the Youth Engagement in Sustainable Mountain Development (Y4SMD) initiative, ICIMOD has been informing and empowering youth from the Asia Pacific region and building their capacity to bring about positive changes in society. The Y4SMD network is made up of over 4,000 youth from the region and beyond, with a majority from ICIMOD’s eight regional member countries – Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan. To date, the Y4SMD initiative has implemented over 50 major youth events, including a Global Youth Forum at the Rio+20 Summit in Brazil in June 2012.

The National Youth Forum on Green Solutions in Bangladesh, organized by ICIMOD, our Youth Forum Alumni in Bangladesh and Green Hill, aims: 

·         To take ICIMOD’s youth initiative at national and local level and promote youth actions.

·         To promote SMD relevant education and discussions in Bangladesh among youth living in mountainous areas.

·         To share widely SMD relevant outcome of the Rio+20 Conference, UNFCCC COP18 and APGYF 2012

·         To enhance youth capacity to understand mountain issues and develop green solutions.

·         To initiative a process of developing a mountain conscious youth network in Bangladesh.

Programme highlights:

• Technical and training sessions 
• Paper presentations and discussions on the role of youth in the emerging green economy in the Hilly Regions of Bangladesh.
• Tour of sites that exhibit climate-friendly practices.
• Poster presentation highlighting ‘International Mountain Day 2012’.

Expected outcomes:

·         Improved understanding of local youth about mountainous issues like geo-environmental hazards, climate change and sustainable agriculture etc.

·         Establishment of mountain development dedicated youth’s network in Bangladesh.

·         Success replication of ICIMOD’s Youth Forum at national level.

·         Create a focal point in Bangladesh for national, regional and international collaboration and cooperation on sustainable hill management among youth.

Call for application:

Bangladeshi youth who are interested in participating in the forum and meet the eligibility criteria outlined below are encouraged to apply at their earliest convenience.  

• Applicants must be: 
• Bangladeshi nationals 
• 18–29 years of age 
• From or currently residing in any districts of the country, but youths from Hilly Regions will get preference.
• Applications must be submitted through the online system HERE no later than 02 December 2012.
• Applicants will be selected by a small committee of experts. Selected applicants will be notified by 5 December 2012.   
• The organizers will cover expenses related to participation in the National Youth Forum (roundtrip travel, food, and lodging).

For further information, please write to Marufa Ishaque at marufa_ishaque@yahoo.com.

Keep track of ICIMOD youth events and announcements:

• http://ww.facebook.com/APY.Rioplus20
• http://ww.facebook.com/apmnicimod 
• http://ww.facebook.com/icimod
• https://twitter.com/#!/apmnicimod
• http://twitter.com/icimod 

Subscribe to the Mountain Forum/Asia Pacific Mountain Network at www.mtnforum.org/en/users.

Please kindly circulate this announcement in your networks.

Call for local partners for the National Youth Forum on Green Solutions Bhutan, 21-23 December 2012

Call for local partners for the National Youth Forum on Green Solutions Bhutan, 21-23 December 2012

About ICIMOD:

The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) is a regional intergovernmental learning and knowledge sharing centre serving the eight regional member countries of the Hindu Kush Himalayas (HKH) – Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan – and based in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Youth Forums:

ICIMOD values the potential role that young people can play in promoting sustainable mountain development. To inform, empower, and involve youth from the region in the development process, ICIMOD has implemented more than 48 major events dedicated to youth engagement since the launch of the Youth for Sustainable Mountain Development (Y4SMD) initiative in August 2009. One of the major activities under this initiative is the organization of Youth Forums at national, regional, and global levels. Since 2010, Youth Forums and other capacity building events under the Y4SMD initiative have trained over 300 youth. Plans to promote similar activities in the future include National Youth Forums in Pakistan and Myanmar in November 2012 and Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, and Nepal in December 2012. ICIMOD would also like to team up with a local partner to organize a National Youth Forum in Bhutan in December 2012.

What are National Youth Forums?

National Youth Forums are a two to three-day capacity building events, driven by young champions of green solutions in their own country. These forums allow youth to share knowledge and network as well as listen to expert accounts of global and regional efforts for sustainable mountain development. A typical National Youth Forum includes the following components:

·         Technical session: Local experts present local issues and their global linkages (2–5 presentations: 30 minutes each)

·         Motivational session: ICIMOD and local experts  (2 presentations: 15 minutes each)

·         Knowledge management, group work, experience sharing, and social networking sessions (2–4 sessions: 2 hours each)

·         Field visit to demonstrate local efforts for sustainable mountain development (Half or full day depending on the site)

·         Intergenerational Sustainability Dialogue on Developing Green Solutions in the Changing World bringing together youth from schools and colleges, teachers, and representatives of NGOs, the government, and local communities  (2 hours)

·         Opening and closing sessions featuring representatives from local organizations, ICIMOD, senior government officials, and participants (1.5 hours each)

 ICIMOD strives to ensure that at least 30% of the selected participants come from a rural background and the gender division of participants is equal.

Further information:

If you have any queries or would like to host a similar event in your country, please contact: · Anja Møller Rasmussen, Programme Manager, Integrated Knowledge Management (IKM) and Himalayan University Consortium (HUC), ICIMOD  and Tek Jung Mahat, Initiative Leader, ICIMOD tmahat@icimod.org

Call for Abstracts: Davos Atmosphere and Cryosphere Assembly DACA-13, Air, Ice & Process Interactions, 8 – 12 July 2013, Davos, Switzerland

Davos Atmosphere and Cryosphere Assembly DACA-13

Air, Ice & Process Interactions, 8 – 12 July 2013, Davos, Switzerland

 

www.daca-13.org

The IAMAS & IACS Associations of the IUGG invite the international scientific community to their joint 2013 Assembly - the DACA-13 conference - to discuss latest developments in atmospheric and cryospheric research.

DACA-13, with its overarching theme of "Air, Ice & Process Interactions", seeks to emphasize that many key challenges concerning global environmental change lie at the interface of these disciplines. Therefore particular attention will be devoted to the interaction between these vulnerable components, along with a range of more discipline-oriented sessions spanning the atmospheric and cryospheric sciences. The conference will be held in Davos in the heart of the Swiss Alps.

Program of DACA-13

The IACS and IAMAS communities and international experts working together with DACA-13's Scientific Program Committee (SPC) have developed a cohesive and exciting program. It features 20 symposia, many containing several topical sessions, structured into four blocks. Detailed descriptions of the symposia and their sub-sessions plus the corresponding conveners can be viewed here.

In addition to the symposia, central elements of the conference will include keynote presentations by several world-leading experts, amongst whom are Valérie Masson-Delmotte (LSCE Paris), Ronald B. Smith (Yale) and Thomas Stocker (University of Bern), and extended poster sessions. Also a range of scientific excursions and trips will be offered to allow participants to savour the surrounding alpine environment. A competitive registration fee of CHF 470 has been made possible by sponsorships and institutional support.

 

DACA-13 in Davos, Switzerland

DACA-13 will be held in the Swiss mountain resort of Davos, which can be reached by train from Zurich Airport in about two hours. Davos, Europe's highest city, is situated in the Eastern part of the Swiss Alps at 1560 meters above sea level. It offers a very advanced congress infrastructure and a wide range of accommodation from the simple hostel to elegant five-star lodgings. The city, although a center for international dialogue on business and research, has retained a pleasant village atmosphere. The stunning alpine environment will contribute to making your visit an enjoyable experience.

 

Organization of DACA-13

DACA-13 is jointly organized by IACS (International Association of Cryospheric Sciences) and IAMAS (International Association of Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences), represented respectively by the Secretaries-General, Andrew Mackintosh and Hans Volkert, and a Swiss national organizing committee. The latter comprises representatives from WMO (Deon Terblanche, Ghassem Asrar), MeteoSwiss (Saskia Willemse), SCNAT (Pierre Dèzes), PMOD Davos (Werner Schmutz), WSL/SLF Davos (Charles Fierz, Anja Schilling), PSI (Markus Furger), ETH Zurich (Heini Wernli, Huw Davies), EPF Lausanne/WSL/SLF Davos (Michi Lehning), and University Bern (Heinz Wanner). "Davos Congress" and "Destination Davos Klosters" support the organization of DACA-13. 

 

Call for abstracts

The DACA-13 Scientific Program Committee invites the submission of abstracts on original or review work to be considered for oral or poster presentations. The program provides guidance on the thematic areas covered at DACA-13. The deadline for the submission of abstracts is 31 January 2013. Authors wishing to submit an abstract are required to pay CHF 30 author deposit by credit card. Note that every author can only submit one abstract with "oral preference". Additional abstracts for poster presentations are welcome. Please click here to be transferred to the abstract submission form. Authors who wish to apply for a travel grant, have to submit their abstract(s) until 14 December 2012 at the latest, including a short letter of motivation, a CV and their publication list.

 

Schedule

Deadline for abstracts with grant application	14 December 2012
Deadline for abstracts without grant application	31 January 2013
Acceptance information and draft program	28 February 2013
Deadline early registration	31 March 2013
Conference DACA-13	8 -12 July 2013

If you have any questions regarding the conference or the scientific program, please contact the Project Manager for DACA-13, Anja Schilling (anja.schilling@slf.ch).

For questions related to the location, accommodation or travels, please contact the head of the Davos Congress Administration, Michèle Lagger (michele.lagger@davos.ch)