OSGeo signs Memorandum of Understanding with CGS Nottingham
- Nottingham, UK ,September 22, 2010
The Open Source Geospatial Foundation (OSGeo) and the Centre for Geospatial Science (CGS), University of Nottingham have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the establishment of an Open Source Geospatial Lab (OSGL) and to develop collaboration opportunities for academia, industry and government organisations in open source GIS software and data in the UK.
Professor Mike Jackson, Director of the Centre of Geospatial Science,
said "The MOU between OSGeo and the Centre for Geospatial Science at the
University of Nottingham is an indication of the close collaboration
between the two organisations which has already underpinned two very
successful Conferences on open source research in the geospatial domain.
CGS is funding two research internships to help progress joint research
activities and welcomes both offers of funding for further internee
sponsorships and approaches from potential visiting scientists who may
wish to spend a period of time based at the Centre in Nottingham to work
on open source geospatial research."
Arnulf Christl, President of OSGeo, said, "The Foundation has
successfully achieved it's first primary goal: To support Free and Open
Source Software projects in the geospatial realm. One of the other two
pillars of the foundation is supporting education which is much harder
for a developer driven organization to achieve on it's own. Therefore
this Memorandum of Understanding with CGS is a great success from
OSGeo's point of view and will mark the start of an ongoing strong
partnership with academia. In the long run this will enhance education
and research in the Open Source geospatial realm in a broader context as
other institutes recognize the opportunity and join forces."
Tyler Mitchell, Executive Director of OSGeo said "Engaging academia at
several levels is crucial to meeting our common long term missions of
advancing open source geospatial technology. OSGeo's relationship with
CGS serves as a proactive template for how other institutions can also
engage with OSGeo at a more formal level. This will open up additional
exciting opportunities that we haven't even thought of yet."
The MOU provides for the establishment of a research laboratory for
supporting development of open-source geospatial software technologies,
training and expertise. It also provides provision of internship
opportunities for high quality students. An Advisory Board/Steering
Committee coordinated by the OSGeo Board and CGS, is to be setup and
will be comprised of key members of OSGeo, OSGeo:UK, eminent academics,
industry leaders, etc. to give strategic input and direction for Open
Source Geospatial Lab and its open source activities.
Internships
The first phase of internships are now released at http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/cgs/news/internships.aspx