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Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems (EOLSS), The
[last updated December 19, 2006 10:06 AM]
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General Information
Partnership website(s) |
Expected Timeframe 2002 - Open Ended |
Partners
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Major Groups:
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UN System:
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Other intergovernmental organizations:
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Other:
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Thematic Focus
Primary Themes:
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Secondary Themes:
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Geographic Coverage
Geographic Scope: Global
Country(ies) where the partnership is being implemented: Canada, China, European Community, Japan, Russian Federation, United States of America |
National Focal Points
This partnership has not made any contact with the national focal points for sustainable development in the countries involved
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Goals and Objectives
Summary of the partnership's goals and objectives
The Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems (EOLSS), the world biggest web-based archive as transdisciplinary knowledge base of sustainable development.
It is, in fact, a global partnership among thousands of scholars aimed at creating an integrated knowledge base in support of sustainable development efforts. Thus, the EOLSS Project is a project in support of all other projects related to sustainable development irrespective at the level they have been carried out: local, governmental, regional or global.
* It addresses the issue of knowledge and education for sustainability
* It is a unique archive created as a valuable source of knowledge to help other projects related to sustainable development.
* It provides a basis for inspiration. In the words of Leon M. Lederman, Nobel Laureate in Physics, the EOLSS is 'the theme of humanity, embedded in nature and constrained to find ways of maintaining a relationship with nature based on understanding and respect'
* The EOLSS has been regularly updated to be a living encyclopedia, not merely a replicated publication.
* It is innovative project- a global effort towards the creation of an integrated knowledge base in support of sustainable development
* It need not be replicated but it should be continued to enhance and update the knowledge base it develops
* It is first to inform decisions in the process of development and to inspire leadership. It is innovative in the sense that it is aimed at developing a base of integrated knowledge that addresses the contemporary issues of the world.
It is, in fact, a global partnership among thousands of scholars aimed at creating an integrated knowledge base in support of sustainable development efforts. Thus, the EOLSS Project is a project in support of all other projects related to sustainable development irrespective at the level they have been carried out: local, governmental, regional or global.
* It addresses the issue of knowledge and education for sustainability
* It is a unique archive created as a valuable source of knowledge to help other projects related to sustainable development.
* It provides a basis for inspiration. In the words of Leon M. Lederman, Nobel Laureate in Physics, the EOLSS is 'the theme of humanity, embedded in nature and constrained to find ways of maintaining a relationship with nature based on understanding and respect'
* The EOLSS has been regularly updated to be a living encyclopedia, not merely a replicated publication.
* It is innovative project- a global effort towards the creation of an integrated knowledge base in support of sustainable development
* It need not be replicated but it should be continued to enhance and update the knowledge base it develops
* It is first to inform decisions in the process of development and to inspire leadership. It is innovative in the sense that it is aimed at developing a base of integrated knowledge that addresses the contemporary issues of the world.
Targets and Progress
Partnership targetsThe Encyclopedia is designed to appeal to a wide spectrum of users.
o University/College students (undergraduates and graduates) who wish to introduce themselves to a particular subject in the life support systems. o Educators interested in the subject areas of the EOLSS and who may wish to prepare a comprehensive coverage of these subjects for lecture and seminar presentations. o Professional practitioners and informed specialists who wish to refresh and update their knowledge, and to relate their knowledge to applications and subjects transcending their own specialization. o Research personnel who wish to inform themselves about innovations and new approaches to problem solving. o Policy analysts, managers, and decision makers in the public and private sectors, including development officials and non-governmental organizations, who wish to equip themselves with the technical and systems management knowledge required to better incorporate science and technology in their decision-making. |
Progress against targetsThe Inaugural Edition of EOLSS online was officially released at the Johannesburg Summit in August 2002. It started with a size of about 25 million words (equivalent to more than 40 printed volumes) and will mature by 2008 to its full size around 70 million words equivalent to 200 printed volumes by 800 pages each (in comparison, the famous Encyclopedia Britannica consists of 32 volumes and has 44 million words) through regular weekly updates to render the EOLSS as a living encyclopedia. Several UNESCO-EOLSS printed volumes were published. They are: three volumes of â??Knowledge for Sustainable Development â?? An Insight into the Encyclopedia of Life Support Systemsâ??,published in English and Russian. A volume â??Food Engineeringâ?? was published in 2005 in English and is to be published in Russian in 2007.
The EOLSS body of knowledge will also be available in the form of e-books. About 160 Themes of EOLSS have already been selected for production in e-book format. They will be used as teaching materials on various aspects of sustainable development. The number will increase to 200 by early 2007. These e-books will serve to the implementation of the goals of the UN Decade on Education for Sustainable Development where UNESCO is a lead agency. |
Capacity-Building and Technology Transfer
Arrangements for Capacity-Building and Technology Transfer
- Human resources development/training
- Education/building awareness
EOLSS objectives is the creation of an integrated base as a source of knowledge for Sustainable development and global security to lead to fulfilment of human needs through simultaneous socio-economic and technological progress and conservation of theEarth's natural systems.In accordance with UNESCO's commitment for transfer and sharing of knowledge, free access to eolssonline is provided for those universities in the least developed countries which have a demonstrated commitment to sustainable development and for disadvantaged individuals worldwide.An EOLSS knowledge base is used for preparing curricula and for training of teachers and decision makers at all levels, who concern with the problems of sustainable development .
The project is dealing with the transfer of knowledge
Relationship to International Agreements on Sustainable Development
How the partnership contributes to the implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21, and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation
EOLSS is, in fact, an integrated compendium of SIXTEEN component ENCYCLOPEDIAS:
1. EARTH AND ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES
2. MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES
3. BIOLOGICAL, PHYSIOLOGICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES
4. SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES
5. PHYSICAL SCIENCES, ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES
6. CHEMICAL SCIENCES ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES
7. WATER SCIENCES, ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES
8. ENERGY SCIENCES, ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES
9. ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECOLOGICAL SCIENCES, ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES
10. FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES, ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES
11. HUMAN RESOURCES POLICY AND MANAGEMENT
12. NATURAL RESOURCES POLICY AND MANAGEMENT
13. DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC SCIENCES
14. INSTITUTIONAL AND INFRASTRUCTURAL RESOURCES
15. TECHNOLOGY, INFORMATION AND SYSTEM MANAGEMENT RESOURCES
16. REGIONAL SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT REVIEWS
Each category covers subjects in units called themes. There are around 200 Themes in the EOLSS. Each theme is on average equivalent to one print volume of 500 standard pages. All of these subjects have relevance to the Agenda 21
Relationship to the UN Millennium Declaration: EOLSS conforms with the Values and Principles of the UN Millennium Declaration, and, in particular with following clauses related to Peace, security and disarmament, Development and poverty eradication, Protecting our common environment, Human rights, democracy and good governance . All these subjects are covered in depth by the EOLSS.
Relevant Sections of Agenda 21
1. EARTH AND ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES
2. MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES
3. BIOLOGICAL, PHYSIOLOGICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES
4. SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES
5. PHYSICAL SCIENCES, ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES
6. CHEMICAL SCIENCES ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES
7. WATER SCIENCES, ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES
8. ENERGY SCIENCES, ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES
9. ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECOLOGICAL SCIENCES, ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES
10. FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES, ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES
11. HUMAN RESOURCES POLICY AND MANAGEMENT
12. NATURAL RESOURCES POLICY AND MANAGEMENT
13. DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC SCIENCES
14. INSTITUTIONAL AND INFRASTRUCTURAL RESOURCES
15. TECHNOLOGY, INFORMATION AND SYSTEM MANAGEMENT RESOURCES
16. REGIONAL SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT REVIEWS
Each category covers subjects in units called themes. There are around 200 Themes in the EOLSS. Each theme is on average equivalent to one print volume of 500 standard pages. All of these subjects have relevance to the Agenda 21
Relationship to the UN Millennium Declaration: EOLSS conforms with the Values and Principles of the UN Millennium Declaration, and, in particular with following clauses related to Peace, security and disarmament, Development and poverty eradication, Protecting our common environment, Human rights, democracy and good governance . All these subjects are covered in depth by the EOLSS.
Relevant Sections of Agenda 21
Preamble; International cooperation to accelerate sustainable development in developing countries and related domestic policies; Combating poverty; Changing consumption patterns; Demographic dynamics and sustainability; Protecting and promoting human health conditions; Promoting sustainable human settlement development; Integrating environment and development in decision-making; Protection of the atmosphere; Integrated approach to the planning and management of land resources; Combating deforestation; Managing fragile ecosystems: combating desertification and drought; Managing fragile ecosystems: sustainable mountain development; Promoting sustainable agriculture and rural development; Conservation of biological diversity; Environmentally sound management of biotechnology; Protection of the oceans, all kinds of seas, including enclosed and semi-enclosed seas, and coastal areas and the protection, rational use and development of their living resources; Protection of the quality and supply of freshwater resources: application of integrated approaches to the development, management and use of water resources; Environmentally sound management of toxic chemicals, including prevention of illegal international traffic in toxic and dangerous products; Environmentally sound management of hazardous wastes, in hazardous wastes; Environmentally sound management of solid wastes and sewage-related issues; Safe and environmentally sound management of radioactive wastes; Recognizing and strengthening the role of indigenous people and their communities; Transfer of environmentally sound technology, cooperation and capacity-building; Science for sustainable development; Promoting education, public awareness and training; National mechanisms and international cooperation for capacity-building in developing countries; Information for decision-making
Relevant Sections of the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 Integration of economic, social and environmental objectives; Sectors and issues; Means of implementation
Relevant Sections of the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation Introduction ; Poverty eradication ; Protection and managing the natural resource base of economic and social development ; Sustainable development in a globalizing world ; Health and sustainable development ; Sustainable development of small island developing States ; Sustainable development for Africa ; Means of implementation
Coordination and Implementation
Coordination Mechanism of the PartnershipUNESCO-EOLSS Joint Committee is a coordinating mechanism for this Project. A lean core secretariat manned by 2-3 persons with the ability to maintain an organizational, analytical and evaluation function with links to research capacity in other institutions and organizations. It is also responsible for the functions of Joint Committee and other operations as the EOLSS publications, participation in the international activities, etc. Network: EOLSS have a decentralised set up with functional nodes in different countries and regions like 'Knowledge Centres', UNESCO-EOLSS Chairs, and a network of more than 6.000 leading experts, who are the contributors to the EOLSS.
Arrangements for monitoring of progress will include: - UNESCO-EOLSS Joint Committee (yearly sessions) - Regular Meetings of Bureau of Joint Committee - Internal progress reports - Reports on the EOLSS activities in the quarterly publication: Terra Curanda, magazine of Tilburg University, the Netherlands |
Implementation Mechanism of the PartnershipIn accordance with UNESCO's commitment for transfer and sharing of knowledge, free access to eolssonline is provided for those universities in the least developed countries which have a demonstrated commitment to sustainable development and for disadvantaged individuals worldwide.
The curricula for the training of teachers and decision makers at all levels is produced in different subject areas related to sustainable development. |
Resources
Funding Currently AvailableAmount in US$: 100,000 per year
Source(s): IGO
1. Funding for the development of EOLSS and functioning of the UNESCO-EOLSS Joint Committee and its Secretariat will necessary come from combination of sources: -core funding: from EOLSS Publishers, Ltd. under an existing Agreement with UNESCO -UNESCO contribution for functioning of Secretariat under an existing Agreements with the EOLSS Publishers.Ltd 2. Funding for the establishment of training curricula - budgets of the UNESCO-EOLSS Chairs |
Non-financial resources availableType(s):
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Funding SoughtRequired Amount in US$:
Source(s) already approached:
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Non-financial resources soughtRequirement(s):
Source(s) approached and details:
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Additional Information
Additional Relevant Information
UNESCO-EOLSS Joint Committee was established in 1997 with the objectives of seeking, selecting, inviting and appointing more than 200 Theme Leaders for each Theme and monitoring the Themes development and the text quality.
It mobilized a great number world's foremost scholars, experts, and policy-makers in all major fields, representing a broad spectrum of well-known leading academic and research institutions, professional organizations, government agencies, private enterprises, and policy planning bodies spread throughout the world, contributing to `state-of-the art information and expert opinion on sustainable development.
EOLSS objectives is the creation of an integrated base as a source of knowledge for Sustainable development and global security to lead to fulfilment of human needs through simultaneous socio-economic and technological progress and conservation of the Earth's natural systems.In accordance with UNESCO's commitment for transfer and sharing of knowledge, free access to eolssonline is provided for those universities in the least developed countries which have a demonstrated commitment to sustainable development and for disadvantaged individuals worldwide.An EOLSS knowledge base is used for preparing curricula and for training of teachers and decision makers at all levels, who concern with the problems of sustainable development. The project is dealing with the transfer of knowledge. EOLSS is rapidly becoming the most sought after reference site in the World. A recent statistical count showed that the average number of daily visitors of EOLSS website (www.eolss.net) over a week was approximately 81,000. The one-day high recorded over 99,000 visitors!
The following publications are available from EOLSS:
OUR FRAGILE WORLD (OFW):
Challenges and Opportunities for Sustainable Development
Volumes I and II
ISBN: 0 9534944-7-0, 2263pp.
KNOWLEDGE FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (KSD):
An Insight into the Encyclopedia of Life support Systems (in English)
Volumes I, II and III
ISBN: 0 9542989-0-X, 3490pp.
KNOWLEDGE FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (KSD):
An Insight into the Encyclopedia of Life support Systems (in Russian)
Volumes I, II and III
ISBN: 92-3-403854-1. 3782pp.
FOOD ENGINEERING
Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems
ISBN UNESCO 93-3-103999-7. 803pp.
It mobilized a great number world's foremost scholars, experts, and policy-makers in all major fields, representing a broad spectrum of well-known leading academic and research institutions, professional organizations, government agencies, private enterprises, and policy planning bodies spread throughout the world, contributing to `state-of-the art information and expert opinion on sustainable development.
EOLSS objectives is the creation of an integrated base as a source of knowledge for Sustainable development and global security to lead to fulfilment of human needs through simultaneous socio-economic and technological progress and conservation of the Earth's natural systems.In accordance with UNESCO's commitment for transfer and sharing of knowledge, free access to eolssonline is provided for those universities in the least developed countries which have a demonstrated commitment to sustainable development and for disadvantaged individuals worldwide.An EOLSS knowledge base is used for preparing curricula and for training of teachers and decision makers at all levels, who concern with the problems of sustainable development. The project is dealing with the transfer of knowledge. EOLSS is rapidly becoming the most sought after reference site in the World. A recent statistical count showed that the average number of daily visitors of EOLSS website (www.eolss.net) over a week was approximately 81,000. The one-day high recorded over 99,000 visitors!
The following publications are available from EOLSS:
OUR FRAGILE WORLD (OFW):
Challenges and Opportunities for Sustainable Development
Volumes I and II
ISBN: 0 9534944-7-0, 2263pp.
KNOWLEDGE FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (KSD):
An Insight into the Encyclopedia of Life support Systems (in English)
Volumes I, II and III
ISBN: 0 9542989-0-X, 3490pp.
KNOWLEDGE FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (KSD):
An Insight into the Encyclopedia of Life support Systems (in Russian)
Volumes I, II and III
ISBN: 92-3-403854-1. 3782pp.
FOOD ENGINEERING
Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems
ISBN UNESCO 93-3-103999-7. 803pp.