Research and Reports

Third International Workshop of GSSD Strategic Partnerships for Sustainability

Working Agenda
Third International Workshop of

GSSD Strategic Partnerships for Sustainability

Focusing on

Knowledge Networking & Technology Collaboration
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Jack C. Tang Center, MIT
Building E-51
January 18 and 19, 2000

GSSD Reports

Knowledge Networking & Technology Collaboration
GSSD Strategic

January 18, 2000

SESSION 1

INTRODUCTION: Knowledge matters, GSSD Collaborative Networking Strategy
Chair: Professor Nazli Choucri, GSSD-MIT
[link]

This Introduction focuses on knowledge and knowledge-networking in the global economy, highlights the current status of GSSD and its partnerships, and outlines the charge for the participants rendering this meeting a 'working conference.'

SESSION 2
Partnership Matters: Evolution of Institutional Collaboration
Four different ongoing collaborative efforts are presented, highlighting complexity and diversity in knowledge provision, mirror siting, multilingual capacity, & research initiatives.

GSSD-China: ACCA21
Dr. Wang Qiming, Director of Information, Networking Division ACCA21, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of China

Alliance for Global Sustainability
Professor Jeffrey Steinfeld, Department of Chemistry, MIT

Arabic-GSSD and the Middle East
Professor Toufic Mezher, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Engineering Management Program, American University in Beirut, Lebanon
[link]

Francophone Community: Directions & Priorities
Dr. Christian Brodhag, Ecole des Mines, St. Etienne, France

SESSION 3
Communication & Measurement Matters: Reducing Barriers to Knowledge & Capacity Building
Chair: Mr. Brian Chambers, UNCTAD

Private-Public Collaboration in Latin America (WBCSD-ITESM)
Dr. Sylvia Pinal, World Business Council for Sustainable Development, Mexico
[link]

International Consultative Group on Indicators
Dr. Peter Hardi, Director, Measurement & Indicators Program, International Institute for Sustainable Development, Canada
[link]

Design and Development of Data Portals
Dr. Allen Hammond, Senior Scientist and Director of Strategic Analysis
World Resources Institute, Washington, DC, USA

The Ring & IUCN – Commission on Economy, Environment, and Social Policy
Dr. Atiq Rahman, Director, Bangladesh Center for Advanced Studies, Bangladesh

SESSION 4

Threats to US International Scientific Collaboration
Speaker: Dr. Wendy White, Director, Division for International Organizations and
Academy Cooperation (IOAC), US National Academy of Sciences, USA

SESSION 5
Technology Matters: Toward "Critical Mass" on Environment, Information, & Technology
Chairman: Ms. Terri Willward, Sustainable Development Communications Network,
International Institute for Sustainable Development.

Environment, Globalization, and information Society - (EGIS)
Project SCOPE
Dr. Francisco diCastri, Environment in a Global Information Society, Chairman, CRNS, France.

Sony Strategy & European Collaboration
Dr. Lutz-Gunther Scheidt, Director, Environmental Center Europe,
Sony International (Europe) GmbH
[link]

Toward a Knowledge Society for the Americas
Dr. Thomas Malone, Founding Director, Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society, USA

Technology-Focused Initiatives
Presentation 1
Presentation 2
Mr. Mick Wilson, Chief, UNEPnet Services, Environment Information Systems, UNEP, Kenya

[link]

SESSION 6
Implementation Matters: Innovation, Engineering, Education
Chair: Wallace R. Baker, Senior Partner, Baker & McKenzie

Corporate Sustainability Response – Deutsch Telecom
Dr. Ignacio Campino, Head of Environmental Affairs Office, Deutsch Telecom

Xerox Corp & Knowledge Management
Dr. John F. Elter, Vice President and Chief Engineer, Xerox Corporation

RACE-Tokyo U. & AGS
Professor Tetsuo Tomiyama, Research into Artifacts, Center for Engineering
The University of Tokyo

From Industrial Ecology to “Engineering for Earth Systems”
Dr. Braden Allenby, Vice President, Environment, Health & Safety
AT&T

Priorities in Italian Information Strategies
Professor Andrea Terranova, Politecnico di Milano, Schole Futuro, Instituto per l’Ambiente e l’Educazione, Italy
[link]

SESSION 7
Dinner Session: Supporting the Global Environment & Sustainability Agenda
Panel & Open Discussion

SESSION 8
The Computer Classroom: Hands-On.

SESSION 9

Charge to Breakout Groups

Group 1: Managing Workflow for Mirror Sites & Multi-lingual Functionality.

Charge: Focusing on the best ways of routinizing the implementation of multi-lingual functions for large scale knowledge-networking, our task is to clarify barriers, specify technical, institutional, and organizational requirements, and identify actions that might facilitate content provision and knowledge development. Please isolate three major research challenges related to implementation.
Leader: Steven Millman, MITGroup Members Include: Wang Qiming, Tang Yanhong, Sylvia Pinal, Toufic Mezher, Stephania Truffa, Andrea Terranova, Ricardo Alvarado, Jordan Kimball, Tetsuo Tomiyama

Group 2: Product & Process Design for Sustainability

Charge: Identifying ongoing global efforts to understand and ‘catalogue’ business and industry initiatives toward sustainability, our task is to frame ways of separating ‘fact’ from ‘fiction’, and to clarify ways of capturing the incorporation of sustainability criteria into core competencies. Please identify three major research directions or questions that might help address the matter of ‘design’ for sustainability.
Leader: John Ehrenfeld, MIT
Group Members Include: Vignir Haraldsson, Venkataraman Balaij, Jennifer Nash, Betty Lou McClanahan, Biao Huang, John Elter, Ignacio Campino, Brian Chambers, Lutz-Gunther Scheidt, Ned Strong

Group 3: Contours for New Knowledge & Technology Initiative

Charge: Focusing on greater synergism among major efforts to bring innovative technologies and institutional mechanisms to bear on implementation of global accords, the charge is to consider ways of reducing barriers to knowledge access and support developing countries in the technology domain. To the extent of possible, please highlight three major priority domains or “demands” from developing countries as well as potential ways in which international collaboration or targeted partnering might facilitate “meeting” these demands.
Leader: Wendy White, US-NAS
Group Members Include: Francisco di Castri, Thomas Malone, Wallace Baker, Terri Williard, Atiq Rahman, Braden Allenby, Peter Hardi, Otto Solbrig, Mick Wilson, Ashok Koshla, Jose Domingos Miguez

SESSION 10

Reports of Breakout Session
Chair: Dr. Ashok Khosla, Director, Development Alternatives, India

Reports of Group Leaders
Focused Follow-Up

Brazil Communication & Information Priorities
Speaker: Mr. Jose Domingos Miguez, Coordinator, Minister Cabinet on Global Change
Research, Ministry of Science and Technology, Brazil.

SESSION 11

Reviewing Key Issues, Conclusions, and Follow-up
Chair: Dr. Thomas Malone, Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society, USA

Closing Remarks
Professor Nazli Choucri

At MIT, the Symposium is convened by:

Technology & Development Program

The Technology & Development Program (TDP) is an international program of interdisciplinary research and education. Established in 1971, TDP focuses on the promotion of expertise in addressing and resolving specific technological and socio-economic problems of industrializing countries.

The program is committed to the principle that investigation of technological issues bearing on development and sustainability requires a multi-disciplinary approach and calls for attention to diverse views and perspectives.

The TDP strategy focuses on:

Promoting an awareness of the relationship between science, technology development, and sustainability within the MIT community;
Providing a local focal point for activities at MIT concerned with issues at the intersection of technology and sustainability;
Contributing to collaboration in research and education with institutions in industrial and industrializing countries to address issues consistent with their national needs and priorities;
Serving as a focal point for interested institutions outside MIT (government, academic, and business and industry – nationally and internationally) to gain access to knowledge; and
Resources available at MIT in this area and to undertake collaborative investigations of problems critical to resulting sustainability dilemmas.

For information contact:
Ms. Sally M. Honda
Department of Political Science
E53-490
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA 02139

Phone 617-253-5263
Fax: 617-258-7989
Email: honda@mit.edu