se Cities, investors vie for WNBA teams after record-setting season By www.washingtontimes.com Published On :: Thu, 07 Nov 2024 14:05:00 -0500 The WNBA wrapped up its biggest season ever last month with eye-popping TV ratings, robust ticket sales and record revenue. Now, everybody wants in on the action. Full Article
se 76ers' All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey is out with hamstring injury By www.washingtontimes.com Published On :: Thu, 07 Nov 2024 15:36:31 -0500 The trio of 76ers' stars looked majestic on opening night as their images covered the arena's 4K kinetic scoreboard. Joel Embiid palmed a basketball. Tyrese Maxey in the middle appeared ready to burst off the screen for a dunk. Paul George looked fierce as he squeezed a basketball with both hands. Full Article
se Joel Embiid is expected to make his season debut for the 76ers after injuries and suspension By www.washingtontimes.com Published On :: Mon, 11 Nov 2024 14:44:50 -0500 Joel Embiid is expected to play this week for the Philadelphia 76ers - barring another setback, and there is always that chance with the 7-footer - after he won Olympic gold, signed a contract extension, slogged through a knee injury, was the root of two NBA investigations, scuffled with a columnist and was hit with a technical foul for waving a towel from the bench. Full Article
se Alperen Sengun's 27 points and 17 rebounds help Rockets beat Wizards 107-92 By www.washingtontimes.com Published On :: Mon, 11 Nov 2024 22:44:09 -0500 Alperen Sengun scored 27 points for a second straight game and added 17 rebounds, leading the Houston Rockets to a 107-92 win over the Washington Wizards on Monday night. Full Article
se Joel Embiid set to return to slumping 76ers team in need of his presence By www.washingtontimes.com Published On :: Tue, 12 Nov 2024 12:17:36 -0500 Joel Embiid stuck around for extra work after shootaround. The 7-footer who has yet to officially step on the court for the Philadelphia 76ers this season was in no rush to finish his drills. Full Article
se FDA proposes end to decongestant element By www.washingtontimes.com Published On :: Fri, 08 Nov 2024 10:21:00 -0500 The Food and Drug Administration could put a stop to the use of phenylephrine, an ingredient in over-the-counter nasal decongestants, because its studies found it doesn't work. Full Article
se Veterans with PTSD making progress thanks to service dog program: 'I got my life back' By www.washingtontimes.com Published On :: Mon, 11 Nov 2024 05:40:45 -0500 After working at a crowded and dangerous internment camp in Iraq, Air Force Staff Sgt. Heather O'Brien returned to the U.S. with anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. Full Article
se WHO says mpox cases in Congo's epicenter where the new variant was detected may be 'plateauing' By www.washingtontimes.com Published On :: Mon, 11 Nov 2024 06:50:51 -0500 The World Health Organization said mpox cases in the region of Congo where a new and more infectious variant was first detected appear to be "plateauing," even as the virus continues to increase in other regions of the country, as well as in Burundi and Uganda. Full Article
se Justice Department sues to block UnitedHealth Group's $3.3 billion purchase of Amedisys By www.washingtontimes.com Published On :: Tue, 12 Nov 2024 14:42:09 -0500 The Justice Department is suing to block UnitedHealth Group's $3.3 billion purchase of Amedisys, citing concerns the combination would hinder access to home health and hospice services in the U.S. Full Article
se Dodgers great Fernando Valenzuela died of septic shock, medical examiner says By www.washingtontimes.com Published On :: Tue, 12 Nov 2024 23:30:22 -0500 Fernando Valenzuela, the Los Angeles Dodgers pitching ace who helped the team win the 1981 World Series, died of septic shock last month, according to his death certificate. Full Article
se Sebastian Coe among seven IOC members to enter race to succeed Thomas Bach as president By www.washingtontimes.com Published On :: Mon, 16 Sep 2024 07:09:43 -0400 Two former Olympic champions are in the race to be the next IOC president. So is a prince of a Middle East kingdom and the son of a former president. The global leaders of cycling, gymnastics and skiing also are in play. Full Article
se Japanese figure skating star Rika Kihira to miss Grand Prix season with stress fracture in ankle By www.washingtontimes.com Published On :: Wed, 18 Sep 2024 08:52:08 -0400 Four-time Grand Prix series medalist Rika Kihira will miss the upcoming figure skating season because of a stress fracture in her right ankle that has not fully healed, the Japanese star announced Wednesday. Full Article
se New Edwin Moses doc '13 Steps' shows how clearing the hurdles was the easy part for a track icon By www.washingtontimes.com Published On :: Wed, 18 Sep 2024 10:09:46 -0400 Not long after Edwin Moses figured out how to attack the solution to track's ultimate math problem, he transformed himself into the best hurdler in history. Full Article
se Biden: Olympians represented 'the very best of America' By www.washingtontimes.com Published On :: Mon, 30 Sep 2024 13:01:26 -0400 Declaring the U.S. the "greatest sports nation in the history of the world," President Joe Biden welcomed U.S. Olympians and Paralympians at the White House on Monday to recognize their achievement in this summer's Games in Paris. Full Article
se NHL season adds more international flavor with 4 Nations Face-off as Winter Olympics appetizer By www.washingtontimes.com Published On :: Tue, 01 Oct 2024 15:50:08 -0400 Nico Hischier and the New Jersey Devils open the season in Prague against the Buffalo Sabres, two more games will take place in Finland this fall and the 4 Nations Face-off is a four-team February appetizer to the main event as the league and players embrace hockey's international roots. Full Article
se Sebastian Coe says his run to be IOC president might not be such a longshot after all By www.washingtontimes.com Published On :: Fri, 11 Oct 2024 12:28:17 -0400 He's been tough on Russia, led the charge to put prize money in the pockets of athletes and pushed for a definitive but much-derided resolution in the longstanding debate over transgender athletes. Full Article
se That's flippin' amazing! Figure skating Grand Prix season begins with backflips no longer banned By www.washingtontimes.com Published On :: Wed, 16 Oct 2024 13:10:35 -0400 American figure skater Ilia Malinin has been doing gymnastics off the ice much of his life, one of the many reasons why he can so effortlessly land the dazzling quadruple jumps that made him a world champion at just 19 years old last March. Full Article
se Democrats for Life wins 97% of endorsed elections in rebuke to party's abortion stance By www.washingtontimes.com Published On :: Tue, 12 Nov 2024 17:46:04 -0500 Democrats for Life of America said Tuesday that 97% of its endorsed candidates won their races in last week's election, which raises the question: Is there such a thing as a pro-life Democrat? Full Article
se Trump picks Ratcliffe for CIA, Hegseth for Defense and Musk for new agency to cut waste By www.washingtontimes.com Published On :: Tue, 12 Nov 2024 18:41:19 -0500 President-elect Donald Trump showed his intention to shake up the federal government Tuesday by naming former Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe to lead the CIA, Elon Musk to head a new department to cut waste and regulations, and the unexpected choice of military reservist and Fox News figure Pete Hegseth to serve as Defense Secretary. Full Article
se The Bad Batch Is Back For Season 2! By www.scifistream.com Published On :: Thu, 05 Jan 2023 20:41:46 +0000 Clone Force 99 returns with new adventures in the ashes of the Galactic Republic. The post The Bad Batch Is Back For Season 2! first appeared on SciFi Stream. Full Article Star Wars
se Star Trek: Picard Celebrates The Next Generation With Its Final Season By www.scifistream.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Feb 2023 04:59:20 +0000 The final season is now streaming on Paramount+, reuniting the beloved cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation The post Star Trek: Picard Celebrates The Next Generation With Its Final Season first appeared on SciFi Stream. Full Article Star Trek
se Master Chief Returns With Halo Season 2 By www.scifistream.com Published On :: Thu, 08 Feb 2024 20:45:53 +0000 The second season of the Xbox adaptation is now streaming Thursdays on Paramount+ The post Master Chief Returns With Halo Season 2 first appeared on SciFi Stream. Full Article Halo
se The Final Season of Star Wars: The Bad Batch Is Here! By www.scifistream.com Published On :: Wed, 21 Feb 2024 17:41:51 +0000 Fifteen new episodes wrap up the season in 2024, now streaming on Disney+ The post The Final Season of Star Wars: The Bad Batch Is Here! first appeared on SciFi Stream. Full Article Star Wars
se Star Trek: Discovery Debuts Its Final Season By www.scifistream.com Published On :: Thu, 04 Apr 2024 21:24:11 +0000 The crew of Discovery uncover a mystery that sends them on an adventure across the galaxy. The post Star Trek: Discovery Debuts Its Final Season first appeared on SciFi Stream. Full Article Star Trek
se The Witcher Ending With Season Five By www.scifistream.com Published On :: Thu, 18 Apr 2024 16:32:25 +0000 Netflix has renewed The Witcher for what will be its final year, with Liam Hemsworth taking over the show's lead role from Henry Cavill. The post The Witcher Ending With Season Five first appeared on SciFi Stream. Full Article The Witcher Netflix
se Fallout TV Series Gets A Second Season By www.scifistream.com Published On :: Fri, 19 Apr 2024 16:55:39 +0000 Amazon is bringing back the video game adaptation for another year after one of Prime Video's biggest premieres. The post Fallout TV Series Gets A Second Season first appeared on SciFi Stream. Full Article Fallout Prime Video
se Snowpiercer’s Final Season Set For July By www.scifistream.com Published On :: Wed, 08 May 2024 18:50:57 +0000 The fourth and final season of Snowpiercer was rescued by AMC after TNT renewed the show ... then cancelled it prior to airing the final 10 episodes. The post Snowpiercer’s Final Season Set For July first appeared on SciFi Stream. Full Article Snowpiercer AMC
se Apple TV+ Cancels Constellation After One Season By www.scifistream.com Published On :: Sat, 11 May 2024 23:13:44 +0000 Noomi Rapace starred in the high-concept thriller, which ran on the streaming service this winter. The post Apple TV+ Cancels Constellation After One Season first appeared on SciFi Stream. Full Article Uncategorized Apple TV+
se House of the Dragon: Watch The Brand New Trailer For Season 2 By www.scifistream.com Published On :: Tue, 14 May 2024 17:04:16 +0000 HBO's fantasy epic looks to be going even bigger with the second season, as war brews over the Iron Throne. The post House of the Dragon: Watch The Brand New Trailer For Season 2 first appeared on SciFi Stream. Full Article Game of Thrones HBO Max Trailers
se First Look At Dune: Prophecy, The Spin-Off TV Series Coming To Max By www.scifistream.com Published On :: Thu, 16 May 2024 20:45:53 +0000 The prequel series will chronicle the rise of the Bene Gesserit order thousands of years before Paul Atreides. The post First Look At Dune: Prophecy, The Spin-Off TV Series Coming To Max first appeared on SciFi Stream. Full Article Dune Max
se Five Ship-Based Shows You Should Watch By www.scifistream.com Published On :: Thu, 30 May 2024 07:29:01 +0000 If you are looking for an outer-space romp, here are five recommendations for your next sci-fi binge! The post Five Ship-Based Shows You Should Watch first appeared on SciFi Stream. Full Article Lists Video
se New Teaser And Photos For Snowpiercer’s Final Season By www.scifistream.com Published On :: Tue, 04 Jun 2024 02:18:15 +0000 The wait is nearly over, as the fourth and final season of Snowpiercer speeds our way July 21 on AMC. The post New Teaser And Photos For Snowpiercer’s Final Season first appeared on SciFi Stream. Full Article Snowpiercer AMC
se CONSENTITE AI CATALANI DI VOTARE By www.collectiuemma.cat Published On :: Mon, 24 Jul 2017 18:30:00 +0200 Questo è il manifesto firmato da 6 premi Nobel e altre 50 personalità come Yoko Ono Lennon, Peter Gabriel, Andrea Camilleri, Éric Cantonà. Foto: Andrea Camilleri LETCATALANSVOTE.ORG 24-07-2017.- Una grande maggioranza di catalani ha manifestato, ripetutamente e in diverse forme, il desiderio di esercitare il diritto democratico a votare sul proprio futuro politico. Questa ferma richiesta di votare discende da una lunga serie di contrasti tra i governi di Catalogna e di Spagna sul grado di autonomia culturale, politica e finanziaria che deve essere garantita ai catalani, nonostante i numerosi tentativi di giungere ad una soluzione accettabile condivisa. Come dimostrano i precedenti del Québec e della Scozia, il modo migliore di risolvere i legittimi contrasti interni è il ricorso agli strumenti della democrazia. Impedire ai catalani di votare appare in contrasto con i principi ispiratori delle società democratiche. Pertanto, rivolgiamo un appello al governo spagnolo e alle altre istituzioni statali, così come alle omologhe istituzioni catalane, a lavorare congiuntamente per far sì che la cittadinanza catalana possa votare sul proprio futuro politico e affinché successivamente, sulla base del risultato, si aprano negoziati secondo il principio di buona fede. Full Article
se La Catalogna protesta nel cuore dell’Europa, che soffre delle sue stesse malattie By www.collectiuemma.cat Published On :: Sun, 31 Dec 2017 12:00:00 +0100 IL FATTO QUOTIDIANO 11-12-2017 FABIO MARCELLI Giurista intennazionale La questione catalana presenta un forte interesse scientifico dal punto di vista del diritto internazionale, innescandosi nel solco formato da recenti manifestazioni di prassi internazionale, quali quelle per l’indipendenza del Quebec o del Kosovo. Preciso che non sono un sostenitore dell’indipendenza catalana a ogni costo e che ciò non avrebbe comunque molto senso, dato che non sono né cittadino spagnolo né tantomeno catalano. Sono però cittadino europeo, oltre che italiano, e in quanto tale interessato al rispetto della democrazia e dei diritti politici su tutto il nostro continente e oltre. Per tale motivo sono rimasto negativamente impressionato dalla selvaggia repressione scatenata dal governo Rajoy contro milioni di cittadini spagnoli e catalani che stavano semplicemente esercitando in modo pacifico un proprio elementare diritto democratico e cioè dichiarare o meno la loro preferenza per l’instaurazione di una Repubblica catalana indipendente. Si può in altri termini discettare riguardo alle conseguenze giuridiche di tali atti, che taluni ritengono di nessun rilievo da tale punto di vista. Non si può invece negarne il valore politico né si può accettare la repressione avvenuta quel giorno né la conseguente criminalizzazione del movimento indipendentista, culminata con il mandato d’arresto internazionale, successivamente ritirato, dell’ex presidente catalano con i suoi quattro ministri. Mandando contro una buona parte del popolo catalano che voleva solo votare democraticamente truppe armate di manganelli e pallottole di gomma, il governo spagnolo ha senza dubbio violato la Convenzione europea dei diritti umani, dando un ulteriore pessimo segnale in un’Europa nella quale si moltiplicano inquietanti fenomeni di esaltazione del passato fascista che si sperava e pensava superato per sempre. Un passato fascista che in Spagna ha un solo nome: franchismo. Tali fenomeni inquietanti hanno peraltro la loro radice nella crescente disaffezione della gente nei confronti della politica e della sua ispirazione generalmente antipopolare in Europa. Peraltro, la stessa consultazione referendaria del primo ottobre ha evidenziato l’esistenza di un malcontento estremamente diffuso, in Catalogna ma probabilmente anche altrove, che parte da un inevitabile giudizio negativo sul governo spagnolo per la corruzione in cui sta affogando e le sue spietate politiche neoliberali, ma esprime anche insoddisfazione e disagio a fronte di un quadro costituzionale che si è rivelato del tutto asfittico e inadeguato. Situazione di grave inadeguatezza, ulteriormente aggravata e evidenziata dall’improvvida decisione della Corte costituzionale sullo statuto catalano, decisione fortemente voluta e ispirata da quello stesso Rajoy. Significativa appare del resto la circostanza che le organizzazioni colpite dalla repressione abbiano deciso di portare la propria protesta proprio a Bruxelles e cioè nel cuore dell’Europa. Se è vero che proprio l’Europa soffre le stesse malattie dello Stato spagnolo e di altri stati, quali soggezione alle politiche neoliberali e alle lobby che le predicano, corruzione, insufficiente funzionamento dei meccanismi democratici che provoca disaffezione crescente dalla politica e anche rigurgiti di fascismo e di razzismo, è pure vero che essa dovrebbe giocare un ruolo di mediazione politica in situazioni come quella catalana impedendo lo slittamento verso conflitti sempre più aspri e incontenibili. Occorre quindi auspicare che le istituzioni europee, dando senso alla loro stessa esistenza, vogliano accettare un ruolo di promozione del necessario dialogo politico tra il popolo catalano e il governo spagnolo, nel nome dei principi democratici iscritti nei propri trattati istitutivi oltre che, beninteso, del buon senso più elementare. Full Article
se Non lasciate che il rancore si impossessi di voi By www.collectiuemma.cat Published On :: Sun, 01 Apr 2018 21:00:00 +0200 Ospito qui la lettera aperta che Marta Rovira, dirigente del partito indipendentista di sinistra catalano guidato da Junqueras, ha inviato prima di lasciare la Spagna. Continuano in questi giorni arresti di esponenti politici catalani accusati (semplifico) di tradimento verso il governo spagnolo, all’indomani del referendum di ottobre. L’ex presidente Carles Puigdemont è stato fermato in Germania. Il ‘delitto’ riguarda le opinioni politiche espresse e il fatto di aver consentito ai cittadini di esprimersi col voto. Alle successive elezioni di dicembre questi partiti, queste persone (quelle che non erano in prigione) sono state rielette dalla maggioranza dei catalani. Fin dal primo giorno, a ottobre, Marta Rovira e gli altri esponenti del governo catalano hanno chiesto che l’Europa intervenisse. Un’Europa sorda a chi viene arrestato per le sue opinioni, all’esito del voto popolare e democratico, si chiedono, che Europa è. Invece Concita Blog di Concita de Gregorio 27-03-2018 Grazie a Marta Rovira, segretaria generale di Esquerra Republicana "Oggi prendo un cammino duro, un cammino che disgraziatamente tanti altri che ci precedono hanno dovuto prendere: il cammino dell’esilio. Non posso nascondere la profonda tristezza che sento nell’allontanarmi da tanta gente che amo. Allontanarmi da tante battaglie condivise, per tanti anni, con persone mosse da un unico obiettivo: cambiare la società dove vivono. Farla più giusta. Persone degne. Lasciare i paesaggi che mi circondano fin dall’infanzia, non poter passeggiare nella città dove vivo… Sono triste, ma molto più triste sarebbe stato vivere obbligata internamente al silenzio. Sentire la mia libertà di espressione censurata da tribunali che intimidiscono e che applicano sfacciatamente criteri politici". "Ogni giorno, ogni ora sentivo la mia libertà limitata da minacce giudiziarie arbitrarie. Non mi sentivo libera. Non mi riconoscevo. In queste ultime settimane ho vissuto dentro una prigione interna. L’esilio sarà duro, ma è l’unica forma che ho di recuperare la mia voce politica. Di sollevarmi contro il governo del Partito Popolare, che perseguita chi vota e che castiga chi intende cambiare ciò che è prestabilito. Un governo disposto a rinunciare allo stato di diritto e alle libertà civili per i suoi obiettivi politici". "Ho una figlia, Agnese. L’esilio mi permetterà di esserci di più come madre, e lo merita molto". "Vi voglio dire un’ultima cosa: non lasciate che il rancore si impadronisca di voi. L’analisi di una realtà antidemocratica e profondamente ingiusta non deve cedere il passo al risentimento. Contro nessuno. Contro niente. Solo a partire dal rispetto e dall’amore verso tutti i cittadini e tutte le opinioni costruiremo cambiamenti radicali e profondi. Solo dal lavoro comune otterremo una Repubblica per tutti. Come dice Oriol Junqueras: ‘In questi giorni che verranno rimanete forti e uniti, trasformate l’indignazione in coraggio e perseveranza. La rabbia in amore. Pensate sempre agli altri, a quello che dobbiamo ricostruire. Perseverate perché io persevererò’. Questo è quello che faremo, Oriol. Vi scrivo, ora sì, con libertà e sincerità. Viva la libertà, la giustizia, l’uguaglianza e la fraternità. Viva una Repubblica Catalana per tutti". Full Article
se Stellenausschreibung: Wissenschaftliche/r Mitarbeiter/in für das EU BON Projekt am Museum für Naturkunde Berlin By www.eubon.eu Published On :: Tue, 19 Feb 2013 14:21:00 +0200 Job alert: Research assistant at Museum für Naturkunde Berlin The Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin offers a job opportunity with the EU BON project (WP1+WP2 tasks) - fluency in German is a must! The position is set for a two-year contract with a possibility for further extensions. More information about the position, the application process and job requirements is available below and in the document attached.## Zur Unterstützung der Beteiligung des MfN an EU BON ist am Museum für Naturkunde Berlin zum nächstmöglichen Zeitpunkt eine vorerst auf 2 Jahre befristete (mit der Option der Verlängerung)Position eines/einer Wissenschaftlichen Mitarbeiters/in mit 75% der regelmäßigen wöchentlichen Arbeitszeit Entgeltgruppe E13 TV-L Berlin zu besetzenAufgabengebiete:Wissenschaftliche Mitarbeit und eigenständige Durchführung spezifischer Aufgaben innerhalb des EU BON Projektes, vor allem innerhalb der Arbeitspakete 1 (Datenquellen) und 2 (Datenintegration), i.b.- Datenrecherche und Erstellung von Übersichten für EU BON relevanter Daten- und Informationsquellen;- Bewertung und Lückenanalyse bestehender Datenbanken und Informationssysteme zur Biodiversität;- Harmonisierung, Aktualisierung und Koordinierung taxonomischer Referenz-Datenbanken i.b. für Europa;- Unterstützung der Einführung und Verbesserung von Datenstandards zur Verbesserung der Integration und Interoperabilität unterschiedlicher Datenebenen- Mitwirkung bei Erprobung neuer Datenerhebungsansätze und –verfahren, auch im Gelände- Planung und Durchführung von Projekttreffen und -veranstaltungen- Erstellung von Ergebnisberichten und wissenschaftlichen Präsentationen / Veröffentlichungen. Bewerbungsschluss: 28.02.2013 Full Article News
se The European Biodiversity Observation Network By www.eubon.eu Published On :: Wed, 06 Mar 2013 14:03:00 +0200 The European Biodiversity Observation Network (EU BON), a European project on biodiversity data, was launched in December 2012. The Belgian Biodiversity Platform attended the symposium connected to the EU BON kick-off meeting in Berlin, Germany, on 11-12th February 2013.The symposium entitled ‘Nature and Governance: Biodiversity Data, Science, and the Policy Interface’ highlighted the importance of biodiversity data for policy-making and research. The complexity of producing and collating data on an international scale involving different methods and disciplines was well illustrated. The importance of the accessibility of biodiversity data within an integrated system was well demonstrated - the sum of all contributions will in the end enable monitoring, forecasting and policy-making.EU BON will create a substantial part of the Group on Earth’s Observation’s Biodiversity Observation Network (GEO BON) and will operate in support of biodiversity sciences and policy initiatives, such as the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).EU BON will build on existing components, such as the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), LifeWatch infrastructures and national biodiversity data centers. As Belgian GBIF node, the Belgian Biodiversity Platform can provide an important support to the development of EU BON. The Belgian partners in the EU BON project are the Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA), the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (RBINS), and the National Botanic Garden of Belgium (Botanic Garden).We will follow with interest the development in the EU BON project and will continue publishing data through GBIF. If you would like to support this initiative by having your data published on GBIF, please contact André Heughebaert (GBIF node manager), Dimitri Brosens or Kristina Articus (Biodiversity Experts). Full Article News
se Research Data Alliance (RDA) is now launched By www.eubon.eu Published On :: Wed, 20 Mar 2013 17:03:40 +0200 The Research Data Alliance (RDA) has been recently launched. Its First Plenary took place between 18-20 March, 2013 in Gothenburg, Sweden. The hot topic of the Plenary was the RDA vision towards open access data without barriers. The 3 days of meetings and working sessions brought the research data community together to contribute and set milestones for the future work of the RDA towards open access data-driven innovation. Over the last decade, significant investments have been made all over the globefor developing scientific data infrastructures to support the work of research communities and improving shared access to data. There is a common understanding that solutions must be global and that the development of an integrated and interoperable data domain can only be achieved through increased global cooperation. As "big data" emerges as an international priority, the Research Data Alliance (RDA) is a newly formed organization whose goal is to accelerate data-driven innovation world-wide through research data sharing and exchange. At its first Plenary, the RDA was launched by sponsors from the European Commission, the U. S. Government and the Australian Government and leaders in the data community. The Plenary was used as a working meeting to accelerate discussion, Working and Interest Group interaction, and data community development. ICSU-WDS Data Publication Charter: http://www.icsu-wds.org/working-groups/data-publication Full Article News
se First meeting of WP 5 EU BON testing and validation of concepts, tools, and services held By www.eubon.eu Published On :: Mon, 15 Apr 2013 17:09:00 +0300 The first meeting of Work Package 5 (EU BON testing and validation of concepts, tools, and services) was held between 2nd and 4th April, 2013 in the Doñana Biological Station, in Spain. 23 people from 10 different institutions (7 of the EU BON consortium) worked towards building a draft on Principles and Guidelines for establishing and operating EU BON test sites. During the meeting the members agreed on starting documenting each of the sites, using a common format to be decided in May on the Informatics Task Force meeting of WP2 (Data integration and interoperability) in Norway. A data inventory will also be built in each of the sites, adding monitoring protocols in stepwise fashion. In addition the meeting served to get a better view of the variety of Ecosystems in Doñana as well as the monitoring protocols that are being conducted in this area. Full Article News
se MTSR 2013 : VII Metadata and Semantics Research Conference By www.eubon.eu Published On :: Wed, 08 May 2013 12:09:00 +0300 November 19-22, 2013 Alexander Technological Educational Institute of Thessaloniki, Greece Continuing the successful mission of previous MTSR Conferences (MTSR'05, MTSR'07, MTSR'09, MTSR'10, MTSR'11 and MTSR’12), the seventh International Conference on Metadata and Semantics Research (MTSR'13) aims to bring together scholars and practitioners that share a common interest in the interdisciplinary field of metadata, linked data and ontologies. Participants will share novel knowledge and best practice in the implementation of these semantic technologies across diverse types of Information Environments and applications. These include Cultural Informatics; Open Access Repositories & Digital Libraries; E-learning applications; Search Engine Optimisation & Information Retrieval; Research Information Systems and Infrastructures; e-Science and e-Social Science applications; Agriculture, Food and Environment; Bio-Health & Medical Information Systems. Full Article News
se ENVIMPACT CONFERENCE: "Environmental research: Experiences on best practices towards Horizon 2020" By www.eubon.eu Published On :: Wed, 08 May 2013 14:15:00 +0300 The "Environmental research: Experiences on best practices towards Horizon 2020" conference will be held the 30th of May 2013 in Brussels at the Museum of Natural Sciences. Organizers of the event are the APRE (Agency for the Promotion of European Research), and the ENVIMPACT consortium. The event will gather European Commission representatives, researchers, FP7 project's participants, governmental, academic and industrial stakeholders of the Central East European countries with the aim of presenting the current and future tools and trends for dissemination and exploitation of R&D results with a special focus on the thematic areas of research in air pollution, chemical pollution and environmental technologies, especially in the Central-Eastern European (CEE) countries. The agenda of the conference and the press release are downloadable at the link: http://download.apre.it/envimpact_presskit1.zip The registration is free, please register at http://www.envimpact.eu/index.cfm?action=article&publication_id=922 ENVIMPACT project has been launched on 1st January 2011. This initiative is funded by the European Commission under FP7, DG Research and Innovation, with the objectives to improve the current communication and dissemination of environmental research results deriving from Central-Eastern European (CEE) countries. Full Article News
se San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA) calls for reassessment of the importance of Impact Factor By www.eubon.eu Published On :: Fri, 17 May 2013 13:19:00 +0300 The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA) was initiated by the American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB) together with a group of editors and publishers of scholarly journals after a meeting in December 2012 during the ASCB Annual Meeting in San Francisco. The document recognizes the need to improve the ways in which the outputs of scientific research are evaluated. DORA puts into question the use of Journal Impact Factor as a main tool for assessment, and proposes the consideration of various other factors towards more sophisticated and meaningful approaches. DORA is a worldwide initiative covering all scholarly disciplines. To read the whole declaration, please follow the link: http://am.ascb.org/dora/ Full Article News
se Biodiversity databases: language and location help explain biases By www.eubon.eu Published On :: Fri, 07 Jun 2013 13:55:00 +0300 Science for Environment Policy features a policy brief explaining the biases around biodiversity databases in their latest issue 331, from 6 June 2013. "Biodiversity databases: language and location help explain biases" features a new study arguing that low numbers of English speakers, large distances from the database host and low security acting as key barriers to data collection and among the main reasons for the underrepresentation of some countries in biodiversity databases. Source: Amano T., Sutherland W.J. (2013) Four barriers to the global understanding of biodiversity conservation: wealth, language, geographical location and security. Proceedings of the Royal Society B. 280: 20122649. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2012.2649 Full Article News
se Job Alert: Research Associate - Linking Biodiversity Data to Policy, University of Cambridge By www.eubon.eu Published On :: Tue, 02 Jul 2013 17:12:00 +0300 The University of Cambridge invites for applications for a Research Associate to work on EU-BON, a major EU-funded research project seeking to improve the use of biodiversity data in public policy. Applicants should have a PhD in a relevant social science or conservation science. Experience in both qualitative and quantitative analysis is desirable. Applicants should ideally have some first-hand experience of public policy processes and a willingness to travel within the European Union for research. Excellent organisational and communication skills will be essential in working as a successful part of this large, multi-partner and multinational team. The researcher will carry out research on how biodiversity data is currently used in European policy making and will contribute to analysis of the opportunities to increase its effective provision and use. Research methods are likely to combine qualitative and quantitate analysis and to focus on the use of biodiversity data in public policy contexts. It is expected that some of the research will take place in Brussels. The researcher will have considerable freedom in defining the research project in discussion with Dr Doubleday and Prof Sutherland. In addition to carrying out research on the use of biodiversity data in European policy making, the researcher will support Cambridge's contribution to EU BON as a whole. This will involve contributing to other workpackages as and when required. More information about EU BON can be found here: http://www.eubon.eu Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 36 months in the first instance. Completed applications consisting of a CHRIS/6 (Parts I & III) (downloadable from http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/offices/hr/forms/chris6/) a covering letter, and CV, should be sent to Danielle Feger, via email: geogrec@hermes.cam.ac.uk or sent to Research Administrator, Department of Geography, Downing Site, Cambridge, CB2 3EN Please quote reference LC01355 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy. Any enquiries concerning the position can be made to Dr Robert Doubleday, rob.doubleday@csap.cam.ac.uk For more information about the position, please visit: http://www.jobs.cam.ac.uk/job/1611/ Full Article News
se The BioFresh Blog - Perspective: Martin Sharman on ethics and the ecosystem services paradigm By www.eubon.eu Published On :: Wed, 03 Jul 2013 11:18:00 +0300 In this guest post Martin Sharman opens up a rich area of debate by arguing that as a policy concept, ecosystem services puts human wants first and foremost and undermines moral-aesthetic value arguments for conservation that are widely held in society. Martin was the policy offer responsible for biodiversity and ecosystems in the European Commission’s DG Research & Innovation up until his retirement last November. During his career he made an enormous contribution to biodiversity research and policy, including the initiation of the BioFresh project. The opinions expressed in this post are, of course, his own and are not intended to represent a position of either the Commission or BioFresh. A "resource" is something that is useful to someone. A "natural resource" is something in the natural environment that a human can use to satisfy want or increase wellbeing. To adopt this vocabulary is to adopt a forthright utilitarian view of the natural environment, and implicitly to accept that human benefit is the only good. Not only is human benefit the only good, but it is quantifiable – for if not, then we can never agree on what constitutes a resource, or who has the greater right to it. Thus someone who speaks of natural resources accepts, again implicitly, that happiness and wellbeing can be quantified. The vocabulary also requires that this quantified human benefit remains, if not constant, then comparable over cultures and generations. More than this: the wellbeing of the "resource" is insignificant. It is only by setting concern for the wellbeing of the resource to zero that one can regard it as merely something to satisfy human want. Human benefit is the only good. This is the First Commandment; in the limpid words of the King James version of the bible, thou shalt have no other gods before me. In this observation lies much of the moral argument against the concept of ecosystem services: just as oranges are not the only fruit, so humans are not the only species. The concept of ecosystem services is one thing; the premise of its proponents is another. It is, in short, that conservation based on intrinsic value of biodiversity has failed to stop the loss of species, ecosystems, and the complex web of interactions between them. Since an ethical argument has failed, then we should try self-interest. By demonstrating that human wellbeing is increased by the services rendered by ecosystems, we can motivate people to protect the source of the service – biodiversity. We know that conservation is not working because we continue to lose biodiversity. Oh yeah? This is the equivalent of me deciding that my accelerator is not working because my car is losing speed. Why is such a daft non-sequitur accepted by otherwise intelligent people? You immediately thought of many reasons my car might be losing speed – I have the brakes on, I’m going up a hill, I’ve run out of fuel, I’ve run into sand, I’ve hit an oncoming truck. The obvious reason that we are losing biodiversity is the memento mori that stares at us from our looking glass – biodiversity loss is the inevitable result of our debt-based economic system and our swelling population’s unsustainable demands on nature. We all know that. Why do we mutely accept the dangerously diversionary nonsense that "biodiversity is being lost because conservation is not working"? Ecosystem services takes the utilitarian logic of natural resources one important step further. A "service" by definition benefits humans. If we are to protect services only if they benefit humans, then what happens to the useless ecosystems? Are they simply to be cemented over? I recently heard a discussion in which one person said "most people are useless", meaning that they are surplus to requirement. The outrage that this provoked was spearheaded by someone saying that you can never prove that anyone is useless, because you can never know enough about their contribution to their social fabric. So does this mean that you can never show that an ecosystem is useless? If so that leaves the ecosystem services argument saying that because some ecosystems benefit humans, we have to protect every ecosystem. Which may be the right answer, but why reach it by such objectionable means? For those of us with a reverence of nature, the ecosystem services rhetoric and mindset are abhorrent, being fundamentally immoral and unethical. They take the most ecologically damaging invasive species in the history of life, and place it above all other species on Earth. They cast all other – voiceless – species in the role of consumables. This mindset might have worked for Homo habilis. It will not work for Homo sapiens. Martin Sharman for the BioFresh Blog: http://biofreshblog.com/2013/07/03/perspective-martin-sharman-on-ethics-and-the-ecosystem-services-paradigm/ Full Article News
se Essential Biodiversity Variables - Have your say! By www.eubon.eu Published On :: Fri, 05 Jul 2013 13:35:00 +0300 The Group on Earth Observations Biodiversity Observation Network (GEO BON) is leading the development of a set of Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBVs), akin to the GCOS Essential Climate Variables (ECVs). The recently published paper (Science 339, 18 January 2013) describing the EBV concept states that: "Reducing the rate of biodiversity loss and averting dangerous biodiversity change are international goals, reasserted by the Aichi Targets for 2020 by Parties to the United Nations (UN) Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).… However, there is no global, harmonized observation system for delivering regular, timely data on biodiversity change." Read Full Paper and supplementary materials on EBVs here. GEO BON partners are thus developing (and seeking consensus around) EBVs that could form the basis of monitoring programs worldwide. For more information on EBVs please click here. GEO BON invites anyone who would like to get involved in EBV development, to take the EBV survey which will run till 31 August 2013. The survey will help us gauge how respondents feel about current candidate EBVs and provides respondents with the opportunity to make suggestions for new/alternative EBVs. Complete survey now! Full Article News
se Pan-European stakeholder consultation on the intersessional process of IPBES By www.eubon.eu Published On :: Mon, 22 Jul 2013 19:38:00 +0300 From 16th to the 18th of July, a European stakeholder consultation for the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity & Ecosystem Services (IPBES) took place in Leipzig (Germany). The consultation was organized by three European Biodiversity Platforms: Network-Forum Biodiversity Research Germany (NeFo), the Belgian Biodiversity Platform, and the French Foundation for Research on Biodiversity (FRB) (further information on the conference: www.biodiversity.de/index.php/de/ipbes/nefo-aktivitaeten-zu-ipbes/workshops/pan-european-stakeholder-consultation). IPBES will greatly influence future biodiversity policy and research, and EU BON is expected to provide a European contribution to IPBES. IPBES will be in particular of high interest, because it will need tools to integrate and analyse different data sources, to develop relevant infrastructure and to do assessments of state and trends of biodiversity at multiple scales. EU BON was represented by several partners at the meeting and we acted as facilitators in the round-tables, gathered input for the project, participated in discussions and exchanged ideas with many representatives and colleagues. We provide you with a short summary of the meeting below. The aims of the pan-European stakeholder consultation meeting in Leipzig were: To reach out to stakeholders to inform people and institutes and to raise awareness of the dynamics in IPBES. To discuss and obtain feedback on several IPBES-related documents that are currently being drafted. In their final form these documents will be submitted to the Panel for the IPBES 2 plenary session in 9-14 December 2013. The meeting in Leipzig was organized around round table discussions of several draft documents of importance for stakeholders: the draft work programme, the stakeholder engagement strategy draft and the draft "Vision for pan-European IPBES support perspective". If you are interested these documents, currently for review, can be found here: http://www.ipbes.net/intersessional-process/current-review-documents-ipbes2.html . There were several opportunities for EU BON partners to flag the potential biodiversity data and analysis requirements for the future IPBES work program in separate discussions and to give recommendations as to what should be additionally integrated in the draft work programme. We also brainstormed on a potential EU BON side event at the second IPBES meeting, which will be held in 9-14 December in Antalya, Turkey. Topics discussed by national delegates in that plenary will amongst other topics comprise: the first work programme, budget, stakeholder engagement, the position of observers, technical requirements and a list of thematic priorities for IPBES assessments. Although the meeting was a success in terms of the number and diversity of participants, the consultation felt for many participants as a top down exercise. However, the importance of being involved at this stage was felt and the hope for stakeholder empowerment in the future was often voiced. Full Article News
se FISHBASE and SEALIFEBASE Mirror Updates By www.eubon.eu Published On :: Fri, 26 Jul 2013 09:33:30 +0300 ANNOUNCEMENT: The June 2013 update of the FishBase (www.fishbase.org) and SeaLifeBase (www.sealifebase.org/) websites are now available online.FishBase Stats to date: 32500 Species, 299700 Common names, 52500 Pictures, 48700 References, 2010 Collaborators, 700000 Visits/MonthSealifeBase stats to date: 125800 Species, 27200 Common names, 11100 Pictures, 17800 References, 250 Collaborators Full Article News
se FishBase and Fish Taxonomy Training Course 2014: Call for Traineeship By www.eubon.eu Published On :: Fri, 11 Oct 2013 10:39:59 +0300 The Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA) in Tervuren (Belgium) is part of the FishBase Consortium and responsible for the information on the fresh- and brackish water fishes of Africa. Through an agreement with the Belgian Development Cooperation and as part of the FishBase programme, the RMCA has five grants available for a 3-month training programme in the use of FishBase and the taxonomy of African fishes. The training includes three subsets: A detailed explanation of FishBase in all its aspects; A training in the taxonomy of African fishes; and A case study based on data from FishBase or on taxa for which taxonomic problems have been encountered. The main focus of the training is on fish biodiversity data and their integration into FishBase, and on how to use and contribute data to FishBase. The context of these contributions may vary and can also include the knowledge on common names, fish ecology, fisheries statistics, aquaculture and many other areas of fish biology. After the training, the participants should be able to make their own contribution to fish biology and continue to work on FishBase. They are encouraged to teach their newly apprehended skills to new/local users, to help in completing the database and keeping it up to date, and to spread the use of FishBase as a source of information and a fisheries tool. This course has been offered annually since 2005 and is held at the Royal Museum for Central Africa (Leuvensesteenweg 13, B-3080 Tervuren, Belgium). To apply for traineeship and for more information, go to:http://www.africamuseum.be/research/collaborations/training/group?set_language=en&cl=en Please note that for 2014, this course will be given in French only. Contact: Dimitri Geelhand de Merxem (dimitri.geelhand@africamuseum.be) Full Article News
se Job Alert: Part-time Research Assistant, School of Geography and the Environment, Oxford By www.eubon.eu Published On :: Wed, 20 Nov 2013 11:00:00 +0200 The Environmental Change Institute (ECI) in the University of Oxford is seeking to appoint a Research Assistant to join the existing research team on two EU funded research projects.The role will require the development and application of methodologies for undertaking systematic literature reviews, quantitative analysis of model outputs, contribution to the writing of research papers, organisation of workshops and large meetings, and the performance of other duties necessary for the successful completion of both the IMPRESSIONS and OPENNESS projectsYou will have a Masters or equivalent in an environmental discipline and strong quantitative skills. You must have the ability to undertake systematic literature reviews and synthesise findings and assist in the management of large research projects. Excellent organisational and writing skills are essential.This is a part-time (50% FTE) post and is available for 24 months. The closing date for applications is 12.00 noon on Wednesday 18 December 2013. You can find more information and apply here. Full Article News