ENCYCLOPEDIA OF
LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEMS (EOLSS)An Integrated Compendium of Twenty One Encyclopedias
EOLSS is regarded as the World’s largest professional publication — a virtual dynamic library with high quality,
state-of-the-art peer reviewed content, developed under the auspices of the United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) carrying contributions from thousands of scholars from over
100 countries and edited by well over 300 subject experts, for a wide audience: pre-university/university
students, educators, professional practitioners, informed specialists, researchers, policy analysts, managers,and decision makers. A source of knowledge for sustainable development and global security to lead tofulfillment of human needs through simultaneous socio-economic and technological progress andconservation of the Earth’s natural systems. This archive is now available at http://www.eolss.net as anintegrated compendium of twenty one component encyclopedias:
1. EARTH AND ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES
2. MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES
3. BIOLOGICAL, PHYSIOLOGICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES
4. BIOTECHNOLOGY
5. LAND USE, LAND COVER AND SOIL SCIENCES
6. TROPICAL BIOLOGY AND CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT
7. SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES
8. PHYSICAL SCIENCES, ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES
9. CONTROL SYSTEMS, ROBOTICS AND AUTOMATION
10. CHEMICAL SCIENCES ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES
11. WATER SCIENCES, ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES
12. DESALINATION AND WATER RESOURCES (DESWARE)
13. ENERGY SCIENCES, ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES
14. ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECOLOGICAL SCIENCES, ENGINEERING ANDTECHNOLOGY RESOURCES
15. FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES, ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGYRESOURCES
16. HUMAN RESOURCES POLICY, DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT
17. NATURAL RESOURCES POLICY AND MANAGEMENT
18. DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC SCIENCES
19. INSTITUTIONAL AND INFRASTRUCTURAL RESOURCES
20. TECHNOLOGY, INFORMATION AND SYSTEM MANAGEMENT RESOURCES
21. AREA STUDIES (Africa, Brazil, Canada and USA, China, Europe, Japan, Russia)

Within these twenty one on-line encyclopedias, there are hundreds of Themes, each ofwhich has been compiled under the editorial supervision of a recognized world expert ora team of experts such as an International Commission specially appointed for thepurpose. Each of these 'Honorary Theme Editors' was responsible for selection andappointment of authors to produce the material specified by EOLSS. On average each
Theme contains about thirty chapters. It deals in detail with interdisciplinary subjects, but
it is also disciplinary, as each major core subject is covered in great depth by world
experts.
EOLSS is the result of an unprecedented global effort involving over 300 Subject Editorsand over 10000Authors from over 100 countries. From 1996 thousands of scientists,
engineers and policy-makers began meeting just to define the scope of the project,
before discussing the details of the contributions. Regional workshops were held inWashington DC, Tokyo, Moscow, Mexico City, Beijing, Panama, Abu Sultan (Egypt), andKuala Lumpur, to develop a list of possible subjects and debate analytical approaches fortreating them.

UNESCO-EOLSS JOINT COMMITTEEThe EOLSS project is coordinated by the UNESCO-EOLSS Joint Committee(http://www.eolss.net/eolss_international.aspx) and sponsored by Encyclopedia of Life
Support Systems (EOLSS). Through many and diverse consultation meetings around theworld, the EOLSS has benefited immensely from the academic, intellectual, and scholarly
advice of each and every member of a large International Editorial Council(http://www.eolss.net/eolss_international.aspx), which includes Nobel and UN Kalinga
Laureates, World Food Prize Laureates, and several fellows of academies of science andengineering of countries throughout the world.

INTERNATIONAL EDITORIAL COUNCIL (IEC)The EOLSS International Editorial Council was established thus: Board of General Advisors(BGA), Honorary Editorial Advisory Board (HEAB), and Honorary Academic Editorial Board(HAEB) as a large editorial advisory body with several hundreds of expert members chosen
to advice on the development of the Encyclopedia. The Configuration Control Board is ahigh-level body with membership chosen from the International Editorial Council (IEC).
Several individuals advised and contributed to the development of the EOLSS Body ofKnowledge through meetings, discussions and communications.

A SAMPLE OF OPINIONS ON THE EOLSS PROJECTDistinguished Persons“Scientific curiosity and technological endeavors are deeply rooted aspects of human nature.
They are responsible for the development of human society and welfare. But they are also
responsible for much of the environmental problems we are facing today. Solutions for theseshortcomings are inconceivable without full scientific and technological support. EOLSS has
the goal to provide a firm knowledge base for future activities to prolong the lifetime of thehuman race in a hospitable environment.” Richard R. Ernst, Nobel Laureate- Chemistry“The EOLSS is not only appropriate, but it is imaginative and, to my knowledge, unique. Muchof what we can write about science, about energy, about our far-ranging knowledge base,can indeed be found in major encyclopedias, but as I understand your vision, never as acentral theme; the theme of humanity, embedded in nature and constrained to find ways ofmaintaining a relationship with nature based upon understanding and respect.” Leon M.
Lederman, Nobel Laureate in Physics“The population of our planet and its development over the ages sets the scene forconsidering all global problems and it is reasonable to begin their discussion with population
growth. … Thus we are dealing with an interdisciplinary problem in an attempt to describe thetotal human experience, right from its very beginning. But without this perspective of time it is
not possible to objectively assess what is happening today and provide an objective view ofthe present state of development, the challenge now facing humanity.” S.P. Kapitza,
UNESCO Kalinga Prize Winner“In the coming decades, the need for working together, across countries, is essential. We
need to bring 3 billion poor into society and make it possible for them to lead healthy lives, toget the health interventions that we all take as something as self-evident. It can be done. It iswithin reach. We need to invest in the future. We need to invest in the health of all people
worldwide.” Gro Harlem Brundtland, Director General, WHO, in an interview with Patricia
Morales

UNESCO-EOLSS Secrétariat, UNESCO, SC/PSD-1,
1 rue Miollis, 75732 Paris Cedex 15, France.
E-mail: unescoeolss@unesco.org
Encyclopaedia of Life Support Systems (EOLSS).
e-mail: eolssunesco@eolssonline.net / eolssunesco@gmail.com
https://www.eolss.net