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<p class=MsoNormal>Nottingham, UK ,September 22, 2010 - The Open Source
Geospatial Foundation (OSGeo) and the Centre for Geospatial Science (CGS),
University of Nottingham have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the
establishment of an Open Source Geospatial Lab (OSGL) and to develop
collaboration opportunities for academia, industry and government organisations
in open source GIS software and data in the UK.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Professor Mike Jackson, Director of the Centre of Geospatial
Science, said "The MOU between OSGeo and the Centre for Geospatial Science
at the University of Nottingham is an indication of the close collaboration
between the two organisations which has already underpinned two very successful
Conferences on open source research in the geospatial domain. CGS is funding
two research internships to help progress joint research activities and
welcomes both offers of funding for further internee sponsorships and approaches
from potential visiting scientists who may wish to spend a period of time based
at the Centre in Nottingham to work on open source geospatial research."<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Arnulf Christl, President of OSGeo, said, "The
Foundation has successfully achieved it's first primary goal: To support Free
and Open Source Software projects in the geospatial realm. One of the other two
pillars of the foundation is supporting education which is much harder for a
developer driven organization to achieve on it's own. Therefore this Memorandum
of Understanding with CGS is a great success from OSGeo's point of view and
will mark the start of an ongoing strong partnership with academia. In the long
run this will enhance education and research in the Open Source geospatial
realm in a broader context as other institutes recognize the opportunity and
join forces."<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Tyler Mitchell, Executive Director of OSGeo said
"Engaging academia at several levels is crucial to meeting our common long
term missions of advancing open source geospatial technology. OSGeo's
relationship with CGS serves as a proactive template for how other institutions
can also engage with OSGeo at a more formal level. This will open up
additional exciting opportunities that we haven't even thought of yet."<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>The MOU provides for the establishment of a research
laboratory for supporting development of open-source geospatial software
technologies, training and expertise. It also provides provision of internship
opportunities for high quality students. An Advisory Board/Steering Committee
coordinated by the OSGeo Board and CGS, is to be setup and will be comprised of
key members of OSGeo, OSGeo:UK, eminent academics, industry leaders, etc. to
give strategic input and direction for Open Source Geospatial Lab and its open
source activities.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>The OSGeo is a not-for-profit organization founded in 2006
whose mission is to support and promote the collaborative development of open
source geospatial technologies and data. Details at <a
href="http://www.osgeo.org/">http://www.osgeo.org/</a> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>The University of Nottingham is a world-class research
intensive University and in the top 1% of all universities worldwide. The
Centre for Geospatial Science is the key leader in the Open Source Geospatial
domain within the UK. CGS is actively involved in multiple Open Source
geospatial initiatives. Details at <a href="http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/cgs/">http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/cgs/</a>
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>The first phase of internships are now released at <a
href="http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/cgs/news/internships.aspx">http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/cgs/news/internships.aspx</a>
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Best wishes,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Suchith <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>Dr
Suchith Anand</span><i><o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Centre for Geospatial Science<br>
The Nottingham Geospatial Building <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>University of Nottingham NG7 2 TU<br>
Tel: (0)115 82 32750<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><a
href="http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/~lgzwww/contacts/staffPages/SuchithAnand/Suchith%20Anand.htm"><span
style='color:blue'>http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/~lgzwww/contacts/staffPages/SuchithAnand/Suchith%20Anand.htm</span></a><br>
<a href="http://www.opensourcegis.org.uk/" target="_blank"><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:blue'>http://www.opensourcegis.org.uk/</span></a><br>
<a href="http://ica-opensource.scg.ulaval.ca/" target="_blank"><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:blue'>http://ica-opensource.scg.ulaval.ca/</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
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