From gwelker@mail2.lmi.org Wed Aug 17 00:21:38 1994 Date: Mon, 15 Aug 94 06:43:09 -0700 From: gwelker@mail2.lmi.org Reply to: indknow@u.washington.edu To: Multiple recipients of list Subject: International Earth Science Information Here is a project that many indigenous peoples worldwide can contribute to, and also benefit from; to help protect Mother Earth. Glenn --------------------------------------------------------------------- What is the CIESIN Kiosk? CIESIN's Human Dimensions Kiosk provides electronic access to unpublished scholarly papers and less accessible reports on the human dimensions of global environmental change research. The CIESIN Kiosk is currently accessible on four platforms. They are anonymous FTP (File Transfer Protocol) at ftp.ciesin.org/kiosk; electronic mail, Gopher. at gopher.ciesin.org/Kiosk; and from the WorldWideWeb (WWW) by typing the URL address: http://WWW.ciesin.org/kiosk/home.html What is CIESIN? The Consortium for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN, pronounced as season ) is a private, non- profit corporation created that serves scientific, policy- making, educational, and public access data and information needs. It addresses urgent international concerns, including: 1) global environmental change and sustainable development issues and 2) the need to promote more efficient access, dissemination, and use of scientific data and information. CIESIN's mission is to provide access to and enhance the use of information worldwide, advancing understanding of human interactions in the environment and serving the needs of science and public and private decisionmaking. To achieve this mission, CIESIN is developing an international alliance of academic, governmental, multilateral, public, and private organizations interested in understanding global, regional, and local environmental change. In accordance with its mission, CIESIN archives and disseminates data relevant to understanding human interactions with the environment. CIESIN services support interdisciplinary research and applications in key areas including global environmental change and sustainable development. CIESIN is implementing infrastructure and data development programs with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP), the Office of Science and Technology Policy, and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Sustainable Development Network (SDN). CIESIN developed and is operating the Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center (SEDAC), as part of the NASA Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS), and operates the U.S. Global Change Research Information Office (GCRIO) for the Executive Office of the President. In addition, CIESIN has organized and maintains access to an expanding Information Cooperative, a distributed global network of data centers and other institutions to provide its users access to relevant data located worldwide. What is SEDAC? Operating as a major component of CIESIN, the Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center (SEDAC) is one of nine data centers in the Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS) that supports NASA's Mission to Planet Earth program. While the other eight EOSDIS data centers are responsible for archiving natural science data, SEDAC's focus is on human dimensions of global environmental change. With the aim of translating scientific data and information into tangible benefits to the American people, SEDAC will serve as a two-way information gateway between the socioeconomic and Earth science data and information domains. This will be accomplished in two ways: through the development of new policy-oriented information products that synthesize Earth science and socioeconomic data; and by providing the resulting operational data and information services to the public. More about CIESIN's Data CIESIN is developing global-scale, time-series, and baseline data and information on the human dimensions of global environmental change. Data identification and acquisition efforts are focused in these areas: land and fresh water resources; industry and energy; agriculture and food security; population dynamics; economic activity; human attitudes, preferences, and behavior; policy and institutions; human and environmental Health; other supporting data sets and regional data collections More about the CIESIN Kiosk The CIESIN Kiosk is an interactive electronic forum to facilitate information sharing on the human dimensions of global environmental change. The Kiosk encompasses two types of materials: 1) unpublished scholarly papers; and (2) an electronic bookshelf. The acceleration of research in the field of human interactions in global environmental change, the growing number of less accessible working papers, the relatively slow pace of peer review, constraints in publication and dissemination can result in a significant time lag before these materials are available to others doing similar work. The CIESIN Kiosk addresses these issues head- on. It is intended to promote the timely exchange of current information on human dimensions of global change among researchers and policy makers, both within and across disciplinary boundaries. CIESIN's role, in short, is to provide the infrastructure for sharing materials that otherwise might be difficult to locate and access. Unpublished Scholarly Papers To better understand human interactions in global environmental change, both researchers and policy makers need a faster means to circulate scholarly papers and reports and to promote interdisciplinary interaction and discussion. Using the model of on-line dissemination of research papers developed by Los Alamos National Laboratory for the physics community (http://www.chem.brown.edu/chem-ph.html), the CIESIN Kiosk provides a service for rapid dissemination of research. The unpublished scholarly papers section of the Kiosk, encompasses three types of materials: *% Unpublished scholarly papers for which feedback or comment from scientific %* colleagues is desirable; %* Preliminary working papers; %* Background information or data. Through the Kiosk, researchers can make their unpublished research materials available to others in the community. Copyright holders retain copyright. Electronic Bookshelf The CIESIN Electronic Bookshelf provides a unique set of information resources to the human dimensions community not readily available through other means. The electronic bookshelf provides access to reports, working papers, and other background information from the Human Dimensions of Global Environmental Change Programme (HDP) of the International Social Science Council, the SysTem for Analysis, Research, and Training (START), United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP), International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), and the Canadian Global Change Program (CGCP). The CIESIN Kiosk provides the infrastructure for sharing these materials that might otherwise be difficult to locate and access. Kiosk Features % Since the inception of the CIESIN Kiosk in Spring 1994, twenty unpublished scholarly papers have been made available electronically. These papers are not easily available through any other means, and they provide recent data and information on human dimensions of global environmental change. % * The unpublished scholarly papers were collected from researchers and policy makers representing a broad spectrum of social science disciplines, including anthropology, economics, geography, political science, and sociology as well as agriculture and food security, economics, human health, population, land use, political and social institutions. % * The unpublished scholarly papers are based on environmental research conducted in various countries such as Brazil, India, Kenya, Madagascar, Mexico, The Netherlands, Nigeria, Rwanda, United Kingdom, and United States. % * The unpublished papers can be searched via general index, subject index, and also by entering keywords. % * The comments section of the Kiosk enables readers to provide input and comments to the authors. % The CIESIN Kiosk is currently accessible through four platforms. They are FTP (File Transfer Protocol), electronic mail, gopher, and WorldWideWeb. % The electronic bookshelf, another component of the Kiosk, is a collection of less accessible global change documents and these documents could be accessed through a global change program index. The currently available global change program indexes are HDP, USGCP, CGCP, START, IIED, UNCED, and UNEP. % Efforts are taken on a continuous basis to solicit high quality papers from human dimensions researchers from all over the world. % This unique service for information sharing on human dimensions of global environmental change is also publicized through relevant newsletters and Internet resources. Accessing the Kiosk The CIESIN Kiosk materials, which are primarily textual in nature, can be accessed via the Internet through File Transfer Protocol (FTP), gopher and the WorldWideWeb. Electronic mail access will be available to users of services such as Omnet, Compuserve, FidoNet, and Bitnet. WorldWideWeb: (1) After entering into WorldWideWeb, open URL and type the URL address as: http://WWW.ciesin.org/kiosk/home.html (2) To view the papers, click on the General Index and Subject Index (3) The papers can be viewed by clicking the corresponding code numbers. (4) To view the document in the electronic bookshelf, click on the Organizational Index FTP: The specific commands used are the same for FTP and electronic mail. FTP commands are entered interactively, and mail commands are sent in the body of a message. Step-by- step instructions are included here along with an example for both methods of connection. If your computer has FTP: (1) FTP to ftp.ciesin.org (2) When prompted for a login, enter: anonymous (3) When prompted for a password, enter your e-mail address, such as: foobar@ciesin.org (4) Change directories to access the CIESIN Kiosk using the command: cd kiosk (5) Type: get kiosk-FAQ.txt |more for instructions regarding accessing, copyrights, and submissions (6) The papers can be found in the publications sub- directory. In order to get the kiosk index file: (a) change directory by typing cd /kiosk/publications (b) type get index.txt (7) To retrieve a particular paper, type get For example, to view the paper number one, type get 94-0001.txt |more (8) If you are done, type quit. E-mail: If your computer does not have FTP: (1) Send an e-mail message to: mailftp@ciesin.org (2) In the body of the message, include the following commands: reply to open ftp.ciesin.org cd kiosk (3) To retrieve a particular paper, type get For example, to view the paper number one, type get 94- 0001.txt |more (4) Type get kiosk-FAQ.txt for further instructions regarding accessing, copyrights, and submissions. (5) Type quit after the last command Gopher: (1) Access the CIESIN Gopher at: gopher.ciesin.org (2) Select Kiosk (3) To view the kiosk papers, select the title (4) The papers can also be searched using keywords under the menu Kiosk keyword search. Select the Kiosk keyword search menu and enter any keyword. Submitting Papers Submissions to the CIESIN Kiosk can be made either by FTPing files into the Kiosk submissions subdirectory or by mailing a disk with the files on it to the CIESIN Kiosk Coordinator. FTP Instructions: (1) FTP to ftp.ciesin.org (2) When prompted, enter anonymous for user name (3) When prompted, enter your e-mail address for password (4) Change directory by typing: cd /kiosk/submissions (5) Copy file to CIESIN Kiosk using the command: put (6) Send an e-mail message to kiosk@ciesin.org with a completed copy of the form RcontributorsU information.S Postal Instructions: Send either a 3.5" or 5.25" Macintosh or DOS formatted floppy disk with a completed copy of the form Rcontributors information:S CIESIN Kiosk Coordinator CIESIN 2250 Pierce Rd. University Center, MI 48710 USA If you have questions about the CIESIN Kiosk, please send e- mail to kiosk@ciesin.org or contact CIESIN User Services between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Eastern Time at: CIESIN User Services and Training Phone: (517) 797-2727 FAX: (517) 797-2622 E-mail Address: ciesin.info@ciesin.org CIESIN User Services will answer your questions about CIESIN. August 9, 1994 Source: NETHAPP - Net Happenings List From sustag@BETA.TRICITY.WSU.EDU Date: Wed, 28 Sep 1994 15:18:50 -0700 From: "Tom Hodges (moderated newsgroup)" To: Multiple recipients of list SUSTAG-L Subject: CIESIN (fwd) [this may be of interest. TH] ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Wed, 28 Sep 1994 13:52:51 -0700 (PDT) From: Larry Caldwell To: sustag@beta.tricity.wsu.edu Subject: CIESIN (fwd) ______________________Begin Forwarded Message______________________ Please feel free to forward this announcement to other relevant news groups and mailing lists. ANNOUNCING CIESIN's THEMATIC GUIDES ----------------------------------- Thematic Guides on the human dimensions of global change are now available on-line from CIESIN (pronounced "season"), the Consortium for International Earth Science Information Network. The Thematic Guides are accessible under "Information Resources" on the main CIESIN WWW home page, whose URL is: http://www.ciesin.org or directly at: http://www.ciesin.org/TG/thematic-home.html OVERVIEW -------- Organized as World Wide Web documents, Thematic Guides provide on-line overviews of several key areas in the human dimensions of global environmental change. Topics addressed are: o Agriculture o Human Dimensions Research Programs o Human Health o Land Use o Ozone Depletion o Political Institutions o Remote Sensing WHAT IS A THEMATIC GUIDE? The primary objective of the Thematic Guides is to provide information resources useful to a diverse audience of researchers, policy makers, educators, and the public. Most guides include a brief overview of the topics and issues covered in the guide. Additional sections provide greater detail on specific topics and issues but are not exhaustive reviews. The Thematic Guides also provide access to the full text of hundreds of journal articles, book chapters, conference papers, research reports, and other materials. The reference materials are organized and integrated by brief essays explaining issues in each subject area. These guides are designed to complement data-access tools by providing context and background information to enable users to quickly access selected background materials on key global change issues. WHAT IS CIESIN? The Consortium for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN) is a private, non-profit organization serving the scientific, policy-making, educational, and public communities' data and information needs. Areas of international concern CIESIN addresses include: 1) global environmental change; 2) sustainable development issues; and 3) the need to promote more efficient access, dissemination, and use of scientific data and information. For more information on Thematic Guides or other CIESIN services, contact CIESIN User Services between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Eastern Time at: CIESIN User Services and Training Phone: (517) 797-2727 FAX: (517) 797-2622 E-mail Address:ciesin.info@ciesin.org Posted 9/27/94 ___________________End Forwarded Message______________