Science and Development Network
News, views and information about science, technology and the developing world
New technologies have the potential to accelerate a country's development, but a global technology gap remains.
Displaying 1-16 of 16 links
ZKI — run by the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) — acquires, processes and analyses satellite data to provide information on natural disasters and help guide relief activities. It publishes maps on potential building damage, population density and affected areas for all sorts of disasters including earthquakes, fires, landslides and floods.
ZKI also runs a fire service for Europe and North Africa, based on MODIS sensors.
The JTWC public reference website links to data, government departments, organisations and services relevant to tropical cyclones across the world. This includes linking to weather forecasts and bulletins, satellite data, sea surface temperature products and radar imagery. The centre also links to principal news services covering extreme weather and meteorological agencies serving different parts of the world. A selection of training guides and materials is available on topics such as forecasting, satellite image interpretation and disaster preparation among others.
The Meridian Institute publishes daily summaries of news stories on nanotechnology for development, reporting on key innovations and technological applications, policy issues, risk-related information and technology transfer. While these stories cover a wide spectrum of disciplines — from health to materials to environment to agriculture — the institute also offers a compilation of water-related nanotech news summaries for those interested in the applications and implications of using nanotechnology for clean water.
The institute also runs projects and holds workshops on key issues — including the use of nanotechnology in water treatment — and publishes relevant background papers, presentations and case studies.
This online magazine publishes news and commentary on a range of nanotech applications from nanomedicine to nanotech for clean water. It also advertises jobs, book releases, events and links to nano art. In addition, Nano hosts an archive of country profiles outlining the state of nanotechnology including laws, advances and relevant companies.
This is NanoChina's news page, with latest and archived news relating to nanotechnology developments in China and East Asia. NanoChina was launched in February 2006 by the U.K. based Institute of Nanotechnology.
Nanowerk publishes daily news and analysis on nanoscience and nanotechnology. It hosts a blog where contributors discuss breakthrough research and interview experts in the field. A bi-monthly newsletter, nanoRISK, promotes the responsible use and development of nanomaterials.
The site includes an introduction to nanotechnology alongside an extensive bibliography of the subject. Users can search a database of information about nanomaterials and suppliers. International conferences are documented in the events calendar and a career centre advertises vacancies across all disciplines of nanoscience.
Nanowerk is a clearing house for information about nanotechnology and nanoscience. It publishes regular news on key developments and a daily feature article — written in cooperation with scientists — looking at new findings, reviewing current research or exploring interesting applications such as water treatment.
Nanowerk also hosts a database of more than 1,900 nanomaterials and links to key events, reports, documents, magazines, organisations and blogs relevant to nanotechnology. Its video library links to dozens of animations and videos about nanotech research, speeches and lectures.
NASA's 'hurricane resource page' provides the latest storm images and data available from NASA together with a tropical weather outlook for the Atlantic Basin. NASA has also published educational tools, including posters and classroom activities that are free for anyone to use. The website includes background information on hurricanes such as fact sheets, lists of satellite instruments used for hurricane monitoring and explanations of how hurricanes form and develop.
RSS publish near-real-time (6–36 hours from time of data collection) maps of sea surface temperatures for cyclone forecasting research. Maps and tracks are available for individual regions and include forecasted paths and wind speeds for tropical storms. Data from two satellites are used to create the maps, which are updated every three hours. An archive of data, including wind speed and track, sea surface temperatures, and rainfall intensity is available for all tropical cyclones since 1999.
SAFENANO publishes information on the health and environmental risks of nanoparticles, including the risks of waterborne nanoparticles. Its website provides daily news updates and feature articles as well as discussion boards and blogs for users to join in the debate. Background papers and guidelines are also available on key issues including risk management approaches.
SERVIR is a regional environmental imaging and monitoring system — operating in Africa and Latin America — built on satellite and geospatial data. It can monitor and forecast ecological changes and natural hazards. The website publishes interactive maps including near real-time satellite feeds of regional weather and ecological conditions, and real time updates on fires, floods, red tides and weather conditions. It also provides access to 3D imaging software.
Our blog, by SciDev.Net columnist Priya Shetty, will fill you in, as will our interview with the Global Forum's Gill Samuels