Click on small images above to link to various early warning resources
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Click here for news on the Early Warning Summit (as of 30 October) |
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A photo album with selected photos from the meeting is now online. Click here to see the album. Click on "more photos" at the bottom of the photo album to move on to the next page of the album. |
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What will be discussed at this Summit? Click here for the agenda |
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Who will be attending this meeting? Click here for the list. |
Usable Science VIII
Early Warning Systems: Do's and Don'ts
20-23 October 2003 - Shanghai, China
The Full Workshop Report is now online in html
and PDF format
Click here for the viewbook in ppt format
In August 2003 alone:
- Heat wave in France
- Forest fires in Iberia
- Power blackout in USA and Canada
- West Nile Virus outbreak in USA
- Floods in South Asia
The objective of this Usable Science Workshop on early warning was to identify lessons -- in short, do's and don'ts -- from the wide range of experiences of those who have worked with or helped to develop early warning systems for a wide range of societal concerns. Many early warning systems are in operation today to warn the public and governments about impending climate- or weather-related hazards and other threats. The insights, lessons, and experiences identified in the workshop are being used to inform government officials, as well as decision makers in various government agencies and non-governmental organizations, about how to prepare effective warnings and to educate the media and the general public about how to interpret such warnings. In sum, our goal was to identify ways to make early warnings of potential "threats" to society and the environment more useful, usable, credible, and reliable.
Interest in Early Warning
All governments, corporations, groups and individuals are interested in early warning about impending or likely threats and problems they may have to face. The more advanced warning they can get the better, because they would, at least in theory, have ample time to prepare for and hopefully cope with the natural or human-induced threat or to prepare for its potential impacts.
Aside from it being the right thing for governments to do -- that is, to protect their citizens from harm -- it is imperative for governments to protect its principles and its institutions. An adage that exists in many, if not all, cultures is the following: "to be forewarned is to be forearmed."
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Find out how to contact the organizing committee |
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Click here for meeting location, travel arrangements, local information and other useful tips |
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Click here for links to websites on the early warning topic |
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Sponsors |
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Consortium for Capacity Building , National Science Foundation, Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences, and US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. |
