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Nairobi 2010 Conference Reoprt  Climate Change and Natural Resource Use in Eastern Africa: Impacts, Adaptation and Mitigation Report of the 3rd Scientific Conference of the Ecological Society for Eastern Africa (ESEA) and co-hosted with the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) at Multimedia University College, Nairobi, 19 - 21 May 2010 By Nicholas Oguge, Caroline Lumosi, Teddy Odindo, Joseph Ngondi and Philista Malaki October 4, 2010 Summary While the Earth's climate has changed throughout history, the current warming trend has been of particular concern because most of it is human-induced and proceeding at a rate that is unprecedented.  One of the greatest concerns of this global warming is climate variability and change.  The risks associated with climate change add to development challenges such as food and water insecurity. Although climate change is only one of the many drivers negatively affecting biodiversity and ecosystem services, it certainly exacerbates the other factors such as land degradation and unsustainable natural resource use. There is general concern on the accelerating deterioration of the human environment and natural resources. This would widen poverty levels confronting eastern African countries and threaten gains made towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals. Thus, the Ecological Society for Eastern African organised its 3rd annual scientific conference with a theme addressing this global challenge.  The idea was to bring together researchers, policy makers and the general public together to discuss the climate change phenomena, its impacts, mitigation strategies and adaptation measures with regard to natural resource use in Eastern Africa. In order to address above issues and to reach out to a wider audience, we designed the conference strategically on three tiers:   1. Plenary talks: to provide policy information and direction, science on climate change, ecological and socio-economic effects, how to commun

Book Reviews Book title: Digitisation Perspectives Type: book Author: Ruth Rikowski Year: 2010 Edition: 1st ISBN: 9460912982 Publisher: Sense Publishers Publisher's Description: This book examines various views and perspectives on digitisation. As Simon Tanner, Director Digital Consultancy, King's College London says in the Foreword: "Digitisation has become a cultural, scholastic, economic and political imperative and raises many issues for our consideration." Furthermore, that the book: "...seeks to address and answer some of the big questions of digitisation... It succeeds on many levels..." There are 22 contributors in the book, all experts in their fields. The book is divided into six parts: Part 1: 'Background and Overview to Digitisation and Digital Libraries' Part 2: 'Digitisation and Higher Education' Part 3: 'Digitisation and Inequalities' Part 4: 'Digital Libraries, Reference Services and Citation Indexing' Part 5: 'Digitisation of Rare, Valued and Scholarly Works' Part 6: 'Futuristic Developments of Digitisation' Topics covered include electronic theses, search engine technology, digitisation in Africa, citation indexing, reference services, the Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition, new media and scholarly publishing. The final chapter explores virtual libraries, and poses some interesting questions for possible futures. The book will be of particular interest to information professionals, educators, librarians, academics and I.T. and knowledge experts. Ruth Rikowski concludes by indicating that: "...hopefully, the book will provide a source of inspiration for further research, leading to some more effective ways to proceed with the digitisation process. Also, that it will be possible to do this within a framework that can be used for good rather than ill, and for the benefit of many." Reviewer: Eric Jukes (Formerly of College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London) Book Rating: 5/5 Buy this book from Amazon  Review Summary

How are current socio technological changes impacting the future of work? New technology, global trends, and the effect of Covid-19 on the job force have fundamentally altered the way firms operate and the kinds of expertise their workers require to compete in this emerging period of employment. Despite the fact that we cannot foresee what the future has in store, certain adjustments are inevitable. You must brace for such developments as a forward-thinking professional or aspirant. Gig Economy Gig Economy: The term 'gig' refers to a job model in which contractors are recruited and paid on a project-by-project basis. Gone are the days of doing a strap task from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The gig economy helps people to save multiple hours per day to make the most of the one and only scarce asset that they have time. Employee Well-Being Employee Well-Being is the topmost priority: While more people are operating remotely for extended periods of time, organisations can concentrate on ways to improve relationships and reduce mental tension. As organizations adapt, building mentally healthy workplaces will become even more relevant and complex. Also, working remotely and loneliness could have a detrimental impact on workers' mental wellbeing. Employee morale will suffer if they are not in good health. Several anal believe that employers will put a stronger emphasis on mental wellbeing and employee welfare. Intuitive and Appropriate Strategy Intuitive and Appropriate Strategy: Although meetings through online platforms like Zoom and Google Meet have been a constant throughout the pandemic but this restricted mode of communication the essence of being connected to colleagues and friends has indeed been cruelly exposed. As a result, software companies often rose to the situation, implementing innovative methods to ensure workers involved when working remotely. Nvidia, for example, has prioritized human speech over the context of video calls, resulting in substantial data s

The Future of Education is a topic often discussed, and at the recent gathering of educators in Florence, it was the title and theme for the conference. Now in its ninth year, The Future of Education is an international conference that attracts educators from around the world and across all domains touched by education. The conference is an inspiring two days of discussion and sharing, with the city of Florence, the centre of the Renaissance, providing a constant reminder of what might be possible when creativity and critical thinking combine. Here are my key takeaways from this event.

Buy Google 5 Star Reviews Introduction Buying 5-star Google reviews is one of the best ways to improve your business. If you want to increase your sales, get more customers and boost your rankings on Google search engine, then buying real positive reviews is the way forward. Buy Google 5 Star Reviews Why Need To Buy 5-star Google Reviews? Google reviews are the most important ranking factors for your business. They are also the most trusted sources of information and can be used to attract new customers, increase sales and grow your business. Buy Google Reviews You can buy Google reviews. You can buy 5-star Google reviews. You can buy google reviews for your business or website, product, or blog. Why Are Online Reviews Important? You've probably heard that online reviews are important for your business. But why? Online reviews help you build trust with your customers, which is essential to keeping them happy and coming back for more. They help you stand out from the competition by making a better first impression on potential customers. If people who have tried your products or services recommend them to others, then it's likely that those same people will recommend them as well! This means more sales for you! Buy Google 5 Star Reviews If someone has written an honest review about something positive about one of our stores (or even just one product), then we want to know so we can make sure our staff knows how important it is to keep these relationships going strong in the future."

Buy Google 5 Star Reviews Introduction Buying 5-star Google reviews is one of the best ways to improve your business. If you want to increase your sales, get more customers and boost your rankings on Google search engine, then buying real positive reviews is the way forward. Buy Google 5 Star Reviews Why Need To Buy 5-star Google Reviews? Google reviews are the most important ranking factors for your business. They are also the most trusted sources of information and can be used to attract new customers, increase sales and grow your business. Buy Google Reviews You can buy Google reviews. You can buy 5-star Google reviews. You can buy google reviews for your business or website, product, or blog. Why Are Online Reviews Important? You've probably heard that online reviews are important for your business. But why? Online reviews help you build trust with your customers, which is essential to keeping them happy and coming back for more. They help you stand out from the competition by making a better first impression on potential customers. If people who have tried your products or services recommend them to others, then it's likely that those same people will recommend them as well! This means more sales for you! Buy Google 5 Star Reviews If someone has written an honest review about something positive about one of our stores (or even just one product), then we want to know so we can make sure our staff knows how important it is to keep these relationships going strong in the future."

Buy Google 5 Star Reviews Introduction Buying 5-star Google reviews is one of the best ways to improve your business. If you want to increase your sales, get more customers and boost your rankings on Google search engine, then buying real positive reviews is the way forward. Buy Google 5 Star Reviews Why Need To Buy 5-star Google Reviews? Google reviews are the most important ranking factors for your business. They are also the most trusted sources of information and can be used to attract new customers, increase sales and grow your business. Buy Google Reviews You can buy Google reviews. You can buy 5-star Google reviews. You can buy google reviews for your business or website, product, or blog. Why Are Online Reviews Important? You've probably heard that online reviews are important for your business. But why? Online reviews help you build trust with your customers, which is essential to keeping them happy and coming back for more. They help you stand out from the competition by making a better first impression on potential customers. If people who have tried your products or services recommend them to others, then it's likely that those same people will recommend them as well! This means more sales for you! Buy Google 5 Star Reviews If someone has written an honest review about something positive about one of our stores (or even just one product), then we want to know so we can make sure our staff knows how important it is to keep these relationships going strong in the future."

The role that education plays in issues of social equity and justice cannot be undervalued. It is acknowledged by the United Nations as a human right, 'Everyone has the right to education' (United Nations, 1948) and as outlined in the Melbourne Declaration on the Educational Goals for Young Australians 'As a nation Australia values the central role of education in building a democratic, equitable and just society- a society that is prosperous, cohesive and culturally diverse, and that values Australia's Indigenous cultures as a key part of the nation's history, present and future.' (Barr et al, 2008). Such lofty assertions of the importance of education as a right and national value should be sufficient to ensure that all Australians have access to an education of the highest standard with equitable outcomes for all, the reality is that this is not the case.

post from Half an Hour: excellent explanation of how connectivist moocs work, what the difference is between them and x or wrapped moocs and what open is In this presentation Stephen Downes addresses the question of how massive open online courses (MOOCs) will impact the future of distance education. The presentation considers in some detail the nature and purpose of a MOOC in contrast with traditional distance education. He argues that MOOCs represent the resurgence of community-based learning and will describe how distance education institutions will share MOOCs with each other and will supplement online interaction with community-based resources and services. The phenomenon of 'wrapped MOOCs' will be described, and Downes will outline several examples of local support for global MOOCs. 

Cyber threats aimed at business are identified by Threat Intelligence. IT specialists and complex tools can read and analyze the threats. This information is utilized to plan, forestall, and recognize cyber threats hoping to exploit important organization's assets. Threat Intelligence collects and compiles the raw data about the threats emerging from different sources. Cyber threats can be truly terrifying. Cyber threat knowledge can help associations obtain important information about these threats, build successful defense equipment and relieve the threats that could harm their reputation. People often get confused with Cyber Security terms such as Threat Intelligence and Threat Data. Threat data is a list of likely threats. For instance, Facebook feeds are like a running list of possible issues. It is Threat Intelligence when IT specialists and exclusive complex tools can read and analyze the threats/attacks. Why is threat intelligence important for businesses? Threat Intelligence is a vital part of any cybersecurity. A cyber threat intelligence program sometimes called CTI, can: Prevent data loss With a very much organized CTI program set up, your organization can spot cyber threats and keep data breaches from leaking critical information. Give guidance on security measures By distinguishing and dissecting threats, CTI spots designs utilized by hackers. CTI assists organizations with setting up security standards to protect against future cyber assaults and threats. Educate others Hackers are smarter than before. To keep up, cybersecurity specialists share the strategies they've seen with the IT people group to make a communal database to battle cybercrimes and cybersecurity threats. Kinds of Threat Intelligence The four kinds of threat intelligence are strategic, tactical, technical, and operational Strategic cyber threat intelligence is generally dedicated to a non-technical audience. It utilizes nitty-gritty analyses of patterns and arising t

Society confronts educational change in an odd, entirely counter intuitive manner. On one hand we acknowledge that education can and should do a better job of preparing our children for the future while on the other we cling to the models of education that we knew. This led educational writer Will Richardson to state that 'the biggest barrier to rethinking schooling in response to the changing worldscape is our own experience in schools'. Our understandings of what school should be like and our imaginings of what school could be like are so clouded by this experience that even the best evidence for change is overlooked or mistrusted.

EduTech in Sydney has been a remarkable experience. A grand celebration of education and an energising gathering of educators ready to share stories and make connections. Despite the rainy weather some 8000 educators came together in the inspiring new International Convention Centre at Darling Harbour and left two days later with hers full of new ideas and wonderings of what might be the future of education. With many ideas still bubbling away here is a brief list of the key take-aways.

Reflections from The Future of Education Conference in Florence, Italy After two days of discussing the future of education with a host of educators from around the world in the beautiful city of Florence, the clearest statement on the matter might be that 'it is complicated'.

This week I am in Florence having spent two days at "The Future of Education" conference. Visiting this city, which has played such a significant role in western history, is inspiring. It encourages one to not only look back at what was, but also to look ahead at what might be, especially when the t

Product Management could be your key to move out of a stagnating career. At times many of us may feel that we are stuck in a profession, in a job role, or in an organization that is not for us. It may feel like it is not our true calling. Well, then why waste time? Make a career switch into a career of your choice. Muster the courage and make the move. If Product Management is your likely choice, then this is the right blog for you. If not, then why not explore what is it like to be a PM! (Product Manager not Prime Minister) So, what would you be doing as a PM? Wearing multiple hats. As a Product Manager, you have to wear different hats at different times. Be a Psychologist - Embark upon a journey to empathize and understand consumer needs and challenges Be a Consumer Behaviour expert - Leave no stone unturned to mine latent consumer insights Be a Marketeer - Use frameworks to gauge the perfect product-market fit Be a Diplomat - Negotiate with and influence relevant stakeholders to obtain desired results Be an Architect and an Interior Designer - Build and design products that address consumer pain-points effectively and transpires into a practical and scalable solution Be a co-ordinator - Guide and Direct cross-functional teams to deliver timely results in sync with the overarching objective Be a crisis manager - Diagnose the situation, identify hurdles and be agile in resolving them while the product is being tested in the market Be a Relationship Manager - The duty of a PM does not end as soon as the product is launched. It extends further to keep creating and nurturing a delightful experience for the customer. Now, you're aware of the roles you are likely to perform. What about the skills required to fulfil them efficiently? Well, most experienced PMs emphasize on soft skills being the differentiator between a good and a great PM. Let's have a look at the most essential hard and soft skills required to be a product manager: Com

While I was wondering about the right topic of my master thesis, I was thinking of technologies that might have the biggest impact on e-learning in the future. That means, that I don't want to write about Second Life or other new media that didn't revolutionize learning in the last years. Even though the number of users is increasing, I honestly don't see a big future of Second Life for educational purposes. I am more interested in new fields of e-learning that will change the ways of teaching and learning. After some Internet research, I found the following trends for e-learning technology

The future of continuing education is still evolving. Who knows how all the technological applications and demands on adults will change as we move further into the 21st Century. Remember where education was just 50 years ago or even 20 years ago.

Through any lens schools are complex places. A melting pot of human, social, political, economic, technological, physical and philosophical tensions. At once the stronghold of our cultural traditions and facilitators of our future wellbeing, schools serve as pillars of stability constructed at the event horizon between our now and our tomorrow. Perhaps at this point in time more than ever is this tension between the role that schools play in indoctrinating our youth into the ways of society at odds with the imperative to prepare them for their futures.

How might we prepare our students for an unknown future? If we accept that we are living in times of rapid change and that the world our children will inhabit is likely to be very different from the world of today, or perhaps more importantly, different from the work our current education system was designed to serve, what should we do to ensure our children are able to thrive?

These two powerful questions framed a recent webinar presented by Professor David Perkins of Harvard Graduate School of Education's Project Zero. Answering these questions and helping teachers find meaningful and contextually relevant answers to these questions has been a focus of Perkins' work, especially in recent times. His book "Future Wise: Educating Our Children for a Changing World" introduced us to the notion of lifeworthy learning or that which is "likely to matter in the lives our learners are likely to live". This is a powerful notion and one that has the potential to change not only what we teach but also how we go about teaching what we do.

Stephen Downes on the future of e-learning: personalised learning, networks and PLEs amongst much else