Guidelines for the Submission of Pre-proposals

GBIF/UNESCO Chairs in Biodiversity Informatics

Introduction

The GBIF/UNESCO Chairs Program serves as a prime means of capacity building in the field of biodiversity informatics for developing countries and countries with economies in transition. The main participants are constituted by members of the academic community based in universities. Chairs can also establish a partnership with important higher education, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and other institutions.

UNESCO has more than 10 years of experience with similar Chairs Program. GBIF is benefiting from UNESCO's experience of having established more than 500 Chairs in different disciplines in more than 113 countries.

The GBIF/UNESCO Chairs Program will cover training, research and information activities in the field of biodiversity informatics.

Its principal beneficiaries are institutions of higher learning and education in developing countries and countries with economies in transition.

Who can apply?

Existing universities and other establishments of higher education and research that are recognized as bona fide institutions by a GBIF Participant, other academic and scientific associations, inter-university networks that wish to link their own activities with GBIF programs and the emerging field of biodiversity informatics.

All proposals for the GBIF/UNESCO Chairs in biodiversity informatics must be sent and endorsed by a GBIF Participant.

The Chairs can be established:

• At universities;

• At other institutions of higher education;

• At research institutions

How to establish a GBIF/UNESCO Chair?

Existing universities or university-networks may express interest in linking up with this initiative by gearing their activities towards the needs of higher education institutions in the field of biodiversity informatics in developing countries.

A Chair can be established as a new teaching and research unit at a university or other institution of higher education and/or research. Such unit should include:

1. a Chairholder as its academic head;

2. a number of teachers/researchers from the host institution and from other institutions, both in the country concerned and from abroad who are associated with the activities of the Chair;

3. a number of students and researchers pursuing postgraduate studies or high-level training and research under the Chair.

A Chair may be developed within a university department by reinforcing an existing teaching/research program in biodiversity informatics and giving it an international dimension.

Further information on the general approach used under the Chairs initiative could be obtained from UNESCO: