'Geoinformatics Management' MSc Development Started

A new Tempus curriculum development project with participants from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan has started in October and will be officially launched Dec 10-11 at KSUCTA in Bishkek. From the fall of 2011 Masters students in "Geoinformatics: Managing Energy, Resources, Environment" will start their education at several Central Asian partner universities, with additional universities joining in the following year.
This international MSc programme is aiming at addressing the urgent need for graduates qualified in technology, methods and applications of Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The definitive curriculum will be presented at GISCA 2011 in Almaty, with registration for students opening shortly thereafter.

GISCA 2011 - Call for Papers

The annual GIS-in-Central Asia Conference now has opened its 2011 Call for Papers and registration. The conference is scheduled for May 19-20 in Almaty, Kazakhstan and will be preceded by a range of workshops and tutorials. Again, it is expected that this event will bring together all key players in the Geoinformatics and GIScience disciplines from Central Asia and beyond!

The main theme of GISCA 2011 will be "Geoinformatics: Managing Environment, Resources and Risk", and contributions are welcome addressing this theme from the entire range of Geoinformatics and Spatial Sciences backgrounds.

The 2011 conference will simultaneously serve as this year's key coordination  and training event for the Tempus GEM curriculum development project for Geoinformatics Management, and as a venue for various user groups and special interest communities.

GISCA 2011 is being jointly organized by the Austria-Central Asia Centre for GIScience and the Kazakh National University named after Al-Farabi as a local host. The conference will be supported by the Eurasia-Pacific Uninet and several sponsors from the Geoinformatics industry.

Dr Nazarkulova presenting at Global SDI Conference, Singapore

At the GSDI Conference, held in Singapore Oct 19-22, Dr Ainura Nazarkulova was invited to present the results of her work in  a presentation titled "Building an SDI as a Community Project - Challenges in Emerging Economies". After being nominated as a recipient of the GSDI small grants program in 2008, this paper and poster presentation acknowledged her efforts towards establishing several key elements of a Spatial Data Infrastructure for Central Asia.

During the conference Kyrgyz 'insignia' were presented to Dr Al Stevens, administrator of the SDI small grants program. "Dr Nazarkulova's presentation was one of my personal highlights during the Singapore conference", Dr Stevens commented.

Mark Your Calendars: GISCA 2011 for May 19/20 in Almaty!

The annual GIS in Central Asia conference will be organised in Almaty at the Kazakh National University named after Al-Farabi on May 19/20, 2011. Workshops and project meetings will be scheduled on the days before the conference.
A Call for Papers will be issued later this month, suggestions and offers for enhancing the conference program are welcome!

Successful enerGIS Faculty Dev'l Workshop in Dushanbe

Today the enerGIS'10 workshop hosted at the Tajik Agrarian University named after Shirinsho Shotemur and supported by the Eurasia-Pacific Uninet has been successfully concluded in Dushanbe.

On Monday, participants from Central Asian countries and organisers from the Austria-Central Asia Centre for GIScience were welcomed by Ambassador Ursula Fahringer, Rector Izzatullo Sattori and the local organiser, Zamira Khodirova from TAU.

The overall workshop program was focusing two sets of topics - advanced skills in Geographic Information methods and techniques, and a particular focus on applications in the wide area of energy management and the identification of renewable sources of energy.

An intensive program of lectures and practical work was aimed at advancing the skills of university teachers, and assisting with developing a community of academic researchers and teachers across the Central Asia region qualified in geospatial management of energy resources.

UNIGIS Course: Start in early October!

Due to the current level of registrations, the next starting date for the UNIGIS Geoinformatics / GIScience distance learning program for students from Central Asia can be confirmed for the beginning of October 2010!
The UNIGIS Study Centre at ACA*GIScience in Bishkek is offering MSc in GIScience as well as GIS diploma/certificate programmes, candidates have the opportunity to begin their studies towards this postgraduate qualification within the worldwide UNIGIS network of universities. 
The Bishkek study centre is offering Russian language tutoring and instruction, thereby facilitating access to this international English language continuing education programme addressing in-service professionals. Applications for admission of qualified candidates to remaining places are still accepted! 
Further information is available through www.unigis.net/bishkek - specific enquiries can be directed to Dr. Ainura Nazarkulova.

enerGIS Workshop in Dushanbe

Hosted by the Tajik Agrarian University named after Shirinsho Shotemur (TAU), the Technical University of Graz jointly with other partners from the Austrian Eurasia-Pacific Uninet is offering a faculty development workshop from Sept 20 to 24 within the framework of the Austria-Central Asia Centre for GIScience.

The enerGIS workshop offers participants an introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS) based on renewable-energy-relevant applications with a focus on Central Asia. University lecturers and administrators, NGO or technical experts are invited. Core topics of the workshop will be:

• Applying GIS technologies to energy issues and related projects.
• Applying the acquired skills  in Central Asia.
• Building up a collaborative network (coordinated by ACA*GIScience).
• Enabling GIS to support decision-making processes by assisting the management of renewable energy resources like biomass, hydro, solar or wind energy.

Further information is available via http://energis.tugraz.at/!