SCIENTIFIC NETWORKING AND THE GLOBAL HEALTH SUPERCOURSE FOR THE PREVENTION OF THREAT FROM MAN MADE AND NATURAL DISASTERS Kaunas, Lithuania, August 2005 Faina Linkov, PhD Postdoctoral Research Associate Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh

The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) is an alliance of 26 countries from North America and Europe committed to fulfilling the goals of the North Atlantic Treaty signed on 4 April In accordance with the Treaty, the fundamental role of NATO is to safeguard the freedom and security of its member countries by political and military means. NATO is playing an increasingly important role in crisis management and peacekeeping.

Supercourse in NATO countries and Specialized Supercourses: Opportunities for Collaboration

Kiev, Ukraine Very special welcome to Boris, Natalia and Natalia!!!!

My journey of quality control: dissertation work and beyond BCE-Aristotle and the birth of peer review 19 th century – birth of quality control discipline W. Edwards Deming and statistical quality control 1970’s- Total Quality Management (TQM) 2005 –Quality on the Epidemiological / disaster lectures on the Internet

What brings us here today? Biological Weapon Production Facilities in the Former Soviet Union From lecture #700 by Igor Linkov(

Supercourse and disaster epidemiology: lectures from US, Cuba, Iran, and Latin America, and Japan

Supercourse participants in NATO countries NATO countries— over 8000 NATO partner countries- over 200 Mediterranean dialogue countries-over 100

Our aim: bridging the gap between academic epidemiologists and disaster educators/community practitioners locally and in the developing world

From Papyrus to PowerPoint: Evolution of Disaster Information Communications 200 BC Papyrus 1500 AD Paper and Printed Books 1995 Electronic Books August 8, 2005 PowerPoint- information sharing is now easy

What are we capturing now and what do we want to capture in the future? Prevention Mitigation Collaboration Networking

Globalization of Information Sharing Technology and E-Science Implications & Recommendations

 It is important to note that globalization has led to rapid information sharing between countries.  As research becomes increasingly global, there is a growing need to address information access and sharing issues.  Access and sharing of information are essential for the conduct and advancement of science.  Research data and information should be openly available to the maximum extent possible.  The sharing of information involves providing specific access, whereas the act of providing access by itself does not necessarily involve any sharing arrangement.  Technological collaboration is perhaps the most striking feature of globalization.

 Information & Communication Technologies (ICTs) are rapidly transforming the world of research.  Science depends on free access to information and exchange of ideas.  E-science defined as increased access via the Internet to distributed resources and to global collaboration. Open access  E-Science Digital output of scientific research  High speed computer networks grew to connect larger and larger numbers of researchers.  The use of collaborative technologies to support geographically distributed scientific research or collaboration is accepted widely in many parts of the world.

 The process of globalization & modern technological innovation appear to be reinforcing each other.  Decreased information sharing could impede the systematic accumulation of scientific knowledge.  Supercourse is a successful demonstration of information sharing and e-science.  For example, supercourse development in Egypt characterized by increased awareness among individuals and institutions, and increased lectures together with establishing a mirror site for easier access & sharing of information through Supercourse in Egypt.  There are important recommendations regarding: * Multi-disciplinary Collaboration * Training & Education * R&D

Specialized Supercourses Networks and lecture libraries within the parent Supercourse

Former Soviet Union (FSU) Supercourse FSU network has 550 participants from all of the 15 FSU countries. 15 health profiles 260 lectures

Islamic Supercourse Abdullatif Husseini MS MPH PhD Over 100 members 10 lectures

Pakistani network 620 members 97 lectures

Indian Heritage Network Indian network 500 members and 76 lectures Headed by Mita Lovalekar

Global Pit and Global NATO Supercourse: Act locally, Think globally Network of international health collaborations