VIENNA, 14 September (UN Information Service) – The United Nations will hold a Symposium on Data Analysis and Image Processing for Space Applications and Sustainable Development: Space Weather in Graz, Austria, from 18 to 21 September 2012, as the first in a new series of annual symposia that will address the use of space-derived data analysis- and image processing tools in support of sustainable development.

Organized by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), in cooperation with the Government of Austria and supported by the European Space Agency (ESA), the 2012 Symposium focuses on Space Weather data, a timely topic in light of the predicted maximum solar activity during the 2012-2013 period, and the impact that it could have globally. It aims at promoting an active cooperation among the various data collection networks, easier use of specific data collections for better understanding of space weather and solar-terrestrial interactions, and identification of joint activities at the international level in leveraging space weather data.

As 2012 is the year of the Rio+20 Summit and the initiation of discussions for a post-2015 global development agenda, this Symposium series will consider how space-based data help address or monitor the various sustainable development goals and targets, as set by the United Nations and its Member States, in achieving a sustainable future for our planet.

The programme and related information are available on UNOOSA website: http://www.unoosa.org/oosa/SAP/act2012/graz/index.html

For further information, please contact:

Otto Koudelka
JOANNEUM RESEARCH Forschungsgesellschaft mbH, DIGITAL
Telephone: (+43-316) 876-1602
Mobile: (+43-664) 602-876-1602
Email: otto.koudelka[at]joanneum.at
or
Romana Kofler
United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs
Telephone: (+43-1) 26060-4962
Email: romana.kofler[at]unoosa.org

United Nations Information Service Vienna (UNIS Vienna)
P.O.Box 500
1400 Vienna
Austria
Tel.: (+43-1) 26060-4666
Fax: (+43-1) 26060-7-5899
Email: unis@unvienna.org
Website: http://www.unis.unvienna.org