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Every year World Wetlands Day is celebrated on 2 February, marking the day of the adoption of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, 41 years ago in the Iranian city of Ramsar. This year the theme of World Wetlands Day is 'Wetland Tourism, A Great Experience'.
Zooming in on the value of responsible tourism in and around wetlands, is a way of increasing awareness of the importance of maintaining the health of wetlands – both for communities who depend on them, but also for visitors who enjoy them. Wetlands and their wildlife are a key part of the global tourism experience. The expenditure from visiting tourists to wetlands can be estimated at around US$ 925 billion each year.
"Wetlands, such as mangroves, peat forests and freshwater swamps, are home to a wealth of biodiversity. Wetlands fulfill vital roles in carbon storage, pollution control and protection from natural hazards such as floods and storms. Millions of people around the world rely on wetlands for livelihoods, as wetlands provide many ecosystem services, such as food, fresh water and fuel", says Mark Smith, Director of IUCN's Global Water Programme.
For example, the Niger delta hosts about 20% of the population in Mali and generates on average 90,000 tonnes of fish catch per year. The lower Mekong delta supports the world's most productive inland fisheries, valued at around US$ 3 billion, caught each year. These inland fisheries provide 56 million people with up to 80% of their animal protein intake.
IUCN is increasingly promoting the idea of 'nature-based solutions' as part of strategies for tackling the big issues the world faces. Undoubtedly, wetlands are part of these 'nature-based solutions' for water supply and sanitation, for food security, climate change adaptation, for a green economy.
"Wetlands tourism though reminds us that people also rely on them for renewal, relaxation and adventure. This reflects the fact that we humans are a wetland species. Many great civilizations have evolved along rivers. It makes sense that we go back to wetlands, 'to get away from it all'", said Dr Smith.
On the occasion of this year's World Wetlands Day, a special celebration took place in the US mission to the United Nations in Geneva. US Ambassador Betty E. King welcomed IUCN Deputy Director-General, Poul Engberg-Pedersen, along with Botswana Ambassador Mothusi Bruce Rabasha Palai, and Ramsar Deputy Director-General Nick Davidson, for presentations and a panel discussion on the role of wetlands tourism. This was followed by an announcement of World Wetlands Day photography winners. More information on the winning entries and the competition can be found here.
Ramsar will hold its 11th Conference of the Parties in July, in Bucharest, Romania.
For more information on World Wetlands Day, please contact email@example.com


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Sustainability reporting 2018
Please find relevant sustainability information in the integrated report at the beginning of the publication, in the CEO letter, the drivers and trends, the SKF Group objectives, the strategic priorities, the SKF share etc.
Our ambition is to make it as simple as possible to find your information. Therefore, all the details with reference to GRI Standards along with specific performance data can be found in the Sustainability statements, at pages 120–146.
The Annual Report 2018 is published on this site on March 6th, 2019.
SKF's first environmental report was published in 1994, and with time, this turned into a sustainability report. In 2000, SKF started to apply the GRI reporting guidelines to its annual sustainability reporting and in 2002 SKF issued the first annual report which included a section referred to as sustainability report.
In 2011, to better reflect how the business operates, we combined financial, environmental and social performance into one single report.
SKF's Corporate Governance report is prepared in accordance with Swedish Code of Corporate Governance on page 168. SKF's Annual Report also serves as the Group's communication on progress for its continued membership in the United Nations Global Compact.
Environmental performance reporting started more than 15 years ago
Our commitment to environmental was made clear when we issued our first environmental policy in 1989. We were among the trend-setters to publish a separate environmental report as early as in 1994.
To ensure transparency and credibility of our reporting, already in 1998 SKF submitted its Environmental Report for external verification.
We were also very early in adopting the Sustainability Reporting Guidelines, issued by the Global Reporting Initiatives (GRI) in 2000, the same year the Guidelines were launched.
From environmental reports to sustainability reports
We recognized that for companies to sustain its success in the industry, it must act in environmentally and socially responsible manner while growing its business economically. Hence, it is sensible to include our social and economic performance in the Environmental Report in 2001, which then became Sustainability Report.
Subsequently in 2002, we integrated the Sustainability Report into the Annual Report, to emphasize that sustainability issues are embedded in SKF's operations.
Topics related to our sustainability reporting:
SKF, an early adopter of the GRI
Since 2000, SKF has adopted the Global Reporting Initiative's (GRI) reporting guidelines in its sustainability reporting.
We apply the GRI reporting principles for defining content. In line with the Guideline's requirement on materiality, all reporting indicators have been carefully evaluated and those that are considered of significant materiality in relation to our economic, environmental and social impact, as well as our sustainability performance, are included in our Annual Report - and topics related to annual report.
In relation to the principle of stakeholder inclusiveness we engage our stakeholders in different ways, taking their opinions into considerations, and catering to their information needs in the Annual Report.
GRI standards
Our latest sustainability performance disclosures are fully integrated in SKF Group Annual Report 2018. It is prepared 'in accordance: Core' with the GRI standards, which is confirmed by external auditors.
Third-party verification

subset: commoncrawl


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"We still have more work to do, and with our new schools and school leaders, we'll continue to provide our children the opportunities they deserve," Bloomberg said.
As the three-term mayor's final months are approaching, he has set in place a plan that calls for 51 elementary schools, middle schools and combinations of both along with 27 secondary schools.
The administration has opened 656 new schools since 2002. According to the Times, the addition of the new vocational school even gained praise from public advocate and mayoral hopeful Bill de Blasio.
"In the last 12 years, we've opened more schools so that students can take full advantage of the educational opportunities available through public education," Walcott said.
Together, Walcott and Bloomberg have put a strong cap on the tail end of the administration.
Moving forward and settling differences with the teachers' unions, there is still incomplete work from the current swelling transportation costs that are reaching $1 billion a year.
It is apparent that the current Bloomberg administration is making attempts to regain control of the education system. However, if he wants to clear any bad blood, now is the time to finalize any plans set to address these losses.
Democratic mayoral candidates have already agreed to readdress the transportation issue if given the chance, and it is apparent the drivers unions and education system will get the additional focus it has needed.
This should be the platform mayoral hopefuls should run on, instead of distancing themselves from Bloomberg over something as monotonous as the three-term limit.
They should get mad about something that matters and take on a grittier issue like budgeting our education system.


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Metron Medical Products
Podiatry isn't often comfortable for either patients or practitioners, but the discomfort can be eased. Metron treatment table equipment and products allow you to do what you have to do with a minimum of distress to you and your client. Fully adjustable, cushioned podiatry and plinth tables make the job easier. Don't make it any more difficult than it has to be – go with Metron products for maximum comfort and efficiency every time. Read More Read Less


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Our Vision
The Virginia Association for the Gifted and its members connect and empower parents, students, and educators to be active and innovative advocates for appropriate instruction, services, and opportunities for gifted and talented learners.
Our Mission
The Virginia Association for the Gifted is comprised of a network of educators, parents, and community members, guided by current research, who work collaboratively to advocate for the needs of gifted and talented learners. The association provides resources, information, and professional development to improve the quality of education in the Commonwealth.
About Us
VAG was founded in 1977 to support gifted education. We publish periodic electronic newsletters; organize a statewide conference in odd numbered years; organize a statewide seminar in even numbered years; support research in gifted education; support specialized professional preparation for educators of the gifted; and recognize outstanding educators for their contributions to gifted learners. Membership is open to individuals who are interested in the education of the gifted.
ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS AND OPPORTUNITIES IN VIRGINIA Click Here.
Note: Not all listed programs are specifically structured for gifted students. Some programs may have a cost associated with participation. Some programs may offer scholarships. Reference within this presentation to any specific commercial or non-commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer or otherwise does not constitute or imply an endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the Virginia Association for the Gifted.


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The Best Moments of Spring Birds
Spring can seem a long way off, until you see the first wren gathering nest material. See our other favorite spring bird moments.
We all need little signs of hope.
When the wind chill dips and another bout of cold weather shows up in the forecast, we start wishing and dreaming of spring more than ever. For gardeners, crocuses and daffodils poking up through the snow offer hope. But what about the birders? What cues do we look forward to?
This was no easy task, but after chatting about it with some bird friends and quizzing Birds & Blooms readers online, I finally narrowed my list down to eight great spring birds moments. Now, I'm not declaring this a perfect list—after all, birding varies throughout the country. A sign of spring in my Wisconsin backyard doesn't necessarily happen in my grandma's Wyoming garden. But I think it's a pretty good start. Follow my countdown of some of the most celebrated and anticipated bird moments of spring. Do you agree with my number one pick?
8. Phoebes perched on the edge of yards. Most flycatchers wait until a few more bugs are available for eating before returning from their winter ranges. However, phoebes are able to adapt their diets, so they're among the earliest of the spring migrants.
Watch for the tail bobs of phoebes near the edge of your yard. They will nest in close proximity to humans, so their return is like welcoming an old friend back from winter vacation. Phoebes can build a nest on nearly any ledge, but why not make it easier for them? Just as you'd do for a robin, place a nesting shelf platform under your eaves and invite them into your backyard.
7. Dark-eyed juncos flying north. The first phoebe sighting of the year is easy to record. But marking the departure of a species can also be an important indicator. For some folks, juncos are the ultimate snowbird. So when the juncos leave, spring has arrived. (Remember, though, that for birders in the far north, the return of the juncos signals the return of their spring.) Other species can also frequent your backyard during the winter months but move on to greener pastures as you welcome spring. Perhaps you were lucky enough to host a flock of redpolls or siskins this winter. Treasure those visitors, because these irruptive nomads will head back north, where traces of winter linger.
6. The tap, tap, tap of woodpeckers. Spring is the season for attracting a mate, and this will translate to the drumming of woodpeckers. Most of us rejoice at the sound of strumming woodpeckers—as long as they aren't tapping on our downspouts. This is just one sign of mating season, though. Keep an eye out around your backyard and try to spot other rituals—a male bird feeding a lady friend, courtship dances, males fluffing up their feathers for females. These are all signs that new life is ahead.
To attract woodpeckers, use a larger nest box designed specifically for woodpeckers. You might add a few wood chips to the bottom of it to make it look even more appealing. Another easy way to bring woodpeckers to your yard is by offering high-fat foods. Suet can be a year-round treat. Peanuts, both in and out of the shell, are also popular.
5. Red-winged blackbirds singing. Optimists might mark spring with the arrival of red-winged blackbirds. These folks fully accept there might be another snowstorm or two, but the sight of these early migrants gives them hope that winter will eventually thaw out the marshes and spring will return. Male red-winged blackbirds start staking out territories in early March, and the females follow eventually. It's hard to miss the arrival of these blackbirds in spring. They perch high up on the tops of cattails and belt out raucous calls. If you want to see them, head to marshy areas, but be wary, or at least wear a hat. They have a reputation for being strong defenders of their territory.
4. Hummingbirds and orioles sipping sugar water. You know spring is in the air when you hang the first batch of nectar for the season. I have to relearn the sugar water recipe every spring, so let me save you that step—it's four parts water to one part sugar, and that's for both hummingbirds and orioles. As these spring birds march northward from their winter homes in Central America, many fly directly across the Gulf of Mexico. They reach the Gulf states in early March and hit their more northern breeding grounds by April. Like the blackbirds, males arrive a week or two before the females.
Aside from putting out sugar-water feeders, you can entice orioles with fresh oranges or grape jelly. As for hummingbirds, it can really help to have early blooms out in the garden. If you're ready for both species, you might be able to attract them right away. Then they'll stop to nest, and you'll see them all summer.
3. Wrens gathering nesting material. Spring is nesting season for most birds, and when you see a wren carrying nesting material, it definitely makes winter feel like a distant memory. Most wrens get an early start on nesting. They are prolific breeders, cranking out two or three broods of nestlings each spring and summer. Research indicates young male house wrens set up territories closer to established males, perhaps as a way to ensure they are nesting in suitable areas.
Don't wait for the return of the cavity nesters before checking your nest boxes to make sure they're ready to go for the season. Replace or repair any that were damaged over winter, and rehang predator guards early. You can even hang pieces of string, yarn and other materials in an old suet cage to help provide material for nests.
2. The molting of goldfinches. Perhaps the most celebrated of bird molts is the spring change of the American goldfinch. Although goldfinches don't migrate, it might seem that they disappear from the landscape during winter. The males turn from vibrant yellow to a drab olive green during colder months, becoming less conspicuous. While molting goes nearly unnoticed in many species, the first subtle hint of lemon yellow on the male goldfinch is a classic sign that spring is upon us.
To bring these beloved birds to your yard, offer thistle seed year-round. Once you get them established, you can put up one of those giant tube feeders that can attract 20-plus birds at a time. As a bonus, you don't have to worry about squirrels with this type of feeder or seed.
1. Robins digging for worms. Though a few hardy robins can overwinter in some pretty harsh conditions, these spring birds are still the ultimate sign of spring for many people. Just imagine that first robin scampering across the backyard—you know sunny days are around the corner. This doesn't necessarily mean robins were in the South and are just now migrating. After all, we've seen plenty of pictures of robins hanging out in the snow. It's more about the timing. April showers bring May flowers, but that's not all. The rain brings thawing and worms to the surface, and that's why you start to see them plucking up the plump morsels of nutrition.
If you want to be especially welcoming to robins in your backyard, you could offer mealworms as a special treat (the bluebirds will love 'em, too). Another option is to put up a nesting shelf, since robins don't use birdhouses.


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Foundations of colloid science, Volume 1
Clarendon Press, Mar 19, 1987 - Science - 686 pages
Liquid suspension systems are the basic ingredients of paints, detergents, biological cells, and countless other systems of scientific and technological importance. This book presents the fundamental physical and chemical concepts necessary to the understanding of these systems and of colloid science in general. New ideas are introduced carefully and formulae are developed in full, with exercises to help the reader throughout. The frequent references to the many applications of colloid science will be especially helpful to beginning research scientists and people in industry, medicine and agriculture who often find their training in this area inadequate. Integrating developments from the time of colloid science's infancy 40 years ago to its present state as a rigorous discipline, this intelligently assembled work elucidates a remarkable range of concepts, techniques, and behaviors.
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Advances in Food and Nutrition Research, Volume 34
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Introduction to Geomicrobiology, Volume 10
Kurt O. Konhauser
No preview available - 2006


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Last week I started talking about how programmable logic devices have become accessible enough that they are finding their way into all sorts of embedded systems. There are actually quite a few types of programmable devices. You can think of these chips like a child's construction kit: There are a lot of pieces. You can build an airplane, or a truck, or a house, or anything else by snapping pieces together in different ways. However, each type of device has its own peculiarities, and this time I wanted to look at what's available.
Regardless of the type of device, they all have some similarities. Perhaps the simplest programmable logic device is a memory chip (like an EPROM or a flash memory). Suppose you have a memory chip that has 256 bytes of memory (that is, it has 8 address lines and 8 data lines). You could think of that chip as an 8-input "truth table." It could emulate any combination of AND, OR, and NOT logic that had 8 inputs and 8 outputs. A stupid example would be if you wanted to program the chip to be an inverter. You'd simply program the following into the chip:
00000000 -> 11111111 00000001 -> 11111110 . . . 11111111 -> 00000000
With that program, any 8 bits you put in, get inverted at the output. You could just as easily build, say, a 2-bit full adder (a binary adder that has both a sum and carry output). To make it simple, assume the memory device only has two address bits (4 words) and 2-bit words. Otherwise, I'll have to make a big table. The adder would look like this:
00 -> 00 01 -> 10 10 -> 10 11 -> 01
The leftmost output bit is the sum and the rightmost is the carry. If you notice, the sum bit is really an exclusive or (one bit or the other but not both). In general, anything you can describe as combinatorial (or combinational) logic. That is, a combination of and, or, and invert operations. The real key is that the outputs of a combinatorial circuit depend only on the state of the inputs. If the output depends on previous outputs, that's a different kind of logic.
In theory, you could represent logic that has previous output dependency (sequential logic) using a memory chip, but in practice it's usually done differently. But for now, the key idea is that a memory device can simulate an arbitrarily complex combinatorial logic equation.


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The Eurostars Grand Central (luxury hotel in Munich) is located on the Maxvorstadt, from where one can walk to the Marienplatz and the Karlplatz, the city's two most emblematic squares. The area reserved for the Oktoberfest events and celebrations is also within walking distance. Scarcely 20 metres from the hotel's main entrance there is a Hackerbrucke suburban train stop that can take you to the airport, the museum area, the Allianz football stadium or the Olympia. The central railway station is less than 1000 metres from the hotel. Our luxury hotel in Munich is surrounded by some of the most attractive cultural centres of the Bavarian capital: the Munchner Volks Theater, the Bavaria Operahouse, the Cuvilliés Theater and the Kunstarea (the art district)housing the Old Art Museum, the New Art Museum and the Contemporary Art Museum. Munich is the headquarters of many important public entities, such as the European Office of Patents or the Court of Auditors of Germany and private companies such as BMW, Siemens and many other multinationals. Distances:
Underground 1000 m
Tram stop 50 m
S-Bahn (city train) 200 m
Railway station 1000 m
Fair Center 11 km
Airport 35 km
City Centre 1,5 km


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The difference between a ho-hum yard and a stunning outdoor space, often boils down to good landscaping. However, there is much to learn and explore, prior to putting a shovel into the ground for the first time. Take the ideas and tips in this piece to heart, and you will soon be capable of designing an impressive exterior space for your home.
If you are not a master landscaper, consider hiring a company to help you. Though do-it-yourself individuals often think that they can save money by not resorting to using a company, the opposite might actually be true. A company can determine the exact chemicals, treatments, and care that your lawn needs, resulting in less work and sometimes, a reduced cost.
If you are a beginner to landscaping, examine the older trees on your property to ensure they are safe and are not falling down. In order to protect your home or other items on your property, you may want to hire a professional tree limber that can ensure the safety of the property.
Consider why you want to landscape your yard before you begin your project. Are you looking to add beauty? Are you trying to add privacy? Is your goal to reduce the overall maintenance of your property? The answers to these questions can help you to select the right variety of plants, making your landscaping project easier to complete.
Trim your bushes and hedges regularly. If you trim a hedge,or a bush when it is just starting to become over grown, it will be a quick and easy process. If you wait until the bush is completely over grown, you can expect the project to take all day. Regular maintenance is the easiest way to keep your landscaping looking great.
There is no substitute for good landscape design when it comes to creating a beautiful home. Because there is so much information available on the topic, it makes sense to spend the time necessary to find the ideas and concepts most relevant to your own specific needs. The guidance in this piece can be a perfect place to get started.
Tips On Finding The Best Landscape Supply Deals


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Missouri Revenue Up About Two Percent Over Last Year
JEFFERSON CITY (AP) - A new report shows Missouri revenues were up slightly as the state heads toward the last few months of its fiscal year.
State figures released Wednesday show the state's net general revenue increased 1.7 percent through March compared with the same point last year.
State Budget Director Linda Luebbering says the revenue numbers show Missouri is on pace to meet this year's budget projections set by Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon's administration. But she added that sales tax receipts are currently coming in below projections.
Missouri also borrowed $200 million this month. Luebbering says the state routinely borrows cash this time of year because of increased tax refunds, which are up 4.4 percent from last year.
The state's current budget year began last July and runs through June 30.


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A reply from "Kendra" to Dave Shireley's dispatch.
If you are reading this, you are probably a faithful Sin Bin follower, if such a thing exists. Maybe you've already read my story. Dave Shireley really does know how to spin a yarn, and I guess I gave him a lot to work with. Now, in true, red-blooded American fashion, I am going to tell my side of the story. Don't worry, it's much shorter than Dave's. It doesn't include so much rugby mumbo-jumbo, mainly because I don't remember any of the rugby.
In order to begin, we need to go back to three days before the match, at a friendly New Zealand establishment called The Mill. It's a discount liquor store, and it's the burgeoning alcoholic's dream. I see 1.25-liter bottles of strong cider—8.5 percent by volume—for $10 (Kiwi bucks, at that). I think, "Well, hell yeah, I'll just stock up now. So I bought a bottle, and store it under my dorm bed in anticipation of the game. I'll admit, it was a test of my integrity to not crack it open in the days preceding the game. But I managed, and when game day finally rolled around, I was all too ready to enjoy my beverage. The only problem was that I had checked out of the backpackers that morning, so I had nowhere to drink, and I couldn't exactly bring the bottle to the match. A friendly new German acquaintance solved this problem with the suggestion that we open it right then and there, regardless of the time (it was 11 a.m.). Having just met two decidedly friendly and welcoming American journalists (Dave and Chris), who had given me their number and offered me not only a place to stay that night, but a companion for my early morning ride to the airport, I saw no harm. So, with the promise that he would support the Eagles at that night's game, the German and I shared my bottle of cider. Keep in mind that, unlike in the States, the beverages down here come with a brilliant count of how many "standard" drinks they contain. This is useful when trying to recall how much you've had to drink. This one said eight. Not bad, we'd each had four drinks. And it was just after noon. We thought, this is a good, slow start to the day. Until a group of Aussies strutted through the door, apparent friends of my German. I directed them to the nearest store from to purchase beer, and in return for my kindness, they offer to replenish my cider supply. How can a girl deny free booze? I accept, and 10 minutes later, the German and I are sharing our second bottle of the day.
On a whim, I decide to grab some free lunch from the Amora, the existence of which had been brought to my attention by those aforementioned lovely Americans. Fueled by eight standard drinks, and the prospect of free food, I march my way across town to find my two new friends chowing down on whatever delicious array of food the Amora had out that day. To my dismay, the only thing left for me was a bit of rice, but hey, at least what little I had could soak up the profound amount of alcohol already in my system. No harm done. Shortly afterward, I made my way to a grocery store for yet another bottle of cider, this time to share with another German (what's with all the Germans in Wellington?) whom I'd met in the street.
At around 4 p.m. (this is a very rough estimate), I make my way back to the backpackers, where the bar had opened, and was readily charging $10 for a pint of cider. I accepted willingly, and proceeded to make friends at the bar. A man approached me wearing a t-shirt filled with goals, and I helped him fulfill one—kiss an American girl—then decided I needed to buy him a drink. At some point, we all decided that it was time to make our way to the stadium. Once we got there, we all parted ways, but not before buying my dad a $50 t-shirt to commemorate the evening.
This is where my story jumps a bit, because for the life of me, I cannot remember what happened next. Even intensive hypnotic therapy wouldn't be able to drag it out of me. It's as if this part of my life just didn't happen. But, as I'm sure the Wellington constabulary would have you believe, something definitely did happen.
The part after, which I do remember, is as unglamorous as it is entertaining.
The next thing I know, I've broken a styrofoam cup in two and am wiping vomit from the floor of ... I realize I don't exactly know where I am. Upon finishing my all-important clean-up job, I get up and look around. There's a cement bench, a big, heavy-looking door, and a window. I figure my best bet is to look out the window, and to my surprise, the other side is bustling with activity—men and women wearing reflective neon jackets and dark blue hats. I realize (very slowly) that this is not a normal room, and that those people outside the window aren't normal people. They are cops. Ah shit. I'd figured this would probably happen at least once in my life. Standing there, looking out the window, I realize that my socks are wet (standing in your own vomit will do that to a good pair of cotton socks), and my feet are freezing. I begin to knock on the window, so that I may request a clean pair of socks. I also find that I have an insatiable need for water. And then the worst part—I'm missing the game! My knocking, which had started out as an innocent request for water and new socks, becomes incessant pounding. I motion that I need water, some new socks, and would they please bring me a TV?
After an unknown amount of time (during which I see one of my new German friends also getting carted away), and after continued pounding on the window, an officer finally comes into the room, and elation sweeps over me. I'm finally going to get my clean socks. But alas, I was again mistaken. Looking to earn some brownie points, I showed the officer how I'd cleaned up my vomit. He instructed me to collect my shoes, and then he took me to another room, this one without a window. No more pounding, no more motioning to indifferent cops. After a while, and a serious thought given to peeing in the corner of the room (half out of spite, half out of need), the door opens once more, and this time on the other side stands my hero—Chris Benz of Deadspin. Relieved to have been released, and in complete fear of being taken back into custody, I clung close to Chris (sorry, Chris), and we made our way out of the stadium. Informing Australian Center and try-scorer Rob Horne on the way of my unfortunate night (for those of you who did not watch the game, Horne fractured his cheekbone during the game and probably had more to worry about than my vomit-soaked socks).
I don't remember much after this. I have a vague recollection of attempting to get into the pressers, walking quite a distance, a confusion regarding the locker in which my backpack was stowed, walking considerably farther, and finally arriving at a crowded bar. The rest is pretty fuzzy. My last thoughts on the this night are as follows: I can't believe I missed the game, I can't believe I got thrown in the drunk tank, and GO THE EAGLES! Oh, and special and eternal thanks to my boys Chris and Dave for helping me out of such a (literally) sticky yet beautiful situation. The ciders that you (unjustly) stole from me will never be enough payment for saving me.


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N° 28–2001: ISS ready for utilisation
15 May 2001
First European conference on industrial and commercial utilisation of the International Space Station
At the first joint press conference of the European Space Agency (ESA) and the German space agency DLR, hosted by the national chamber of commerce of German industry (BDI/DIHT) in Berlin yesterday, representatives of the two space agencies informed an international audience of journalists about the objectives of ISS Forum 2001 and the possibilities for industry and business to utilise the potential of the International Space Station (ISS).
Both space agencies have taken the necessary steps to ensure the ISS is available on a long-term basis for utilisation by research institutes and private-sector investors. The first industrial R&D activities onboard the orbiting station started earlier this year.
From 5 to 7 June an international event called "ISS Forum 2001" will for the first time bring together all of the international partners in the project to present the complete spectrum of options for industrial utilisation of the ISS, including requirements for access and financial aspects. That event is to be held at the Estrel Convention Centre in Berlin. Fifteen countries, including ten European nations, are involved in constructing, operating and exploiting the ISS.
ISS Forum 2001: an industry marketplace
ISS Forum 2001 will inform potential users about management and engineering aspects of the ISS programme; it is aimed at companies that have an interest in exploiting the R&D environment offered by this space-borne 'technology incubator'. What is at stake is the competitive edge to be gained by incorporating its unique possibilities in corporate R&D programmes.
"The ISS has been in the headlines recently because of the trip by space tourist Dennis Tito, but what is really important for us is the question of who gets to explore its enormous R&D potential, and how," explains Klaus Berge, space projects director at the DLR's Berlin office. "The first few projects have already been started."
"The aim of ISS Forum 2001 is to make the full catalogue of new and innovative possibilities available to a larger user population," adds Karl Knott, the head of ESA's microgravity and Space Station utilisation department. "Our message is that the ISS is open for business, and that investment now means important economic benefits in the medium term."
ISS owners and operators as well as users will be fielding questions from conference participants. Among the highlights of the event: a multimedia presentation and a live link to the crew on board the ISS.
"A virtual lab tour"
The multimedia tour of the ISS and the live communication session with the crew, in conjunction with a multitude of technical presentations, will give participants a direct look at the actual utilisation environment in the ISS. European scientists are playing an important role in experiments currently being conducted to grow plasma crystals in its 'weightless' environment, leading to development of industrial applications of these completely new technologies.
The first permanent crew of the ISS ("Expedition One") will also be present to report on their work on board the station.
For participant information and to find out about the "Business Stop-Over" option, see the conference home page:
For more information, please contact:
Clare Mattok
Tel. : +33(0)1.5369.7412
Fax: +33(0)1.5369.7690
For questions about the event, contact:
Vanadis Weber
Tel: +49.(0)2203.601-3068
Fax: + 49(0)2203.601.3249
For further information:
Clare Mattok, ESA
Tel: +33(0)1.5369.7412
Vanadis Weber, DLR
Tel: +49(0)2203.601.3068