The Faculty of Environment & China
The Dean, Dr. John T. Pierce, and Associate Dean, Dr. Duncan Knowler, recently visited Beijing, China. They took part as observers in the annual general meeting of the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development (CCICED). SFU has hosted the CCICED international secretariat for 20 years; an accomplishment for which SFU was commended at the meeting.
They also further advanced our partnerships with academics in China with the goal of expanding our research and exchange programs.
Annual General Meeting of the China Council for Co-operation on Environment and Development (CCICED)
SFU delegates attended the AGM and 20th anniversary celebration as observers and had the opportunity to discuss SFU's initiatives and activities to make connections with various participants.
Media Coverage:
* CCTV - Photos: http://english.cntv.cn/20111116/105670.shtml
* People's Daily: http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90778/7646691.html
* Green industries to add millions of jobs
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2011-11/16/content_14101869.htm
Institute of Archaeology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
The signing of a new agreement has formalized ongoing collaborations in research with the Institute of Archaeology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. The Archaeology department at SFU is currently hosting two visiting scholars from the Institute. In the future, SFU will also send graduate students to work in their labs.
Launch of new UNEP Program - International Ecosystem management
Partnership (IEMP)
The International Ecosystem Management Partnership (IEMP) is a joint venture of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). It is the first UNEP collaborative programme in the South and for the South. Its mission will be to provide science, policy and capacity support to developing countries to integrate ecosystem management approach into their national policies and development plans to enhance the delivery of ecosystem services for human well-being.
Both of SFU's delegates participated in the launch as members of panels of experts
discussing the issues facing this new program. The head of the program, Dr. Jian Liu, has expressed interest in developing internship and student exchange possibilities between SFU and the program
Media Coverage:
* UNEP press release -
http://www.unep.org/ecosystemmanagement/Portals/7/Documents/UNEP-IEMP%20Launch%20Press%20Release%20FINAL%20Eng.pdf
* China Daily TV footage -
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/video/2011-11/18/content_14122031.htm
* IEMP website -
http://www.unep.org/ecosystemmanagement/IEMP/AboutIEMP/tabid/55729/Default.aspx
Presentation and discussions with the Institute for Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences
The Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research (IGSNRR) was established in 1999 through a merger of two former CAS institutes: The Institute of Geography (IOG) and The Commission for Integrated Survey of Natural Resources (CISNAR). The merge is part of overall effort by the Academy in establishing a national platform for knowledge innovation. IGSNRR currently gives high priority to research focused on physical geography and global change, human geography and regional development, natural resources and environmental security, geo-information mechanism and system simulation, water cycle and related land surface processes, ecosystem network observation and modeling, and
agricultural policies.
SFU delegates made a 90-minute presentation to a group from the Institute. The Faculty of Environment's activities and strengths were described and then discussed with the Deputy Director, Chenghu Zhou about opportunities for future collaboration.
http://english.igsnrr.cas.cn/
