Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems
The Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems (EOLSS) is an integrated compendium of twenty one encyclopedias. The first Earth Summit of 1992, held in Rio de Janeiro, issued a document that is now famous as Agenda 21. This document refers to the Earth's life support systems, considering the whole of our planet as a grand intensive care unit that supports all forms of life (both natural and human-engineered systems). The EOLSS is based on this concept and the above definition of 'life support systems'. Unlike most encyclopedias, the contents of which are alphabetically arranged , EOLSS has a thematic organization (Theme Level, Topic Level and Article Level). It can be regarded as an 'encyclopedia of encyclopedias', presenting a wide range of major foundation subjects in a process of gradual development, from a broad overview to great detail. Subjects covered include Earth and Atmospheric Sciences; Biological, Physiological And Health Sciences; Mathematical sciences and Physical Sciences; Chemical Sciences; Water sciences and Engineering; Energy sciences and Engineering; Biotechnology; Tropical Biology and Conservation Management; Land Use, Land Cover And Soil Sciences; Control Systems, Robotics, and Automation; Environmental and ecological sciences, and Engineering; Food and Agricultural Sciences; Human Resources Policy , Development, and Management; Natural Resources Policy; Development and Economic Sciences; Ships and Offshore Structures; Regional Sustainable Development; Social Sciences and Humanities; Institutional, Infrastructural Resources and Desalination and Water Resources.