Forums

Forums are informal and free debates among some fifteen to twenty-five high-level participants on open questions of scientific nature or science policy matters. Forums do not necessarily lead to formal recommendations or decisions. They are generally held once a year at ISSI for two days.

Forum on "ISSI/ESRIN Earth Science Project"

Date: 11 and 12 May 2009 at ISSI, Bern, Switzerland

Purpose: The Earth Science Project addresses topics of interdisciplinary character in relation to the ESA’s Living Planet program and the International Polar Year (IPY). The purpose of the Forum is to analyze the results of the different activities of Phase 1 which will allow the evaluation of the progress made in the study of the respective areas and of the future needs and potential developments. The debates and additional contributions shall lead to the identification of the foci of Phase 2. Participation in this Forum is by invitation only.

List of participants >

Preliminary Agenda of the Forum on "ISSI/ESRIN Earth Science Project" >

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Forum on "The Future of Magnetospheric Research"

Date: 24 and 25 March 2009 at ISSI, Bern, Switzerland

Purpose: Initiated by a discussion at the COSPAR meeting in Montreal, the purpose of the Forum is to identify the big open questions in our understanding of the physics of Earth's magnetosphere. In particular, are the basic physical processes well enough understood after five decades of intense research activity? Has research progressed to the point where the predictive ability concerning the Earth's space environment is close to reality? We shall also aim to discuss what prospects there are of answering them, and by what means. As a byproduct, the discussions would naturally also lead to the identification of one or more, possibly linked themes for future ISSI workshops on this subject that has been of prime importance in ISSI's history. Participation in this Forum is by invitation only.

List of Participants >

Agenda of the Forum "The Future of Magnetospheric Research" >

Pictures of the Forum on the Future of Magnetospheric Research 24/25 March 2009