Announcement
Issued by: International Society for Digital Earth (ISDE)
Closing Date for Submissions: 31 August, 2026
Submission Method: Send Proposal Form to isde@radi.ac.cn
The International Society for Digital Earth (ISDE) invites proposals for the establishment or renewal of Working Groups.
Working Group Mission:
Working Groups (WGs) are established to advance the scientific, technical, or policy aspects of the Digital Earth. They shall provide expert stewardship to support the Bureau and Council in areas requiring sustained strategic guidance. As long-term expert groups, they are tasked with synthesizing research, developing standards, and producing deliverables of long-term value to the Society.
This call is open to:
- Existing ISDE WGs to continue
- Interdisciplinary teams focusing on the Digital Earth related areas
- ISDE members or external partners (opportunities to engage external expertise and partners beyond ISDE) contributing to or aligning with the ISDE Strategic Frameworks or the Digital Earth Enablers (DEEs)
Indicative Priority Areas for Working Groups
WG proposals must clearly demonstrate how the proposed WG is positioned within ISDE Strategic Frameworks (See Annex-1) and how it might contribute to the DEEs (See Annex-2).
For example, the WG “Education and Capacity Building for Digital Earth” fits well into the Framework 10 “Digital Earth as a Learning and Empowerment Platform”, and contributes to the DEEs “Learning & Participation”. And the WG “Digitalization for Culture Heritage” highly fits into the Framework 11 “Digital Earth as a Cultural Memory and Storytelling Hub”, and contributes to the DEEs “Implementation” and “Learning & Participation”.
Working Group Structure and Operation
- WGs will be formally announced on the ISDE website and social media upon approval by the Council, and operated under Terms of Reference approved by the Council.
- WG chairs will be appointed by the President on the Bureau and Council advice, and coordinated by a relevant Vice President to ensure alignment with ISDE’s Frameworks and DEEs.
- WG membership is open to all ISDE members and partner organizations with broad participation and disciplinary diversity (partners should join ISDE as a member once the WG established).
- The Secretariat maintains a central register of all WGs and their outputs.
- WGs are expected to operate over multiple years, and provide structured advice for the Bureau and Council.
- Report regularly to the Secretariat and annually to the Council via the relevant Vice President or WG co-chairs.
Working Group Delegated Functions
- Advance collaborative research and technical innovation under the guidance of the responsible Vice President.
- Providing strategic inputs to the Council and Bureau.
- Contribute to ISDE reports, standards, and publications.
- Organize thematic workshops and special sessions at ISDE events as well as those co-organized by ISDE and other international organizations.
- Recommend formation of TFs and mobilize delivery for specific deliverables requiring concentrated effort.
Support for Working Groups
Approved WGs will receive:
- A dedicated page on the ISDE website
- Coordination support from the ISDE Secretariat (e.g., scheduling meetings, circulating minutes)
- The ability to convene workshops under the ISDE banner
- Eligible WG outputs will be considered for publication in the International Journal of Digital Earth or the Big Earth Data journal (subject to peer review).
- Enquiries
For questions or early-stage advice, please contact the ISDE Secretariat at isde@radi.ac.cn.
Working Group Proposal Include: (See Annex-3)
- Title
- Background
- Objective
- Proposed Co-chairs
- Initiated Members
- Council Liaison
- Secretary/Contact Person (if any)
- Terms of Reference
Submission & Evaluation Procedure
- Deadline for submission: 31 August, 2026
- How to submit:
Complete the ISDE Working Group Proposal (Annex-3) and send it to the ISDE Secretariat at isde@radi.ac.cn.
- Review process:
Proposals will be reviewed by the ISDE Bureau/Task Force for WG. Recommendations will be presented to the full Council for approval.
Annex-1 Digital Earth Thematic Frameworks
Annex-2: Mapping Frameworks to Digital Earth Enablers (DEEs)
Annex-3: Working Group Proposal
