Summer 2007
Collaborate, Create, Communicate...
Main News
New Website Opens Dialogue
The ICT-KM Program is pleased to announce the launch of its new website at http://ictkm.cgiar.org. With its crisp new look, improved navigation and interactive features, the redesign represents a shift in our relationship with our audience. Besides making it easier for you to keep up-to-date with the latest ICT-KM news, the site also allows you to contribute your voice to some of our reports and announcements.
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The KS Story: Chapter Two
What do storymercials, a knowledge bank for rice farmers, and guidelines for the adoption of safe food interventions all have in common?
Read More
A More Equitable CGNET Contract
The CIO, along with members of the IT Community, recently negotiated a new joint CGIAR-CGNET contract that sees existing contract costs reduced by more than US$60,000 per year over the next two years. Following a ‘request for information', contract negotiations were carried out under the watchful eyes of the Internal Audit Unit and administration management representatives from the CGIAR Centers.
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Another CGIAR First
A blended learning event is breaking new ground in the CGIAR. A seven-week course entitled Research Methods – Thinking Scientifically, which began on 13 August 2007, is introducing young scientists and graduate students to the principles, concepts, methods and approaches used to conduct high quality research and development in agriculture and natural resources management. The course, which has evolved from a series of face-to-face courses run in East Africa, has been designed to open the eyes and change the attitudes of postgraduate students to issues surrounding the design and implementation of effective research development.
Read More
Web2ForDev 2007
The response to the upcoming Web2ForDev conference has been overwhelming. More than 250 people have signed on to attend this first-of-a-kind event, which will give international development stakeholders an opportunity to explore the ways in which they can take advantage of the technical and organizational opportunities provided by Web 2.0 methods, approaches and applications.
Read More
FAO-CGIAR Joint Appointments
During an interview conducted at FAO headquarters last year, the CGIAR and FAO expressed their intentions of pursuing new collaborative efforts. A follow-up interview with FAO's Steve Katz (Chief, WAICENT Knowledge Exchange Facilitation Branch) and CGIAR CIO Enrica Porcari revealed that the two organizations recently made two joint appointments that will provide support for the upcoming Web2ForDev Conference*.
Read More
Show Me The Impact!
Scientific research is usually assessed by the number of citations a publication or researcher receives. The more citations a publication receives, the more its credibility is increased – or, at least, that is the general opinion. However, this evaluation model is contentious, because it encourages the publish-or-perish mentality that focuses on quantity instead of quality of research. Moreover, some publications receive numerous citations purely because of their controversial nature, without them necessarily contributing anything significant in terms of research.
Read More
Much has happened since our last issue of ICT-KM News. We have launched our new website, held an inception workshop for our Knowledge Sharing pilot projects, and successfully negotiated a new CGNET contract, a collaborative effort involving many people from across the CGIAR.
As I write this, we are conducting an e-consultation and getting ready for the Web2ForDev conference. These are just a few of the news items highlighted in this month's newsletter.
Well, I must get back to the e-consultation. I hope you will join me there.
Enrica Porcari
Chief Information Officer
CGIAR
Main News
New Website Opens Dialogue
The ICT-KM Program is pleased to announce the launch of its new website at http://ictkm.cgiar.org. With its crisp new look, improved navigation and interactive features, the redesign represents a shift in our relationship with our audience. Besides making it easier for you to keep up-to-date with the latest ICT-KM news, the site also allows you to contribute your voice to some of our reports and announcements.
Read More
The KS Story: Chapter Two
What do storymercials, a knowledge bank for rice farmers, and guidelines for the adoption of safe food interventions all have in common?
Read More
A More Equitable CGNET Contract
The CIO, along with members of the IT Community, recently negotiated a new joint CGIAR-CGNET contract that sees existing contract costs reduced by more than US$60,000 per year over the next two years. Following a ‘request for information', contract negotiations were carried out under the watchful eyes of the Internal Audit Unit and administration management representatives from the CGIAR Centers.
Read More
Another CGIAR First
A blended learning event is breaking new ground in the CGIAR. A seven-week course entitled Research Methods – Thinking Scientifically, which began on 13 August 2007, is introducing young scientists and graduate students to the principles, concepts, methods and approaches used to conduct high quality research and development in agriculture and natural resources management. The course, which has evolved from a series of face-to-face courses run in East Africa, has been designed to open the eyes and change the attitudes of postgraduate students to issues surrounding the design and implementation of effective research development.
Read More
Web2ForDev 2007
The response to the upcoming Web2ForDev conference has been overwhelming. More than 250 people have signed on to attend this first-of-a-kind event, which will give international development stakeholders an opportunity to explore the ways in which they can take advantage of the technical and organizational opportunities provided by Web 2.0 methods, approaches and applications.
Read More
FAO-CGIAR Joint Appointments
During an interview conducted at FAO headquarters last year, the CGIAR and FAO expressed their intentions of pursuing new collaborative efforts. A follow-up interview with FAO's Steve Katz (Chief, WAICENT Knowledge Exchange Facilitation Branch) and CGIAR CIO Enrica Porcari revealed that the two organizations recently made two joint appointments that will provide support for the upcoming Web2ForDev Conference*.
Read More
Show Me The Impact!
Scientific research is usually assessed by the number of citations a publication or researcher receives. The more citations a publication receives, the more its credibility is increased – or, at least, that is the general opinion. However, this evaluation model is contentious, because it encourages the publish-or-perish mentality that focuses on quantity instead of quality of research. Moreover, some publications receive numerous citations purely because of their controversial nature, without them necessarily contributing anything significant in terms of research.
Read More
We welcome feedback on the ICT-KM News, so please feel free to contact us at ictkm@cgiar.org