Dear Sir/Madam,

The LifeWatch ESFRI project (http://www.lifewatch.eu/) is currently in its preparatory phase. The project is preparing recommendations for the development of a research e-infrastructure to support the biodiversity research and policy making communities, with the objective to implement these specifications during the construction phase of the project in Spring 2011.

The training and capacity building programme (TCBP) forms a core component of the specification for the future LifeWatch. This program, as with all components of the LifeWatch infrastructure, is being defined in close consultation with all relevant LifeWatch stakeholders. Engagement with the stakeholder community on the development of the Training and Capacity Building Programme is being facilitated by a social networking portal.

As a relevant stakeholder in this community we would be most grateful if you could support our work in developing a Training and Capacity Building Programme that fully meets the needs of the biodiversity research and policy making communities.

The following simple steps will allow you to offer your comments:

Step 1- please click on the following link to the LifeWatch social networking portal http://lifewatch.nhm.ac.uk/drupal/lifewatch/; Step 2 - please register by creating a new account before you participate in the survey questionnaire and discussion forums. Only if you register will you be able to access the TCBP specifications, and participate in discussion forums Step 3 - to make your comments on the LifeWatch TCBP - download the draft specifications of TCBP from http://lifewatch.nhm.ac.uk/drupal/lifewatch/?q=node/37 - see document at bottom of questionnaire page Step 4 - provide your feedback on these specifications using the questionnaire

You can also participate in the forum discussions available on the social networking portal.

The objectives of all of the above are:

i) obtain feedback on the training and capacity building programme; ii) engage in dialogue and identify missing training requirements; iii) identify potential thematic areas and topics for summer schools, workshops and conferences; iv) identify potential research areas which can be targeted for experienced researchers and PhD students; v) identify volunteers for the review process for sabbaticals and PhD student applications, summer schools, workshops and conference thematic areas.

Please contact us at David.Ludlow@uwe.ac.ukmailto:David.Ludlow@uwe.ac.uk and Zaheer@cern.chmailto:Zaheer@cern.ch for more details.

David Ludlow BA (Hons), DipTP, MSc (Public Policy), MRTPI Member of EU Expert Group on the Urban Environment

Centre for Research in Sustainable Planning and Environments

Department of Planning and Architecture University of the West of England Frenchay Campus, Bristol BS16 1QY

Direct Line: +44 (0)117 32 83223 Mobile: +44 (0) 7818 095327

Institute for Sustainability, Health and Environment http://www.uwe.ac.uk/ishe

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