In January 1997 the REC will launch its Regional Environmental Experts Database (REED). The REC's newest database contains full profiles of approximately 1,000 Central and Eastern European environmental experts. The database will provide access to reliable independent sources for expert information on environmental topics and help bridge the gap between research and practical applications in problem-solving related to the environment. In addition the database will serve as a resource for collaboration between experts working in similar areas of research.
For each expert, in addition to the contact information, there is a detailed list of professional and research activities and a brief CV listing education, languages, publications, awards and memberships in professional societies. All of the above information was collected using a direct mail survey to over 4,000 organizations and environmental professionals. The expert profiles are continuously updated.
The criteria for inclusion in the database requires the individual to have a relevant university degree and extensive skills or knowledge in the environmental field with at least three years of professional experience in the field. The experts are from a variety of sectors, including academic institutions, businesses, governmental and non-governmental organization as well as independent individuals.
If you are looking for an expert, who can offer advice and assistance to help solve all kinds of environmental problems, you can search the database by pointing your Internet browser to:
http://www.rec.org/REC/Databases/REED/
or if you qualify as an expert and would like to help, you can add your profile to the REED expert database at:
http://www.rec.org/REC/Databases/REED/REEDAdd.html
The REED Database can be easily searched using simple and advanced search screens. You can specify a particular country, name of expert or institution, languages spoken, key words and free text search. All of the expert profiles are keyworded using the UNEP Thesaurus of Environmental Terms listing over 200 terms. A hot-link to experts' home pages or gopher, ftp or telnet sites is also available.
If you do not have access to the Internet, but would like to use the service, you can request assistance or expert application forms by contacting Ivelin Roussev at REC Head Office, Tel: (36-26) 504-000, Fax: (36-26) 311-294, or E-mail: iroussev@rec.org.
Acknowledgment: In 1992 the Central and Eastern European Environmental Data Request Facility (CEDAR) originated this database.
