(First Circular) 　　

　　November 5-6，2018    Beijing · CHINA 

　　1.       Background 

　　The Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region extends 3,500 km over all or part of eight countries from Afghanistan in the west to Myanmar in the east. It is the source of ten large Asian river systems, the Amu Darya, Indus, Ganges, Brahmaputra (Yarlungtsanpo), Irrawaddy, Salween (Nu), Mekong (Lancang), Yangtse (Jinsha), Yellow River (Huanghe), and Tarim (Dayan), and provides water, ecosystem services, and the basis for livelihoods to a population of around 210.53 million people in the region. The basins of these rivers provide water to 1.3 billion people, a fifth of the world’s population. The Himalayan range alone has the total snow and ice cover of 35,110 sq.km containing 3,735 cu.km of eternal snow and ice. Hills and mountains, particularly the Hindu Kush Himalaya mountain system, have always constituted places where adaptation, mitigation, and resilience are hallmarks of the people and the landscape they inhabit. Since time immemorial, the people of the Himalaya have maintained a rich cultural diversity, and have maintained food security and biogenetic diversity within the parameters of their own tradition. 

　　Due to this trans-boundary interconnectedness of natural resources and its high relevance in regional stability and sustainable and inclusive growth, regional cooperation is imperative in the management and development of natural resources. In order to create opportunities for young scientists and scholars in the region to exchange their knowledge and experience and promote regional cooperation, the one day workshop organized by the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS), and co-organized by Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environments, Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Himalayan University Consortium (HUC) will be a session of “Belt and Road Forum, CAS” on 5-6 November, 2018. 

　　The Second International Science Forum of National Scientific Organizations on the Belt and Road Initiatives is to be held by Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) with “S&T cooperation and sustainable development for the Belt and Road Region” as the theme. The 2018 International Workshop for Young Scientists of the HKH is incorporated in the Session on capacity building, personal training and basic scientific research, with purpose to provide a platform for the young students, researchers and university and research institute administrators to exchange ideas for better collaborations. 

　　2.       Theme of Workshop 

　　The workshop will be focused on climate change and sustainable development in HKH region. The major topics will include:  

　　l Climate change 

　　l Disaster risk reduction  

　　l Biodiversity and stable ecosystem 

　　l Water resources 

　　l Livelihoods and poverty reduction 

　　l Regional development 

　　l Education and knowledge dissemination 

　　3.       Milestone 

　　4.       Workshop Location 

　　Yanqihu Campus, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China 

　　5.       About the Workshop 

　　This workshop aims at providing a unique opportunity for early career scholars in the HKH to interact with their peers in the Hindu Kush Himalayan region, share their research experience, and cultivate collegial partnership and lay foundation for future leadership in the region. Participants are Phd students, scientists and engineers mainly from countries in Resilient Hindu Kush Himalaya. Some scientists and outstanding PhD students will be invited for keynote presentation. We are expecting over 60 participants. 

　　6.       Paper submission and Registration 

　　Participants are invited to submit papers on research and findings related to the theme of this workshop. Accepted papers will be published in the proceedings of “2018 International Workshop for Young Scientists of the HKH”. A selection of outstanding papers will be recommended to Journal of Mountain Sciences (Impact Factor: 1.017) for publication. 

　　The format can be found in the Appendix of this announcement. 

　　7.       Organizer Team 

　　Hosted by:  

　　University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS) 

　　Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environments, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IMHE) 

　　Co-Organized by: 

　　Bureau of International Co-operation Chinese Academy of Sciences 

　　International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) 

　　Chinese Committee on International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (CNICIMOD) 

　　Professor Wang Yanfen, UCAS 

　　Professor David Molden, ICIMOD  

　　Chairman: Professor Wu Yanhong, CNICIMOD & IMHE 

　　Vice Chairman: Professor Chi Huyen Truong, HUC ICIMOD 

　　Members: 

　　Contact 

　　China: 

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