reply to Jim Cory from Robert Zomer, chair CGIAR Consortium on Spatial Information CSI" Greetings, The CGIAR, thru the CGIAR-CSI has indeed embraced open-source and open access to spatial data. The GeoNetwork is precisely that, open source and free global access to CGIAR spatial data. Please refer to the CGIAR online Spatial Data search engine: http:// geonetwork.csi.cgiar.org Currently, over thousand datasets are discoverable and/or available, from all 15 of the CGIAR Centers, as well as seamless access to UN, FAO, WFP, OCHA datasets. Additionally, the SRTM data and the CRS Climate Data available online on our CGIAR-CSI website (http://csi.cgiar.org) has over 1 TB of downloads per month. It is our intention to continue these initial efforts with sustained efforts to provide and make all relevant data available, easily, free, and using open source approaches. Best regards.. Robert
Submitted by Kristin Kolshus on Mon, 09/10/2007 - 11:00
Invitation to a Workshop on OPENING ACCESS TO CGIAR RESEARCH AND KNOWLEDGE From Data, Information and Collaboration to Food 0900 to 1230 hours Friday, 28 September 2007 FAO, Rome Philippines Room (C277/281) "If a tree grows in the laboratory, will the poor eat its fruit?" As part of the week-long series of events, "A Global Perspective on E-Agriculture", on Friday, 28 September, 0900-1200 hours, at FAO headquarters in Rome, you are invited to participate in a workshop on "Opening Access to CGIAR Research and Knowledge". The CGIAR's ICT-KM Program is seeking inputs on a strategy to open such access and more specifically on priority areas, users, needs, obstacles and methodologies. If you are interested in the opportunity to influence future directions, join us on 28 September; or, to find out more, contact Jenin Assaf ([email protected]). Seats are limited. We look forward to hearing your views! The ICT-KM Program of the CGIAR promotes and supports the use of information and communications technology (ICT) and knowledge management (KM) to improve the effectiveness of the CGIAR System's work on behalf of the poor in developing countries.