AOGEO Training Workshop Held in Bangladesh to Enhance South Asia's Climate Resilience

The AOGEO 2025 International Capacity Building Training Workshop, entitled "Climate Adaptation and Resilience through Earth Observation in the South Asian Region," was held in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on April 12-13, 2025. 

This event was co-hosted by the China Science and Technology Exchange Center (CSTEC) which also serves as the host unit of the China Secretariat of the Group on Earth Observations (GEO), in collaboration with the Asia-Oceania Group on Earth Observations (AOGEO), and the AOGEO Regional Center for Capacity Development (AOGEO-RCCD). It was jointly organized by the Aerospace Information Research Institute (AIR) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Jagannath University, and BRAC University. The event also received support from international partners, including the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and the UN-SPIDER Beijing Office.

Guests from the CSTEC, the GEO Secretariat, AOGEO, AIR, Jagannath University, BRAC University and other organizations attended the opening ceremony and delivered speeches.

Director General GAO Xiang of the CSTEC emphasized that 2025 marks both the 20th anniversary of the GEO and a critical turning point in GEO's transformation under its new decadal strategy. He highlighted the importance of collaborative action in building an inclusive and equitable Earth intelligence ecosystem and reaffirmed the GEO China Secretariat's commitment to partnering with South Asian institutions to strengthen regional EO capabilities.

CHU Wenbo, Programme Officer at the GEO Secretariat, noted that young professionals are not only innovative users of Earth observation data but also drivers of sustainable development. She expressed hope that the workshop would foster knowledge exchange and cultivate EO talent in South Asia, ultimately contributing to climate adaptation, disaster resilience, and environmental sustainability.

Professor GU Xingfa, Chinese Co-Chair of AOGEO, highlighted AOGEO's ongoing efforts to coordinate EO data, technologies, and talent across the Asia-Oceania region. He underscored that this 10th AOGEO training event—and the fifth organized by AOGEO-RCCD—represents a long-term commitment to capacity building, particularly in empowering young scientists to use EO technologies to address climate challenges.

Professor Rezaul Karim from the Jagannath University emphasized the urgent need for EO solutions in South Asia, one of the regions most vulnerable to climate change. He expressed optimism that the workshop, through knowledge sharing and best practices, would elevate EO application capacity across the region.

The two-day workshop featured training sessions in areas such as disaster monitoring and ecological and environmental protection, with the goal of equipping young scientists in South Asia with the skills and tools necessary to leverage Earth observation (EO) for sustainable development. 30 young scholars from 26 government departments and universities in Bangladesh attended the training in person, while over 170 participants from 16 countries, such as Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Australia, Ethiopia, and Yemen, joined online.

The AOGEO 2025 Capacity Building Training Workshop marks a significant step toward strengthening international cooperation, enhancing regional EO capabilities, and building a resilient future for South Asia through science and innovation.

photos on the workshop. (Image by AIR)