Geospatial Science & Technology for Sustainable Development in Africa: Partnerships and Applications

Conference at the Harvard Kennedy School, May 28–29, 2009

Announcement, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard Kennedy School

May 10, 2009

Related: Calestous Juma, Professor of the Practice of International Development; Director, Science, Technology, and Globalization Project; Principal Investigator, Agricultural Innovation in Africa

Belfer Center Programs or Projects: Science, Technology, and Globalization; Science, Technology, and Public Policy

The conference brings together members of public and private donor organizations with those from institutions and industry engaged in the application of geospatial science and technology to assess development needs, formulate responses to those needs, and successfully implement sustainable development programs in Africa.  Its goal is to insure that public and private sector initiatives that rely on geospatial tools, techniques, and applications achieve a high level of integration in the areas of database requirements and standards, methodologies, and strategies for sustainability.  Enhancing private sector linkages with government and nongovernmental initiatives already underway, as well as with ongoing academic and scientific research efforts, will help further capacity building and coordinate public policy applications across regions and themes.

Co-sponsored by the Association of American Geographers and the Science, Technology, and Globalization Project, Harvard Kennedy School

AGENDA:

Thursday, May 28

Registration and sign-in for Day 2 working groups Nye Conference Room, 5th Floor, Taubman building

Welcome and Opening Remarks:
Calestous Juma, Harvard University, Science, Technology, and Globalization Project

"Geospatial Science & Technology for Sustainable Development in Africa"
Hon. Dr. Wilbur Ottichilo, Republic of Kenya, Member of Parliament

"Global Dialogues for Emerging Science and Technology"
Lee Schwartz, U.S. State Department Geographer

Introduction of Participants

Break

Panel 1: Government Initiatives & Partnerships
Panelists:  Carrie Stokes, U.S. Agency for International Development; Roger Sayre,  U.S. Geological Survey; Maxine Levin, U.S. Department of Agriculture; Fernando Echavarria, U.S. Department of State; Kate Lance, NASA.
Moderator:  John Griffith,  U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs.

Panel 2:  Foundation Initiatives and Partnerships
Panelists:  Anna Brown, Rockefeller Foundation; Susan Sechler, Hewlett Foundation; Chris Gingerich, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; Thomas Baerwald, National Science Foundation
Moderator: Candida Mannozzi; Senior Manager, Program Development, Assocation of American Geographers (AAG)

Lunch:  Peter Bol, Harvard University, Director of the Center for Geographic Analysis

Panel 3:  NGO Initiatives & Partnerships
Panelists: Dan Tunstall, World Resources Institute; Jay Pearlman, IEEE; Lilian Pintea, Jane Goodall Institute; Sives Govender, EIS-Africa; Doug Richardson, AAG.
Moderator:  John Kelmelis, Pennsylvania State University

Panel 4:  Academic/Research Initiatives & Partnerships
Panelists:  James Toledano, Clark Univeristy; Andy Nyblade, Penn State; Benjamin Ofori-Amoah, Western Michigan University; Mark Becker, Columbia University, CIESIN; Yonette Thomas, National Institutes of Health
Moderator: Claudio Cioffi-Revilla, George Mason University

Break Panel 5: Private Sector Initiatives & Partnerships
Panelists: Carmelle Terborgh, ESRI; Juergen Kliem, Trimble; Rebecca Moore, Google Earth; Dermot Barry, Microsoft; Andrea Cook, GeoEye
Moderator:  Edward Funk, Lockheed-Martin

Day Two Objectives: Lee Schwartz, U.S. Department of State

Dinner - The Harvard Faculty Club, 20  Quincy Street

Friday, May 29

"Linkages for Partnerships and Collaboration"
Paul Bartel, U.S. Department of State, Office of the Geographer and Global Issues, Humanitarian Information Unit

"Challenges in Working Across Sectors"
Doug Richardson, Executive Director, AAG

Break

"Keys to Success in Building Partnerships"
British Robinson, Director of Public-Private Partnerships, The U.S. President's Emergency Response Plan for AIDS Relief, Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator

A Framework for Collaboration - Working Groups

Breakout 1: Health and Population

Session Chair: Nate Heard, Department of State, Office of the Geographer and Global Issues, Humanitarian Information Unit

Breakout 2: Agriculture, Water, and the Environment

Session Chair: Melba Crawford, Purdue University

Breakout 3: Civil Society, Governance, and Sustainability

Session Chair: Dan Tunstall, World Resources Institute

Working Group Reports

Lunch

Plan of Action

Sives Govender, Executive Director, EIS-Africa

Closing Remarks - Calestous Juma

The presentations may be downloaded here.

For more information about this publication please contact the STPP Web Manager at 617-496-1981.

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