[OSGeo-Discuss] FOSS4G and conservation

[Sean Gillies]

Ned Horning wrote:
> Frank Warmerdam wrote:
>> I'd like to see OSGeo support socially relavent organizations in use of
> open source
>> software
> 
> This is along the lines of what I'm working on so I figure this is a good
> time to chime in to get feedback. I'm involved in a discussion between the
> Society for Conservation GIS (SCGIS) and the Society for Conservation
> Biology (SCB) to enhance an international Conservation GIS training program
> sponsored by SCGIS. The SCGIS has a scholarship program that brings
> international conservation practitioners to the States to receive ESRI
> training, ESRI software, attend the ESRI conference, and sometimes get free
> hardware. It is a great program but it's costly and only meets a fraction of
> the demand.
> 
> In principle having an SCB/SCGIS partnership is a good idea but it shouldn't
> be ESRI-centric. I talked about OSGeo and this seemed to raise some interest
> (curiosity?) but I sense skepticism. The (inaccurate) perception that ESRI
> will donate software to any conservation group, largely negating advantages
> of FOSS4G, doesn't help. The SCB has over 10,000 members and I think this
> could be a great opportunity for OSGeo to increase global exposure and
> possibly use it to solicit grant money to support training and software
> development around the world. 
> 
> SCGIS has a small international network of user groups that can be used to
> expand this program and I'm trying to figure out if OSGeo could help build a
> similar or partnered network for open source offerings. The OSGeo education
> committee members are creating course materials that will be leveraged for
> this conservation-focused training. I addition to that we need to develop a
> network of trainers. How much interest is there among the OSGeo
> community/user groups to support and provide conservation-focused geospatial
> training? I'd like to hear from anyone but I'm particularly interested in
> hearing from people with connections outside of North America. 
> 
> Distance learning methods would help overcome the problem of distributing
> this training globally but there is a strong interest in sponsoring
> in-person workshops in addition to on-line offerings. Our group at the AMNH
> is working on addressing both of these needs.
> 
> Any feedback is appreciated.
> 
> All the best,
> 
> Ned 

Ned,

I accidentally attended the SCGIS summer camp in 2005. I was visiting 
Mike Hamilton, Director of the James Reserve and SCGIS activist, who 
often hosts this thing. He's very interested in open source, and I think 
he'd be happy to add open source to the camp syllabus if the attendees 
wanted it. If you're not already in contact with Mike, you should give 
him a call.

His ESRI partners, of course, had zero interest in open source, but this 
might have changed a bit over the past 2 years.

Cheers,
Sean