The COSPAR Capacity Building Initiative

摘要

The COSPAR Capacity Building Program of Workshops and its companion Fellowship Program have been conceived to meet the following objectives: i) to increase knowledge and use of public archives of space data in order to both broaden the scope of research programmes in developing countries and to ensure that scientists in those countries are aware of the full range of facilities that are available to them, ii) to provide highly-practical instruction in the use of these archives and the associated publicly-available software, and iii) to foster personal links between participants and experienced scientists attending the workshops to contribute in reducing the isolation often experienced by scientists in developing countries. Since 2001 a total of fourteen workshops have been successfully held in different scientific areas (Xray, Gamma-ray and Space Optical and UV Astronomy, Magnetospheric Physics, Satellite Oceanography, Atmospheric Physics and Water Cycle, and Planetary Science) in ten developing countries (Brazil, India, China, South Africa, Morocco, Romania, Uruguay, Egypt, Malaysia and Argentina). 13 workshop participants have spent 15 stays in laboratories and universities participating in the COSPAR Fellowship program. This paper discusses the modalities of the workshops, the so-far gained experience, and the future including collaborations with other institutions sharing the aim of increasing space research in developing countries.