28 June 2012: The Secretariat of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) has called for expressions of interest in organizing the UNCCD 3rd Scientific Conference, which will take place in 2014 under the theme “Combating desertification, land degradation and drought (DLDD) for poverty reduction and sustainable development: the contribution of science, technology, traditional knowledge and practices.”

The UNCCD Scientific Conferences were initiated, through decision 13/COP.8, to reshape the Committee on Science and Technology (CST). The predominantly scientific and technical conference-style format for these Conferences seeks to strengthen the capacity of the CST to process scientific, technical and socioeconomic information, and to generate policy recommendations for transfer to the UNCCD Conference of the Parties (COP).

The 3rd Scientific Conference is expected to, inter alia: provide state-of-the-art knowledge on “Combating DLDD for poverty reduction and sustainable development: the contribution of science, technology, traditional knowledge and practices;” promote partnerships and networking for sharing scientific and technical knowledge on DLDD issues; and translate the scientific findings for the use by policy makers.

Institutions and consortia interested in organizing the UNCCD 3rd Scientific Conference should contact 3rdscientificconference@unccd.int, for further clarification and submission of the application material. The deadline for receipt of application material is 12:00 noon GMT on 16 September 2012. [UNCCD website]

In related news, the UNCCD Secretariat has also posted a second call for abstracts for the UNCCD 2nd Scientific Conference, noting that GRF Davos, the lead institution of the UNCCD 2nd Scientific Conference, is accepting submissions of abstracts for contributions to be included in the conference programme of the UNCCD 2nd Scientific Conference. The 2nd Scientific Conference is scheduled to take place in February 2013. [UNCCD science topics]