GLOBAL UNDERSTANDING

From left to right: Benno Werlen (recipient of the 2016 IGU Lauréat d’Honneur), Carl Folke (recipient of the 2016 IGU Planet and Humanity Medal), and Mike Meadows (IGU Secretary-General and Treasurer) at the IGC in Beijing in August 2016

From left to right: Benno Werlen (recipient of the 2016 IGU Lauréat d’Honneur), Carl Folke (recipient of the 2016 IGU Planet and Humanity Medal), and Mike Meadows (IGU Secretary-General and Treasurer) at the IGC in Beijing in August 2016

Benno Werlen and the member of the Taiwanese Regional Action Center (Wen-Cheng Wang, David Chang and Shew-Jiuan B. SU

After signing the Taipei MoU, Benno Werlen and Prof. Jinn-Guey Lay, the president of the TGS

DU Geography World Environment Day Programme Inaugural Session-(From Right) Prof.R.B.Singh- Vice President-IGU and Member ICSU Science Committee-Urban Health and Wellbeing, Shri Abhay Kumar, Dy Economic Adviser, Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change,Professor Pami Dua, Dean (Research) Humanities and Social Sciences and Director-Delhi School of Economics, Chief Guest, Shri Asheem Srivastava, Member Secretary-National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, Guest of Honor Ms. Ainhitze B. Bravo, Euraxess Links India, European Commission.

DU Geography World Environment Day Programme Valedictory Session (From Right)Prof.R.B.Singh- Vice President-IGU and Member ICSU Science Committee-Urban Health and Wellbeing, Shri Ajay Raghava, Dy.Director-Climate Change Division, MoEF, Government of India as Chief Guest, Dr. B.W. Pandey, Associate Professor, Dr. Subhash Anand, Associate Professor

DU Geography World Environment Day Programme participants, guests and students.

The official signing of the MoU for the Santiago de Compostela RAC, April 29th 2016, at the Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

The official signing of the MoU for the Santiago de Compostela RAC, April 29th 2016, at the Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

The official signing of the MoU for the Santiago de Compostela RAC, April 29th 2016, at the Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

The official signing of the MoU for the Santiago de Compostela RAC, April 29th 2016, at the Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

The official signing of the MoU for the Santiago de Compostela RAC, April 29th 2016, at the Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

The official signing of the MoU for the Santiago de Compostela RAC, April 29th 2016, at the Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

The Saudi Geographical Society held a symposium on the importance of global understanding and the Kingdom’s role in the related processes on April 19, 2016, at the Department of Geography, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University in Riyadh

The Saudi Geographical Society held a symposium on the importance of global understanding and the Kingdom’s role in the related processes on April 19, 2016, at the Department of Geography, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University in Riyadh

“Urban e-Planning: Recent Developments, Emerging Issues and Future Challenges”, organized by the Univ. of Lisbon, Lisbon, 31/3 to 1/4/2016, where we presented a joint paper by myself, Akrivi Leka and Maria Panagiotopoulou (Gr-RAC team) entitled “Towards a Methodological Approach for Measuring Smart Cities and Communities’ (SCC) Performance”,

Participants attend “Asking about Future – Global and Local Problems in Human Life”, which took place on 18th March 2016 in Łódź, Poland

Participants listen to a presentation at “Asking about Future – Global and Local Problems in Human Life”, which took place on 18th March 2016 in Łódź, Poland

Participants listen to a presentation at “Asking about Future – Global and Local Problems in Human Life”, which took place on 18th March 2016 in Łódź, Poland

Participants listen to a presentation at “Asking about Future – Global and Local Problems in Human Life”, which took place on 18th March 2016 in Łódź, Poland

Participants listen to a presentation at “Asking about Future – Global and Local Problems in Human Life”, which took place on 18th March 2016 in Łódź, Poland

The IYGU Pannel Session at the 2016 American Association of Geographers annual meeting was held March 29-April 2 in San Francisco, Calif. The session included Jack Dangermond, Esri; Lee R. Schwartz, U.S. Department of State; Gary Knell, National Geographic Society; Ronald F. Abler, International Geographical Union; Farhana Sultana, Syracuse University; Benno Werlen (pictured), University of Jena and Doug Richardson, American Association of Geographers. (credit: Becky Pendergast, AAG)

The IYGU Pannel Session at the 2016 American Association of Geographers annual meeting (March 29-April 2 in San Francisco). The session included (left to right) Jack Dangermond, Esri; Lee R. Schwartz, U.S. Department of State; Gary Knell, National Geographic Society; Ronald F. Abler, International Geographical Union; Farhana Sultana, Syracuse University; Benno Werlen, University of Jena and Doug Richardson, American Association of Geographers. (credit: Becky Pendergast, AAG)

The 2016 American Association of Geographers annual meeting was held March 29-April 2 in San Francisco, Calif. This session included (left to right) Jack Dangermond, Esri; Lee R. Schwartz, U.S. Department of State; Gary Knell, National Geographic Society; Ronald F. Abler, International Geographical Union; Farhana Sultana, Syracuse University; Benno Werlen, University of Jena and Doug Richardson, American Association of Geographers. AAG’s John Wertman introduced the high-profile panel. (credit: Becky Pendergast, AAG)

Benno Werlen speaks at the IYGU AAG Annual Conference Panel Session, 3/31/2016 in San Francisco

Jack Dangermond (ESRI) speaks at the IYGU AAG Annual Conference Panel Session, 3/31/2016 in San Francisco

Lee R. Schwartz (U.S. Department of State) speaks at the IYGU AAG Annual Conference Panel Session, 3/31/2016 in San Francisco

Farhana Sultana (Syracuse University) speaks at the IYGU AAG Annual Conference Panel Session, 3/31/2016 in San Francisco

Garry Knell (National Geographic Society) speaks at the IYGU AAG Annual Conference Panel Session, 3/31/2016 in San Francisco

Ronald Abler (IGU) speaks at the IYGU AAG Annual Conference Panel Session, 3/31/2016 in San Francisco

IYGU India Programme, New Dehli, 17th March.

IYGU India Programme, New Dehli, 17th March.

IYGU India Programme, New Dehli, 17th March.

IYGU India Programme, New Dehli, 17th March.

Viriato Soromenho Marques, Helena Henriques, Luiz Oosterbeek, and Elizabeth Silva attend a coordination meeting for the RAC in Portugal. March, 2016

A coordination meeting for the RAC in Portugal. March, 2016

Benno Werlen and Klaus Töpfer. IYGU Opening Ceremony Press Conference, 02.02.2016 in Jena. Photo: Peter Michaelis

Walter Rosenthal, Klaus Töpfer, Wolfgang Tiefensee, Benno Werlen. IYGU Opening Ceremony, 02.02.2016 in Jena. Photo: Jan-Peter Kasper/FSU

Luiz Oosterbeek, Klaus Töpfer, Benno Werlen, Vladimir Kolossov, Anantha Duraiappah. IYGU Opening Ceremony, 02.02.2016 in Jena. Photo: Jan-Peter Kasper/FSU

Anantha Duraiappah, Paul Shrivastava, Martin Visbeck. IYGU Opening Ceremony, 02.02.2016 in Jena. Photo: Jan-Peter Kasper/FSU

Klaus Töpfer, Benno Werlen, Vladimir Kolossov, Anantha Duraiappah IYGU Opening Ceremony, 02.02.2016 in Jena. Photo: Jan-Peter Kasper/FSU

Vladimir Kolossov, Anantha Duraiappah. IYGU Opening Ceremony, 02.02.2016 in Jena. Photo: Jan-Peter Kasper/FSU

Luiz Oosterbeek, Vladimir Kolossov, Yukio Himiyama. IYGU Opening Ceremony, 02.02.2016 in Jena. Photo: Jan-Peter Kasper/FSU

Press Conference, IYGU Opening Ceremony, 02.02.2016 in Jena. Photo: Jan-Peter Kasper/FSU

Mathieu Denis. IYGU Opening Ceremony, 02.02.2016 in Jena. Photo: Jan-Peter Kasper/FSU

Benno Werlen and Volker Wieprecht. IYGU Opening Ceremony, 02.02.2016 in Jena. Photo: Jan-Peter Kasper/FSU

Paul Shrivastava, Martin Visbeck. IYGU Opening Ceremony, 02.02.2016 in Jena. Photo: Jan-Peter Kasper/FSU

Wolfgang Tiefensee. IYGU Opening Ceremony, 02.02.2016 in Jena. Photo: Jan-Peter Kasper/FSU

IYGU Opening Ceremony, 02.02.2016 in Jena. Photo: Jan-Peter Kasper/FSU

Allen J. Scott, Benno Werlen, Margaret Robertson, Mathis Stock. IYGU Opening Ceremony, 02.02.2016 in Jena. Photo: Jan-Peter Kasper/FSU

Luiz Oosterbeek, Eduardo de Mulder, Mathieu Denis, Benno Werlen, Adama Samassékou, Helena Henriques. IYGU Opening Ceremony, 02.02.2016 in Jena.

Axel Burchardt, Luiz Oosterbeek, Klaus Töpfer, Benno Werlen, Vladimir Kolossov, Anantha Duraiappah, Paul Shrivastava IYGU Opening Ceremony, 02.02.2016 in Jena. Photo: Jan-Peter Kasper/FSU

Klaus Töpfer and Benno Werlen. IYGU Opening Ceremony Press Conference, 02.02.2016 in Jena. Photo: Peter Michaelis

Walter Rosenthal, Wolfgang Tiefensee, and Benno Werlen, IYGU Opening Ceremony, 02.02.2016 in Jena. Photo: Peter Michaelis

Prof.Walter Rosenthal. IYGU Opening Ceremony, 02.02.2016 in Jena. Photo: Jan-Peter Kasper/FSU

Philatelic Exhibition Forum on Climate Change in Roof of the World and IYGU Action in China. Mt. Qomolangma (Mt. Everest) – Base Station, Tibet, China. February, 2016.

Philatelic Exhibition Forum on Climate Change in Roof of the World and IYGU Action in China. Mt. Qomolangma (Mt. Everest) – Base Station, Tibet, China. February, 2016.

Meeting with Jack Dangermond (ESRI). Salzburg, October 15th, 2015.

Opening Ceremony of the IYGU RAC in New Delhi, India. September 2015.

Opening Ceremony of the IYGU RAC in New Delhi, India. September 2015.

Meeting coordination of Asian RAC at Shanghai from left to right: Prof, Je-Hun Ryu, Prof. Yukio Himiyama, Prof. R.B. Singh. Shangai, September 2015.

Proclamation of the International Year of Global Understanding at the World Social Sciences Forum in Durban, September 2015

Proclamation of the International Year of Global Understanding at the World Social Sciences Forum in Durban, September 2015

Introduction to the Proclamation Session by Prof. Benno Werlen. Durban, South Africa, September 2015.

Declaration by the President of ISSC Prof. Alberto Martinelli by the occasion of the Proclamation of the International Year of Global Understanding at the World Social Sciences Forum in Durban, September 2015

Proclamation of IYGU by Executive Director of ICSU, Dr. Heide Hackmann. Durban, September 2015.

Proclamation of IYGU by Executive Director of CIPSH, Prof. Luiz Oosterbeek. Durban, September 2015.

Keynote Presentation of IYGU at the IGU Regional conference in Krakow August 2014.

Meeting at FAPESP (São Paulo Research Foundation), São Paulo, August 8th 2014. Former Director of Special Programms / Current President of CNPq, Prof. Dr. Hernan Hernan Chaimovich Guralnik, Ms. Virginia Sanches Subinas and Prof. Dr. Benno Werlen.

Meeting with INNOVARE Institut (Brazil). From left to the right: xy, Sybelle de Jongh, Minister Carlos Ayres Britto, xy, Benno Werlen. August 2014.

Second meeting at OEI (Organization of Ibero-American States for Education, Science and Culture in Brasilia, August 2014, discussing financial support of the Springer Briefs. xy, Mrs. Sybelle de Jongh, Mrs. Ivana de Siqueira (OEI) and Benno Werlen.

Meeting with Prof. Dr. Paulo Sergio Beirao, Director of Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq). Brasília, 4th August 2014.

Meeting with the Brazilian Chamber of Industry. from l. to r.: Shelley Carneiro (Sustainability Division of CNI), Sybelle de Jongh (IYGU), Eliezer Batista (Patron of IYGU), Inguelore Scheunemann (Outreach and Fundraising IYGU), Robson Andrade (President of CNI), Benno Werlen, Brasília, 7th August 2014.

Meeting with the Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, Rio de Janeiro, July 2014. Mr. Bernardo Cabral, Benno Werlen, Mrs. Inguelore Scheunemann, Mr. Ernane Galveas and Mr. Carlos Thadeu de Freitas Gomes.

Meeting at the Getúlio Vargas Foundation (FGV). Prof. Benno Werlen, Prof. Inguelore Scheunemann, Prof. Istvan Karoly Kasznar. Rio de Janeiro, 31st July 2014.

Preparation UN Application Process: New York Rwandan Embassy, April 2014.

Benno Werlen presents the IYGU at the UN General Assembly in New York, April 22, 2014

From left to the right: Prof. Vladimir Kolossov, president of IYH, Prof. Takashi Ohnishi, president of the Science Council of Japan, Prof. Michael Meadows, General Secratary of IGU and Prof. Benno Werlen. Kyoto, Japan, August 2013.

Constitution meeting for the RAC in Beijing with representatives of the Chinese Geographers, in May 2013: Gouyou Zhou (General Secretary of CGS), xy, members of the Chinese Academy and president of the organizing committee of the IGC 2016), Benno Werlen, Liu Yanhua, former vice-minister of Education and Science of the Chinese Peoples Republic, Shangyi Zhouu.

Shangyi Zhoou talking at the Opening Ceremony of the RAC in Beijing, 2012.

UNESCO Application Process: Members of the African voting Group at UNESCO, the Rwanda Ambassador of UNESCO, Mr. Jacques Kabale, Prof. Benno Werlen, Rachad Farrah, president of the African voting group at the time. Kigali, Rwanda, December 2012

Rwanda Support for the UNESCO and UN Process – Meeting at the Foreign Ministry of Rwanda in Kigali. From left to right: Jacques Kabale, Ed de Mulder, Hon. Minister Louise Mushikiwabo, Benno Werlen, Manasse Mboye and the Rwandan Ambassadors of European Countries. December 2012.

In Brasilia with Mr. Guilherme Patriota, Director of the foreign affairs at the Presidency Itamaraty. November 2012.

Brasília – DF 20/11/2012 CNI Annual Meting of the Sustainability Division – COEMA. Shelley Carneiro, Monica Massenberg and Benno Werlen. Picture: José Paulo Lacerda

Meeting with representative of OEI in Brasilia, November 2012

Meeting with the delegation of the Moroccan Ministry of Education, the University of Rabat and the Princess Lalla Foundation. Casablanca, 2012.

Reception at the Meeting of the Steering, Scientific and Outreach Committees of IYGU in Jena, Germany. May 2011.

Executive Director of IYGU, Prof. Dr. Benno Werlen, during his presentation at the Meeting of the Steering, Scientific and Outreach Committees of IYGU in Jena, Germany. May 2011.

Meeting of the Steering, Scientific and Outreach Committees of IYGU in Jena, Germany. May 2011.

Constitutive meeting of the Steering Committe of IYGU in Weimar, March 2011. Shangyi Zhoou, Lukas Sosoe, Margaret Robertson, Benno Werlen, Gordon McBean, Ron Abler, Adama Sammasekou, Anantha Duraiappah, Sebastian Lentz, Robyn Longhurst, Vladimir Kolossov, Mr. and Mrs. de Mulder.

The Minister of Education and Science of the Federal State of Thuringia, Mr. Christoph Matschie and Prof. Benno Werlen.