Introduction to eGY-Africa

1. eGYAfrica 2010, Accra, 24-25 Nov 2010 Introduction to eGY-Africa Charles BARTON Australian National University, Canberra cebarton@gmail.com

2. eGYAfrica Committee

3. African Earth and space scientists seeking better Internet connectivity in research and education institutions Patrons IUGG - International Union of Geodesy & Geophysics IAGA – International Association of Geomagnetism & Aeronomy ICSU – Regional Office for Africa  AGS – African Geospace Society

4. Four International Science Years after IGY International Polar Year Electronic Geophysical Year, 2007-2008 International Heliophysical Year

5. “Knowledge is the common wealth of humanity” * • Data access, virtual observatories • Data discovery, metadata • Data release • Data preservation, recovery • Capability building and outreach • . * Adama Samassekou – UN World Summit on the Information Society, 2004

6. PingER - TCP throughput

7. Groups concerned about the digital divide - 1 • AAS – African Academy of Sciences • AAU – Association of African Universities • ACBF – African Capacity Building Foundation • AEGOS – African-European Georesources Observing System • AEON – Africa Earth Observing Network • AfriNIC – Africa Network Operators Group • AfNOG – Africa Network Operators Group • Africa Array • AGS – African Geospace Society • AISI – African Information Society Initiative • AMCOST – Africa Ministerial Council on Science and Technology • APS - Africa Physical Soiciety • ASN - Africa Scientific Network • ARAPKE – Africa Regional Action Plan for Knowledge Economy • ARSC - Arctic Region Supercomputer Center • ASTII – African Science, Technology & Innovation Indicators Initiative • AU – African Union • AXIS - African Internet Exchange System

8. Groups concerned about the digital divide - 2 • BWC - Bandwidth Consortium • CAAST Net - Network for the Coordination and Advancement of sub-Saharan Africa-EU Science & Technology Cooperation • Canon Foundation for Scientific Research • CODATA – Committee on Data for Science & Technology • CODATA TG: Preservation of and Access to Scientific and Technical Data In Developing Countries. • CODATA TG: Data Sources for Sustainable Development in SADC. • COMIT4AFRICA • Connect Africa • Digital World Forum • e-Africa Commission • EC – European Commission • EGEE - Enabling Grid for e-Science • eGY-Africa • eiFL.net - Electronic Information for Libraries • EIS-Africa – Environmental Information Systems - Africa

9. Groups concerned about the digital divide - 3 • eLearning Africa • EuroAfriCa-ICT • EU-AU Partnership on Science, Information Society, and Space • EU-AU Partnership on Infrastructure (Interconnecting Africa) • FEAST - Feasibility Study for African-European Research and Education Network Interconnection • Geospatial Infrastructure for Africa • GIRGEA - Groupe International de Recherche en Geophysique Europe Afrique • GIRAF - Geoscience Information in Africa • GIA - IUGG Geosciences in Africa • Harvard University – Higher Education in Sub-Saharan Africa • Hewlet Packard-UNESCO programme for Grid infrastructure, • IAC - The InterAcademy Council • IAP - InterAcademy Panel on International Issues • IAP Program: Access to scientific information in developing countries • ICASE - International Council of Associations for Science Education • ICTP - International Centre For Theoretical Physics

10. Groups concerned about the digital divide - 4 • ICSU-ROA - ICSU’s Regional Office for Africa • IGRGEA - the International Group of Research in Geophysics in Europe Africa • IHY-Africa • Inkaba ye Africa • INASP – International Network for the Availability of Scientific Publications • ICESA - International Commission on Earth Sciences in Africa (IASPEI) • INTERNET2 • IST-Africa • NASAC - Network of African Science Academies • NEPAD – New Partnership for Africa’s Development • NASAC – Network of African Science Academies • NSF – CISE Computer and Information Science & Engineering • $100 laptop • OLPC - One Laptop per Child • Pan-African e-Network • PANGIS – Pan-African Network for a Geoscience Information System • PHEA - Partnership for Higher Education in Africa • PingER – Ping End-to-end Reporting

11. Groups concerned about the digital divide - 5 • PAREN - Promoting African Research and Education Networking; International Development Research Center: • SciDev.Net - Science Development Network • Science and Technology for Africa • CSAGI – Scientific Council for Africa • SAMTEX • Sharing Knowledge Foundation • SARUA – Southern African Regional Universities Association of Universities • SPIDER – Swedish Program for ICT in Developing Countries • START – EuroAfrica-ICT initiative under FP6 • TWAS – the Academy of Sciences for the Developing World • UN – United Nations • UN ECA – UN’s Economic Commission for Africa • UN GAID – UN Global Alliance for Information and Communication Technologies and Development • UN GAID – e-SDDC UN Global Alliance for Enhancing Access to and Application of Scientific Data in Developing Countries (e-SDDC) • UNESCO Earth Science Education Initiative in Africa

12. What we must do … Influence decision makers to ensure that Internet connectivity in research and education institutions gets high priority How? …..

13. To influence decision makers: • Raise awareness about the digital divide and the cost-benefits of effective internet connectivity in research and education. • Work through national groups of concerned scientists/others to speak with a single voice. • Link other bodies etc. with a common purpose. Make use of support from the international science community. • Assemble information that can be used to argue for better Internet connectivity • status reports, declarations, policy statements, • cost-benefit assessments, problems & barriers, • successes stories, comparative case histories, • comparative bandwidth costs, …

14. Imperatives • Establish national/regional eGYAfrica groups • Start with a few and expand • Build on existing efforts • - avoid duplication of effort • - use existing networks • - liaise other organisations • Promote recognition of eGYAfrica • Secure high-level, broad patronage • Foster a common sense of purpose & passion • Get funding

15. Outline

16. The winds of change …. The expansion of fibre-optic infrastructure in and around Africa holds out the very real prospect of eliminating the digital divide. “Africa is about to become the best interconnected continent in the world via several submarine cable projects starting operations 2009-2011. Although it will still take time to get a dense terrestrial fibre grid providing back-hauls, all major hubs seem now to be connected and most African countries can accelerate their development towards knowledge societies as its foundation, an open access information and communication infrastructure, becomes available for all to benefit from in their businesses and as citizens.” FEAST Report, www.feast-project.org

17. Interested in getting involved? www.egy.org/egyafrica.php eGYAfrica NewsEmail lists Secretary: Alem Mebrahtu (Ethiopia) AlemMeb@googlemail.com Co-chair: Victor Chukwuma (Nigeria) VictorChukwuma@yahoo.com Co-chair: Charles Barton (Australia) Charles.Barton@anu.edu.au

18. Thank you Use eGYAfrica ! Thank you charles.barton@anu.edu.au