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PROJECT #2003-14
Travel Support for the 2003 Open Meeting of the Human Dimensions of Global Environmental
Change Research Community
| Project Leader |
Dr. B. Malayang III
Dean
School of Environmental Science and Management (SESAM)
University of the Philippines Los Banos (UPLB)
College, Laguna 4031
PHILIPPINES
Tel: +63-49-536-3080
Fax: +63-49-536-2251
Email: mmmmm@laguna.net |
| Funding |
US$
33,000 |
| Participating countries |
Participants from the following countries
were funded: China, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Philippines and Viet
Nam. |
A representative of the APN, Mr. Martin Rice (Programme Manager, APN Secretariat),
was funded by APN directly.
Brief introduction and background:
The 2003 Open Meeting was the fifth to be held. The Open Meetings
have consistently served as important vehicles to stimulate the networks in
the regions where the meetings have been held. The Third Open Meeting, held
in Shonan Village, Japan in 1999, was very successful at attracting (with APN
support) scholars from the Asia-Pacific region and was, therefore, a major
driver in building-up and strengthening the regional and national Human Dimensions
networks. As a result, it was felt to be particularly important to ensure participation
of Asia-Pacific scholars, both to ensure continuity, and because a major function
of the Open Meetings is to bring together researchers and younger scholars
from developing countries and from USA and Europe, who otherwise would not
be able to participate in a major international conference along with senior
scientists. As a result, the 2003 Open Meeting organizers raised close to two
hundred thousand dollars (US$ 200,000) in travel fellowships for such scholars.
Outline of activities conducted:
The primary activity was the Open Meeting itself, which convened more than
300 researchers from around the world. The meeting was structured as a series
of plenary and panel presentations. In addition, there were numerous lunch-time
sessions and ample opportunities for networking during the opening reception,
the banquet, and informal lunches and dinners among participants.
Outcomes and products:
The major outcomes were as follows:
- A consolidation of the field of human dimensions research under the theme
“Taking Stock and Moving Forward”;
- One hundred and twenty papers and posters available for download from the
conference website: <http://sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu/openmeeting/>;
- A summary report of the plenary sessions and selected panels, also available
from the website;
- A strengthening of the research community with active participation of
many Asian researchers, including several young researchers who participated
in the one-day Young Human Dimensions of Global Environmental Change (HDGEC)
Researchers meeting prior to the conference; and
- At least one APN-funded researcher has, on the basis of her participation,
been asked to submit an article for the International Human Dimensions Programme
(IHDP) Update newsletter.
Future directions and follow-up work:
Plans are already underway for the 2005 Open Meeting. There will also be many
additional follow-up activities among APN-funded participants (related to contacts
they made at the Open Meeting).
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