1 of 11

EOTEC DevNet

Earth Observation Training, Education, and Capacity Development Network

An initiative of the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS)

Earth Observation Training, Education, and Development Network (EOTEC DevNet): A collaborative network of networks approach

Nancy D. Searby, Ph.D.

NASA/EOTEC DevNet leadership team

COPUOS Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, February 14, 2022

2 of 11

Much in common with COPUOS

COPUOS 59th STSC

2

63 agencies operating 201 satellites

Priority on helping achieve UN goals

2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

Sendai Framework on Disaster Risk Reduction
Paris Climate Agreement

2021-23 workplan has nearly 100 deliverables

Actions on climate change, disasters, water, agriculture – and, of course, capacity building
Highlights:

Open Science and Decision Support
Carbon observations
Analysis-ready data
EOTEC DevNet

Committee on Earth Observation Satellites

Before I dive in to EOTEC DevNet, let me provide a very short update on CEOS.

As many of you know, CEOS has much in common with COPUOS.

We are a coordinating body working with civil space-based Earth observation programs around the world. We currently have 63 members and associate members operating 201 satellites.

Our aims are to deliver societal benefits and secure a sustainable future through the exchange of data and the application of Earth observation in decision making.

CEOS is currently chaired by CNES. Our work is managed by a Strategic Implementation Team, currently chaired by ESA. We have some 13 work teams tackling our workplan.

I am happy to report that one-quarter of the 100 deliverables in that workplan relate to capacity building. As the past chair of the Working Group on Capacity Building and Data Democracy, I can affirm that CEOS places very high importance on these efforts. That will continue in the future, thanks to the leadership of UNOOSA, which just assumed the chair of that working group. UNOOSA’s Jorge Del Rio Vera is already having a very powerful impact in his role there.

A few recent highlights –which you can read about on the CEOS website – include:

A series of new open data policies and tools resulting from our commitment to 2021 as the year of Space-based Earth Observation Data for Open Science and Decision Support
We are also coordinating closely on initiatives related to carbon observations, including a new biomass dashboard
We have made an investment in analysis-ready data products.
And last but not least, the main topic of my talk today: the Earth Observation Training, Education, and Capacity Development Network, which we call EOTEC DevNet.

3 of 11

COPUOS 59th STSC

3

EOTEC DevNet�What do you see in this map?

4 of 11

COPUOS 59th STSC

4

EOTEC DevNet�Leveraging a vast global network

5 of 11

Who we are�EOTEC DevNet Partners

AIM

Improve collaboration among EO-capacity building providers
Foster exchange of capacity building resources
Support needs assessment

THEMATIC FOCUS: Global sustainable development outcomes related to

disaster risk reduction, climate adaptation and climate mitigation

COPUOS 59th STSC

5

EOTEC DevNet is a network of networks that brings together the providers of Earth observation-based training and capacity building.

You can see the network leadership in this diagram. UNOOSA has been a very active player in helping establish and leading the development of EOTEC DevNet. We are very grateful for this support.

EOTEC’s aim is to:

Improve coordination and cooperation among EO-capacity building providers
Foster exchange and knowledge sharing around capacity building resources, and
Support both training providers and users by sharing best practices around needs assessment

A key point here is that we seek to fill in gaps and identify unmet needs. I will come back to this point in a minute.

In line with CEOS priorities, of EOTEC DevNet is trying, ultimately, to support sustainable development outcomes related to:

Climate mitigation and adaptation, and
Disaster risk reduction

6 of 11

Who we are�The network we are building

+

COPUOS 59th STSC

6

Regional Communities

of Practice (COP)

Global Structures

Africa, Americas, Asia/Oceania, Europe

Regional Task Teams

Thematic Working Groups

Leadership

Secretariat

Task Team

Here are a few quick points on our network.

EOTEC is about midway through a 2-year pilot phase.

In Phase 1, we succeeded in getting these structures off the ground.

Phase 2, underway now, is about making them fully operational.

The secretariat is helping drive this process. It is currently hosted by CEOS WGCapD and supported NASA. Colleagues from EO College will be joining us next month.

I am focusing on the regional communities of practice today because they are the heart of EOTEC DevNet. They will drive the work and set the priorities. And that is where we really need your help.

We are scaling up regional communities of practice in four regions:: Africa, Americas, Asia/Oceania and Europe.

We recognize that these do not cover every region of the world. We plan to integrate other regions as EOTEC grows.

BACKGROUND IF NEEDED:

The role of the global structures is to:

Support regional COP operations
Connect COPs to global subject matter experts
Provide infrastructure support, for example, hosting the EOTEC website and the resource trackers. I will talk more about those trackers on my next slide.

The global structures consist of the leadership team, which represents all the network partners. It meets annually.

7 of 11

COPUOS 59th STSC

7

Regional communities of practice�Our biggest challenge and greatest opportunity

The complexity of the map earlier you saw is an indication of the challenge we face in building these communities of practice.

To succeed, we have to foster collaboration among dozens of partners in various time zones, all of whom are very busy, committed people. Our success will depend on the cooperation, investment and good will of people all around the world, people like you or those on your teams.

Another major challenge for us is to ensure that we do not duplicate the efforts of any of our partners. We intend to fill gaps, identify unmet needs and maximize the reach of existing capacity building efforts. In fact, our aim is to help our partners avoid duplication and overlaps.

That said, the communities of practice are also our greatest opportunity.

We believe that we can have the most impact on our higher-level goals by working regionally. The needs are greatest at the regional level. And working through regional structures will ensure that priorities are set regionally.

8 of 11

COPUOS 59th STSC

8

Regional communities of practice�Task teams lead; working groups by technical theme

Task teams

Thematic working groups

ROLE:

Quarterly meetings with online collaboration in between
Support work products, e.g. trackers on existing tools
Identify gaps and set priorities for regional capacity building
Support thematic working groups

ROLE:

Meetings twice/year with online collaboration in between
Support work by theme, e.g., floods, droughts, wildfires, landslides
Identify gaps and set priorities for regional capacity building

Quickly, each community of practice has two parts: a task team and a thematic working group.

At the moment, we are seeking to scale up the Task Teams. The next meetings are March 16 and 17. You can find the timing for each meeting on our website or through the QR code linked on the last page of this presentation.

The role of task team members is to participate in:

Quarterly meetings, with online collaboration in between
Supporting work products, e.g. trackers on existing tools. We currently have a tracker on flood tools in development. We plan to share a prototype of the tool at the March meetings
Identifying gaps and set priorities for regional capacity building
Supporting thematic working groups

The thematic working groups will begin meeting later this year. Their role is to:

Meet twice/year with online collaboration in between
Support work by theme, e.g., floods, droughts, wildfires, landslides
Identify gaps and set priorities for regional capacity building

9 of 11

The tracker covers:

Tools for flood forecasting, response and risk management
Relevant capacity building resources
Gaps in both tools and available capacity building

To be hosted on CEOS.org

Anticipated launch

in mid-2022

COPUOS 59th STSC

9

EOTEC work products�Tracker for flood capacity building tools in progress

10 of 11

Connect and build relationships with global and regional experts
Tap into capacity building resources to support work “at home”
Help set priorities for the region
Find partners and identify opportunities for other collaborations
Build professional skills and international experience
Give back to the capacity building community

COPUOS 59th STSC

10

Regional communities of practice�Benefits of participation

11 of 11

Regional communities of practice�What’s next: we need your help!

Participate in the upcoming regional meetings:

March 16 and 17

Please share this information with your contacts and encourage them to join a community of practice

Get more info and sign up for updates on our website

COPUOS 59th STSC

11

https://ceos.org/eotec

eotecdevnet@gmail.com

So in closing, I want to ask for your help.

First, please visit the EOTEC page on the CEOS website and sign up for updates.

Consider participating in the March regional meetings. We will be very happy to add you to the invitation list.

Perhaps most importantly, please spread the word. Encourage your contacts and counterparts to get involved with the communities of practice.

The EOTEC’s leadership partners are very enthusiastic about this initiative and putting in a lot to keep the momentum going.

We are very grateful that GEO is very committed to this. Allison and Nancy are on the leadership team. And I will participate in the global task team.

Thank you for your attention. I’m very happy to answer any questions or to hear any feedback you may have.

Members of the secretariat are also here to help with questions.