LEADnet Team | Information
Systems | About this website
About LEADnet 
I. LEADnet and the
LEAD Program:
A principal challenge
facing decision-makers in all countries is the promulgation of policies
and practices which integrate environmentally sustainable development
and improve the quality of life for all people. An initiative designed
to address this challenge must transcend traditional boundaries - those
between disciplines, nationalities, cultures, and generations - and will
require innovative thought and sensitive, creative management for
development and implementation. Leadership for Environment and
Development (LEAD) is designed to stimulate this type of
interdisciplinary thinking, to expand management options, and to develop
information resources between a wide range of persons. Specifically,
LEAD assists talented professionals in confronting circumstances in
their own countries and improves their ability to work together across
national and regional boundaries to advance environmentally sound
development.
LEAD International provides technical and curriculum support to the LEAD
programs in Brazil, Canada, China, Europe, CIS, Francophone Africa,
India, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan and Southern Africa.
A primary service provided by LEAD is the administration and maintenance
of a computer network system called LEADnet. Designed to share the
greatest amount of quality information among the widest diversity of
people, LEADnet links the LEAD national programs and its associates via
nodes on the global Internet. LEAD associates, national directors, and
faculties can use LEADnet to gain access to global and regional
information and to communicate with their national and international
colleagues. Sustaining these interpersonal networks is crucial to assure
access to ideas and information - and to foster educational exchange.
LEADnet has established an electronically-networked LEAD community where
environment and development information can also be shared openly by the
worldwide Internet users. A useful way of conceptualizing LEADnet is in
two distinct, but integrated, components: a physical configuration of
communication methods, devices and processes, or rather, LEADnet as a
network; and a corpus of information resources distributed over the
network, i.e., LEADnet as an information system. LEADnet's dual
relationship enables it to serve as a host for a variety of user
resources designed to aid in interdisciplinary learning and
decision-making, computer literacy, environment and development
education, and professional networking.
II. The Importance of Information Resources and Communications
As outlined in Agenda 21 of the June 1992 United Nations Conference on
Environment and Development (UNCED), information resource technology,
interdisciplinary training, and collaborative initiatives are major
factors in establishing fundamental environmental change. Because they
can constrained by their location and/or access to materials,
professionals in developing regions are often unable to receive and
exchange practical information. The accessibility and exchange of
high-quality resource information is crucial as we attempt to progress
toward a more sustainable future based upon environmentally sound and
equitable development.
The need for an interdisciplinary approach to environment and
development was echoed by many in the 1992 UNCED meeting. From its
inception, the LEAD program has emphasized interdisciplinary learning as
the core of its national and international curriculum. As a result, LEAD
Associates are selected by their national programs and are chosen from a
variety of sectors such as media, government, industry, academia, and
non-governmental organizations.
With the help of LEADnet, LEAD supports a wide range of multi-sectoral
learning techniques that emphasize practical and participatory
activities. LEADnet provides access to integrated case studies, both
from Associates' countries and around the world. These studies are
chosen to illuminate real situations and the consequences of real
decisions in the multi-disciplinary and interactive context of
underlying ecological and human processes and systems. LEADnet also
support the dissemination of lectures, seminars, bibliographies and
private study materials to LEAD associates and affiliates.
Both Agenda 21 and LEAD are in favor of developing joint initiatives
designed to address common environment and development issues.
Collaborative efforts can play a key role in developing and sustaining
inter-regional decision-making. LEADnet enables users to establish and
maintain relationships with other professionals throughout the world to
enable successful collaborative efforts between and within regions.
Current LEAD associates and fellows are encouraged to develop an
action-oriented, inter-sectoral awareness. The ultimate objective is to
strengthen the associates understanding and application of
interdisciplinary solutions in their various professions.
Therefore, in accordance with the principles outlined by Agenda 21,
LEADnet has been created to contribute to progressive change in
ecosystem analysis by bridging the data gap between the North and the
South, transferring technological "know-how," establishing
communication networks, and strengthening the problem-solving capability
of individuals and their communities.
III. Implementation of LEADnet
Using present telecommunication and computer technologies, LEADnet is
attempting to close the information gap between individuals and
institutions in developing areas and their global neighbors. LEADnet has
been designed to ensure equitable access to new ideas and technologies.
LEADnet operates from one primary Internet node in London As a result,
each LEAD country will have access to LEADnet's primary node through
their country nodes. LEAD International, based in London, can be thought
of as a LEADnet Service Center (LNSC) and is dedicated to facilitating
network administration and the systematic implementation of LEADnet in
all the National and Regional Programs.
Instead of creating a centralized system - operated solely by the
London - LEADnet transfers information and communications
technology directly to indigenous staff in LEAD Brazil, Canada, China,
CIS,Europe,Francophone Africa, India, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Nigeria,
Pakistan and Southern Africa. Each National Program is staffed by a LEADnet
Coordinator who is responsible for implementing and maintaining the
LEADnet system in his/her respective country or region. Each LEADnet
Coordinator is trained to help to solidify systematic and compatible
approaches in implementing the LEAD program.
As part of the LEAD program, each Associate receives assistance in
gaining access to the Internet through their national or regional nodes.
Associates may utilize the LEADnet services in the following manner:
A. General Information Retrieval and Exchange
1.Online search: Associates without direct Internet access can send
their inquire to the local LEADnet Coordinator who will perform the
information retrieval using the Internet and return it to the Associate
via e-mail. Associates with full Internet access can search the Internet
directly or follow the link from the LEAD web sites to find information
related to the Program.
2.Users may broadcast
(allcohorts) his/her information inquiries to other LEADnet members
and/or to the Internet where users who have access to the information
requested may assist in the response. This will strengthen the LEADnet
community -- broadening the perspective and educational exchange of each
user. National/Regional Program Directors (NRPDs) and LEADnet
Coordinators also encourage users to assist in these inquiries and
network with each other.
Information
Systems:
The following are some of
the information systems LEADnet maintains to facilitate communications
and access to information:
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