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GDEST 2008 Conference Sessions

In March 2008, the U.S. Department of State’s Office of the Science and Technology Adviser to the Secretary, and the Office of the Geographer and Global Issues organized a dialogue among hundreds of African geographers, GIScientists, and environmental scientists around the theme of Geospatial Science and Sustainable Development in Africa. In order to facilitate this dialogue, the US Department of State sponsored a number of field visits to institutions throughout Africa as part of the Global Dialogues on Emerging Science and Technology (GDEST) program.

The US delegation included members from the State Department’s Humanitarian Information Unit and its Bureau of Oceans, Environment and International Scientific Affairs, as well as representatives from other US governmental agencies, several US universities, the American Geographical Society, the Association of American Geographers, and USAID regional offices. The teams conducted over 50 site visits and met with hundreds of African experts in the fields of environmental remote sensing interpretation and modeling, GIS cartography and analysis, agriculture, education, health, surveying, mining, climate, hydrology, population, urban systems, and information and communication technology.

The GDEST program culminated in a conference held in Cape Town, South Africa, in which leading African and international geospatial experts presented research, held discussions, and engaged in collaborative dialogues around the theme of "Geospatial Sciences for Sustainable Development in Africa.”

Their contributions to the Cape Town conference are made available here, organized following the meeting agenda.

Monday, 17 March 2008

Welcoming Remarks
Helen La Lime, US Consul General, Cape Town
Julian Smit, University of Cape Town, Co-host

Keynote Speeches
Lee Schwartz, Geographer of the United States, USA
Wilbur Ottichilo, Director, RCMRD, Kenya

GDEST Site Visit Panel Summary
Findings of US Scientific Consultations with African Geospatial Organizations and Institutions

Theme 1 - Observing Africa

Session 1

Session 2

Session 3

Chair: Paul Belanger
United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, Ethiopia

Chair: Didier Bokelo
African Wildlife Foundation, Democratic Republic of Congo

Chair: John Kelmelis
United States Geological Survey, USA

Didier Bokelo
African Wildlife Foundation, DRC

Abstract
Poster

Eric Calais
Purdue University, USA

Presentation

Paul Belanger
United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, Ethiopia

Theme 2 - Analysis of Regional Challenges
Session 1	Session 2	Session 3
Chair: Tsehaie Woldai ICT-AARSE, Netherlands	Chair: Mohamed Hegazy National Authority for Remote Sensing and Space Sciences, Egypt	Chair: Douglas Richardson Association of American Geographers, USA
Craig Von Hagen United Nations SIMaC, Kenya Abstract Paper	Alfredo Pontavida Direcção Nacional de Geologia, Mozambique Abstract Paper Presentation	Sode Matiku for Harriet Nuwagaba-Biribonwoha International Centre for AIDS Treatment Programs, Tanzania Presentation (1) Presentation (2)
Andries Naudé Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, South Africa Presentation	Tsehaie Woldai ICT-AARSE, Netherlands	Mohamed Hegazy National Authority for Remote Sensing and Space Science, Egypt Abstract Paper Presentation
Rabindra Das Department of Surveys and Mapping, Botswana Abstract Paper	Christine A. Kasedde Institute of Environment and Natural Resources Management, Makere University, Uganda Abstract Paper Poster Presentation	Japhet Kashaigil Sokoine University of Agriculture, Tanzania Abstract Paper Presentation
	Harold Annegarn University of Johannesburg, South Africa Abstract Paper Presentation	Natashia Morris Medical Research Council

Workshops
CIESEN Workshop	Collaborative Technologies Showcase Douglas Richardson Association of American Geographers, USA Akhona Damane Environment & Development Planning, SA Jerry Dobson American Geographical Society, USA Robert Marsters GeoDecisions, USA Debbie Sutherland Surveys & Mapping, SA Sias Mostert SunSpace, SA Carmelle J. Terborgh ESRI, USA	EIS-Africa Workshop

GDEST 2008 Conference Sessions

Monday, 17 March 2008

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Wednesday, March 19, 2008