EO and GEO conferences and expo

The 6th GEO (Group on Earth Observations) meeting will be held in Brussels, Belgium on the 14-15 of February 2005. Details to be published soon. For more information please visit the website: http://europa.eu.int/comm/space/esw/group/meeting/article_1677_en.htm

GEO and GMES

The Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES) is a joint initiative of the European Union and the European Space Agency, representing a concerted attempt to coordinate environmental and security data and information provision. GMES is seen as a groundbreaking contribution to the GEOSS. A significant effort under both GEO and GMES is now being directed at the co-ordination and integration of existing global monitoring capacities and resources.

After a special session on 27-28 September 2004, and the meeting in Ottawa in November 2004, the GEO remains on schedule to deliver the Ten-Year Plan at the Third EO Summit in Brussels in February 2005.

Group on Earth Observations Delegate GEO-6 Registration Form for GEO-6 can be obtained from the following website:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/space/esw/group/reg/article_1597_en.htm

Third Earth Observation Summit - Building a global Earth Observation System to revolutionise our understanding of the planet - 16 February 2005

On 16 February 2005, representatives of more than 50 world governments will meet in Brussels for the Third Earth Observation (EO) Summit to discuss and promote the development of a comprehensive Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS).

Producing better information on the environment has become a top priority around the world, and that is what Earth Observation (EO) is all about. Building a GEOSS means bringing together numerous EO sources and datasets and creating a sustainable network for the distribution of data and information products and services.

Environmental monitoring is currently carried out by a variety of more or less disconnected systems. These include a strong space-based component - with satellite remote sensing providing an important part of today's environmental data - as well as ground-based, air-based and ocean-based in situ EO monitoring systems.

The Brussels EO Summit is the third in a series, following the Tokyo Summit of April 2004 and the Washington EO Summit in July 2003. The overall goal of the EO Summits is to improve coordination of EO strategies and research at a global level. At the Third EO Summit in Brussels, ministers from around the world are expected to endorse a much-anticipated 10-year Implementation Plan for the creation of GEOSS.

The EO Summit takes place within the context of Earth & Space Week, a major EU-ESA sponsored event comprising nine days of public exhibitions and activities, showcasing EO and Space.

International Conference on Co-operation in Space Winning through co-operation: sharing the benefits of space - 17-18 February 2005. An International Conference on co-operation in Space will take place on 17-18 February 2005, in Brussels.

Space activities have entered a new phase in Europe. Mainly research-oriented until recently, the space sector has transformed itself into a source of unique and essential tools, enabling governments and international bodies to tackle critical social and political issues.

International co-operation has been of primary importance in this transformation. For example, Europeans, Americans and Russians have significantly expanded their mutual collaborative efforts. Recent examples include the groundbreaking agreement to launch Russian Soyuz rockets from the European spaceport in Kourou. Meanwhile, NASA space probes have been carrying out some astounding science in collaboration with the European Mars Express orbiter. Other collaborative efforts have been launched, involving space partners from around the globe.

The ‘Winning through co-operation: sharing the benefits of space' conference is aimed at providing a forum for both established and emerging space players, as well as other interested parties, to exchange views on international co-operation and to discuss models for increasing collaboration in all space-related fields.

The Conference takes place within the context of Earth & Space Week, a major EU-ESA sponsored event comprising nine days of public exhibitions and events, showcasing Earth Observation (EO) and Space activities.

Earth & Space Expo - 12-20 February 2005

A world-class public exposition will run from 12-20 February 2005, one of main the events planned in Brussels during Earth & Space Week. For more information, you can visit the following website: http://europa.eu.int/comm/space/esw/expo/article_1513_en.htm