8. Sommersymposium

Umwelt und Europa

Münster, 15. und 16. Juni 1998

Umweltbelastungen können immer weniger als regional oder national eingrenzbare Probleme begriffen werden. Die öffentliche Resonanz globaler Umweltveränderungen hat in den letzten Jahren diesen Tatbestand offenkundig gemacht. Europäische Umweltprobleme finden zwar in einigen Fällen, wie am Beispiel von Ostsee, Mittelmeer oder Rhein aufgezeigt werden kann, zunehmend europaweite Beachtung. Gleichwohl sind die diversen Felder des Umweltschutzes in den europäischen Ländern immer noch überwiegend auf den nationalstaatlichen Rahmen zugeschnitten. Gerade aber vor dem Hintergrund der wirtschaftlichen, rechtlichen und politisch-institutionellen Bestrebungen zur europäischen Integration ist die Frage nach gesamteuropäischen Strategien zur Entlastung der Umwelt aktueller denn je geworden. Aus diesem Grunde ist das diesjährige 8. Sommersymposium des Zentrums für Umweltforschung (ZUFO) der Westfälischen Wilhelms-Universität, Münster, dem Thema "Umwelt und Europa" gewidmet.

Die europäischen Regionen können auf Dauer ökologischen Qualitätsstandards nur dann genügen, wenn die einzelnen Teilprobleme der Umweltnutzung in einem gesamteuropäischen Rahmen bearbeitet werden. Diese komplexe Problemlage erfordert im zunehmenden Maße sowohl internationale als auch interdisziplinäre Forschungsansätze. Wie bei den vorangegangenen Sommersymposien des ZUFO sollen deswegen die verschiedenen Aspekte des Themenkomplexes "Umwelt und Europa" aus dem Blickwinkel unterschiedlicher Disziplinen beleuchtet werden. Hierzu konnten wir renommierte Wissenschaftler und Experten aus der Bundesrepublik und dem europäischen Ausland gewinnen.

Wir hoffen, daß das vorliegende Programm wieder viele interessierte Wissenschaftler, Praktiker aus Wirtschaft, Verwaltung und Medien sowie die interessierte Öffentlichkeit anspricht und in der Aula des Münsterschen Schlosses zu anregenden Diskussionen zusammenführen wird.

Die Vorträge sind schwerpunktmäßig in die folgenden Themenbereiche gegliedert:

• Zustandsanalyse zentraler Umweltfaktoren in Europa
• Umweltpolitik und Umweltdiplomatie in der europäischen Union
• Wirtschafts- kontra Umweltstandort Europa?
• Umweltkonflikte in Europa - an ausgewählten Beispielen.

Am Schluß der Tagung steht eine Podiumsdiskussion zum Thema "Die Umwelt in Europa und die Rolle der Europäischen Union - Kann der EU eine umweltpolitische Vorreiterrolle zugeschrieben werden?"

Anmeldung

Tagungsgebühren werden nicht erhoben.
Anmeldeschluß: 2. Juni 1998
Online-Anmeldung:
http://www.uni-muenster.de/Umweltforschung/symp98.html

Veranstalter

Stockholm, Sweden, 21 - 24 June 1998

The twelfth biennial International Telecommunications Society (ITS) conference will be held in Stockholm, Sweden, from 21 to 24 June 1998. The theme of the conference will be "Beyond convergence", focusing on what will happen after the imminent convergence of communications, computing and media is complete.

The conference will feature contributions from policy-makers, academics and industrialists from the EU, USA, Australia and Japan. A keynote address will be given by Martin Bangemann, European Commissioner responsible for telecommunications policy.

Issues to be addressed in the plenary sessions of the conference will include:

• The future of communications and information;
• Economic and social issues from convergence;
• Future directions for research;
• Future directions for telecommunications.

Parallel sessions will address topics in more detail including:

• Technological convergence;
• Demand, competition and innovation;
• Organizational innovation;
• International strategy and restructuring;
• Regulating local telecommunications.

The working language of the conference will be English.

(Source: CORDIS focus)

For further information, please contact

Seminar

Improving Employment, Democracy and Social Inclusion through Telematics

Manchester, UK, 22 - 23 June 1998

A TeleCities seminar entitled "Improving employment, democracy and social inclusion through telematics solutions" will be held in Manchester, United Kingdom, on 22 and 23 June 1998. The event is organized as part of the European Digital Cities (EDC) project, a support action within the EU's Telematics Applications programme.

The aim of the event is to raise awareness among cities, towns and regions of the benefits of urban telematics, on the basis of the results of European joint pilot projects. The main topics to be covered during the first day's plenary sessions will include:

• Teleworking and local employment; regional cooperation; multimedia content industry;
• Telematics applications for a better democracy; low cost access to services and networks for the citizen; involvement of citizens as consumers and providers; involvement of citizens in political life;
• Improving quality of life of the underprivileged; using telematics for social integration; access by the visually impaired.

The second day's programme will encompass a number of parallel workshops, addressing the following topics:

• Quality of life for disadvantaged people;
• Economic development/telematic services for SMEs;
• Teledemocracy;
• Public administration/city information highway;
• Standards;
• City healthcare;
• Employment and teleworking;
• Environment;
• Education and training.

Tagung

Wettbewerb auf deutschen Energiemärkten: Chancen für Umwelt- und Klimaschutz?

Hannover, 23. Juni 1998

Die deutsche Energiewirtschaft steht vor einem Umbruch: Dort wo jahrzehntelang Monopole das Sagen hatten, soll umfassender Wettbewerb einkehren. Sind die Weichen tatsächlich für einen fairen Wettbewerb gestellt?

Hierzu stehen folgende Fragen im Mittelpunkt der Veranstaltung:

• Wer sind die Gewinner, wer die Verlierer?
• Spielt Umwelt- und Klimaschutz im kommenden Preiskampf noch eine Rolle?
• Welche Chancen und Risiken bestehen für Energiedienstleistungen und 'saubere' Stromerzeugung im liberalisierten Markt?
• Sind den politisch Verantwortlichen in den Kommunen die Folgen der Energierechtsnovelle ausreichend bewußt?
• Verlieren Stadtwerke ihre Daseinsberechtigung und politische Akzeptanz als zentrale Akteure kommunaler Interessen und des Umwelt- und Klimaschutzes vor Ort?
• Welche Bedeutung erlangen Kundenwünsche nach mehr Umweltschutz: Laufen unabhängige und neue Akteure den bisherigen Versorgern in diesem Feld den Rang ab?

Viele dieser Fragen kann erst die Zukunft vollständig beantworten. Referenten aus Praxis und Wissenschaft werden hierzu vortragen und diskutieren. Sie beleuchten die Problemfelder aus unterschiedlicher Sicht und Interessenlagen und vor dem Hintergrund des heutigen Wissensstandes.

Es wird gebeten, sich per Fax oder schriftlich bis zum 1. Juni 1998 anzumelden bei:

Öko-Institut e.V.
Institut für angewandte Ökologie
z. Hd. Bernadette Kiefer
Postfach 6226, D-79038 Freiburg
Fax: + 49 (0) 761/475437

Paris, France, 2 July 1998

A one-day conference on the impact of the Internet in the agriculture sector will be held in Paris, France, on 2 July 1998. This conference is held in the context of the AGRIMMEDIA project, supported by the EU's ESPRIT programme. The objective of this project is the promotion of multimedia tools in agriculture and agro-food.

The event will be organized by the Association de Coordination Technique Agricole (ACTA) and the Centre National d'Etudes et de Ressources en Technologie Avancée (CNERTA). The conference will cover five EU Member States: Sweden, Denmark, The Netherlands, Germany and France. The issues to be discussed will include:

• The current impact of the Internet on agriculture;
• The changes seen in agricultural advisory/information services;
• The most innovative applications, especially in the field of training;
• How to best take advantage of the proliferation of services.

The working language of the conference will be French.

(Source: CORDIS focus)

For further information, please contact

Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 13 - 14 August 1998

A seminar on "Convergence in the digital age: challenges for libraries, museums and archives" will take place in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, on 13 and 14 August 1998. The seminar, supported by the Libraries sector of the Telematics Applications programme, is a preliminary event of the 64th General Conference of the International Federations and Library Institutions (IFLA) which runs from 16 to 21 August.

The seminar will provide a unique opportunity for those interested in the fields of libraries, museums or archives to share their experiences of handling digital information and to discuss common issues and challenges. It also aims at providing new ideas for the definition of cooperation strategies for a digital environment.

The seminar will consist of six main thematic sessions, illustrated by presentations of ongoing projects:

• The organization of knowledge in a digital environment;
• Citizens' access to digital heritage;
• New services in their legal context;
• The future of the digital present;
• Converging technologies and standards for digital collections;
• Strategic issues in research and technological development.

Simultaneous interpretation will be available in English, French, German, Russian and Spanish.

(Source: CORDIS focus)

For further information on the seminar, please contact

Strasbourg, France, 24 - 26 September 1998

IN-TELE (Internet-based teaching and learning) is a project supported by the European Commission's Educational Multimedia task force which aims to develop new solutions for Internet teaching and learning. The project is to hold a conference in Strasbourg, France, from 24 to 26 September 1998.

The theme of the conference will be "Educational uses of the Internet and the construction of European identity". The aim is to present and discuss educational and scientific research and to bring together information technologies vendors, educational authorities and users.

Research or integrative reviews, will be presented at the conference. The following topics will be covered:

• Educational uses of the Internet (advantages and disadvantages);
• Internet-based construction of social identity;
• Representations of the Internet Expectations and fears;
• National experiences and differences;
• Differences between users with Internet-based teaching and learning experiences and those with traditional education;
• Learning with Hypermedia;
• Lifelong learning;
• Partnerships between educational structures;
• Educational projects with multimedia industries, editors and users;
• Exchanges and partnerships resulting from the dynamic created by the European Community.

The working languages of the conference will be English, French and German.

(Source: CORDIS focus)

For further information, please contact

Seminar

Perspectives and Employment in Environmental Engineering in Europe

Hamburg, Germany, 24 - 26 September 1998

A seminar on "Perspectives and employment in environmental engineering in Europe" will take place in Hamburg, Germany, from 24 to 26 September 1998. Organized by TU-TECH and the Technical University of Hamburg Harburg, the event is supported by the European Commission, DG XI, as part of its general measures to promote awareness of environmental issues.

The seminar will aim to look at the current situation in relation to training in environmental engineering, and the employment prospects of this sector. It will offer the posibility to present experiences from different countries in the field, as well as to cater for the analysis of examples of environmental engineering programmes in some EU countries. It is hoped that both the potential and limitations of this field can be identified, and guidelines for the preparation of courses can be set down, as a results of the seminar. The event is also expected to increase awareness of some of the most pressing environmental issues and the possibilities for employment in the sector.

The target audience includes government officials in the employment field, academics in the engineering field, engineering graduates and training providers. In addition, firms which offer or use environmental services will also be encouraged to participate. In order to ensure optimum discussion, participation is expected to be limited to around 60, of which a proportion will be young graduates.

The seminar language will be English.

(Source: CORDIS focus)

For further information, please contact

Avila, Spain, 30 September - 2 October 1998

The Research and Development Management Conference 1998 will be held in Avila, Spain, from 30 September to 2 October 1998. The conference is jointly organized and sponsored by COTEC, the Spanish foundation for research and development, and the Manchester Business School.

These organizations are partners in a project funded by the Innovation Management Techniques section of the EU's INNOVATION programme, entitled "Development of a Toolkit to Promote Methodological Guidelines in Technology Management and its Dissemination in European Countries" (TEMAGUIDE), launched in January 1997, which will be discussed during the conference.

The conference will examine various aspects of strategy and alliances which have the potential to be a powerful factor in research and development, technology and innovation management. It will involve an examination of relevant concepts and themes, a discussion of the practical problems that might be experienced and consideration of the implications for research and development management.

Topics to be covered within the overall theme will include:

• Working effectively in strategic alliances;
• Finding synergy and strategy in an alliance;
• Working with technology suppliers;
• Smaller company perspectives: innovation, research and development projects and supply chain contracts;
• Resource allocation and project evaluation;
• Re-engineering an established partnership agreement;
• Alliances between competitors;
• Exploiting non-core capabilities;
• Managing alliances in the value chain;
• Knowledge management and intellectual capital;
• An alliance as a client for research and technology institutes and universities;
• Networks, virtual organizations and information technology.

SOCINTEC
Mr. David Uriate
C/Mayor 10, E-48930 Las Arenas Vizeaya
Tel.: + 34-4/4800211
>Fax: + 34-4/4800391
E-mail: rdmacon@socintec.com
or
Manchester Business School
The R&D Research Unit
Jeff Butler
Booth Street West, Manchester M15 6PB
United Kingdom
Tel.: + 44-161/2756338
Fax: + 44-161/2756489
E-mail: j.butler@fs2.mbs.ac.uk

For conference update information, please access the following Web site: http://www.techman.org/R&D_98.htm

The Hague, The Netherlands, 15 - 16 October 1998

A conference on the development of the Information Society in Europe will be held in The Hague, The Netherlands, on 15 and 16 October 1998. The conference, entitled "Bangemann and Beyond: New Technology, New Europe?", will be organized jointly by the Community Informatics Research and Applications Unit (CIRA), University of Teesside, and the Institute of Higher European Studies (HEBO), Haagse Hogeschool. The keynote speaker will be the European Commissioner responsible for information technologies, Mr. Martin Bangemann.

The conference will examine the ways in which information and communications technologies (ICTs) are affecting the development of the EU into the new millennium. The conference will update and develop the themes first set out in the Bangemann Report of 1994, which established the agenda for change within the European Union. This report set out the possible parameters for change, and this conference will aim to evaluate the progress that has been made and to discuss opportunities to redirect the focus of EU development.

The conference will bring together some of the leading European authorities in the field of information and communications technology, in order to ensure as wide a focus as possible. The main conference themes will examine the development of the Information Society in Europe, with particular reference to:

• Health;
• Education;
• Public service;
• Community development;
• Commerce and administration;
• Social and economic change.

The language of the conference will be English.

(Source: CORDIS focus)

For further information, please contact

Call for Papers

Fourth European Digital Cities Conference

Salzburg, Austria, 29 - 30 October 1998

The Fourth European Digital Cities (EDC) conference will be held in Salzburg, Austria, on 29 and 30 October 1998. The conference will address the theme "Changing Patterns of Urban Life". This series of conferences is one of the awareness-raising components of the EDC project, which is a support action funded by the EU's Telematics Applications programme.

This conference will focus on three main themes and presentations on each are welcomed:

• Progress of digital sites projects;
• Urban utopia: vision of the digital city of tomorrow.

The key players involved in these developments will be represented among the conference participants and should include representatives from local and regional authorities, research institutions, industry and operators from all over Europe.

Abstracts of papers for presentation at the conference, in any of the above three subject areas, should be submitted by 26 June 1998 (in English only).

The conference languages will be English, French and German.

(Source: CORDIS focus)

For further information, please contact

First Call for Papers - Third International Conference and Bi-Annual Meeting

"Challenges for Technology Assessment & Technology
Forecasting: Equity, Energy and Environment"

New Delhi, India, 17 - 19 November 1998

Program and Preliminary Themes

Inclusion of energy and environment in the optimization function determining the choice of technology for development and utilisation does not take place automatically. If the collective aim of mankind is to be achieved then it is important to clearly foresee future possibilities, aiming at equity. Here lies the challenge for technological assessment and technological forecasting. TA & TF attempts to establish an early warning system to detect, control, and direct technological changes. TA & TF also helps the decision makers in government and industry to develop realistic strategic plans.

The IATAFI 98 Conference would be conducted in three parallel sessions in which speakers and participants would have an opportunity to present their views and share experiences in areas of equity, energy and environment technologies. The discussion shall be focused on the role of TA and TF in determining the Risks, Impact, Cost involved, Financing, Impedances to technology flow, data bank, etc.

Papers should reflect the objective of this conference:

• To provide a link between science and technology policies for equity and sustainable development.
• To clarify the concept and methods of the tools of TA and TF as applied for equity and sustainable development.
• To illustrate the main challenges in technological developments in areas such as power, energy efficient and environmental technologies.
• To discuss the demographic, socio-economic and ethical aspects related to technology development and transfer.

The following structure is suggested for the conference:

I. The role of TA & TF in development and implementation of energy efficient technologies

• the nature and methodology of TA & TF and their challenges
• role of energy technologies for sustainable development
• case studies and experiences
• tools/instruments for TA & TF applied to equity and sustainable development.

II. The role of TA and TF in development and implementation of environment friendly technologies

• the nature and methodology of TA & TF and their challenges
• role of environment friendly technologies for sustainable development
• case studies and experiences
• tools/instruments for TA & TF applied to equity and sustainable development.

III. Challenges for TA and TF Institutions in building equity and sustainable development capacities

• the role of international bodies, government and non-government organisations
• the role of R&D
• the role of industry
• the role of national and local/regional authorities.

The conference is organised on behalf of International Association for Technology Assessment and Forecasting Institutions (IATAFI) by Technology Information, Forecasting & Assessment Council (TIFAC) (Department of Science and Technology), New Delhi.

Abstracts should be submitted not later then May 30, 1998 to:

Sunita Wadhwa
Senior Scientific Officer
TIFAC, DST
Technology Bhawan
New Mehrauli Road
New Delhi-110 016, India
Tel.: + 91-11/6868513
Fax: + 91-11/6863866
E-mail: tifac@alpha.nic.in

Tagungsankündigung - Call for papers

Landnutzung im Spiegel der Technikbewertung - Methoden, Indikatoren, Fallbeispiele

Potsdam, 07. - 08. Dezember 1998

Das Institut für Agrartechnik Bornim (ATB) veranstaltet gemeinsam mit dem Zentrum für Umweltwissenschaften an der Universität Potsdam eine Fachtagung zum Thema: "Landnutzung im Spiegel der Technikbewertung - Methoden, Indikatoren, Fallbeispiele". Das Ziel der Fachtagung besteht darin, das Potential der Technikbewertung zur Beantwortung folgender Fragen herauszuarbeiten:

• Wie kann eine zukunftsfähige Landwirtschaft aussehen?
• Welche Dienstleistungsangebote sind im ländlichen Raum möglich?
• Wie kann die ländliche Infrastruktur sinnvoll weiterentwickelt werden?

Der inhaltliche Schwerpunkt liegt auf der Vorstellung von Methoden und Verfahren der Technikbewertung. Die Anwendbarkeit der Methodik sollte an ausgewählten Fallbeispielen demonstriert werden. Darüber hinaus möchte die Veranstaltung als Kontaktbörse für potentielle Auftraggeber und Auftragnehmer von TA-Projekten dienen.

Die Fachtagung findet am 07. und 08.12.98 in Potsdam statt. Neben der Präsentation von Vorträgen und Postern besteht die Möglichkeit, die eigene Institution auf einem Infostand vorzustellen.

Die Einreichung eigener Beiträge ist bis zum 30.06.98 möglich, wobei die Präsentationsform (Vortrag, Poster) und eine aussagefähige Inhaltsbeschreibung (maximal 1 DIN A 4 Seite) anzugeben sind. Vorteilhaft wäre es, wenn Sie die Kurzfassung als MSWord oder WordPerfect Kopie via E-mail an einen der Ansprechpartner senden könnten.

Ansprechpartner

Dr. Matthias Plöchl
Tel.: + 49 (0) 331/5699 228
E-mail: mploechl@atb.uni-potsdam.de

Frau Helen Jacobs
Tel.: + 49 (0) 331/5699 214
E-mail: hjacobs@atb.uni-potsdam.de