The Association of Professionals for Remote Sensing, GIS and Climate Change (ARGC) has been established, with the approval of competent authorities, under the ambit of Remote Sensing, GIS and Climatic Research Lab (RSGCRL), (National Center of GIS and Space Applications), Centre for Remote Sensing, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan. This guild of practitioners and specialists aims the promotion of knowledge, skills and capacity building through professional, institutional, industrial networking and linkages, laboratory networking, and partnerships, and collaborations at national and international levels in ever expanding domains of Remote Sensing, GIS and Climate Change. Taking advantage of the bigger umbrella of remote sensing, GIS and climate change, the scope of scientific domains under ARGC’s mandate include all possible related disciplines, and applications including and not limited to the fields of ecology, environmental pollution, resource management, disaster risk reduction, sustainable development, and socioeconomics of climate change. The geographical area of operation of ARGC shall be particularly Pakistan and in general, global.

This Association is established for the purpose of fostering professional and institutional networking at national, regional and global levels to promote research, development, and capacity building activities & programmes that directly or indirectly contribute to society for making solution-based understanding of climate change, environment, ecology and relate and relevant avenues, through the applications of remote sensing and GIS technologies.

The vision of ARGC is to strive actively for remote sensing and GIS based informed decision making for sustainable and climate resilient communities at local level in particular and global level in general.

The ARGC mission is to support, assist and promote remote sensing, GIS and climate change professionals and institutions to benefit society through networking and delivering informed decision making for achieving the goal of sustainable development.

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Promote research, education, and knowledge sharing in the related fields.

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Arrange talks, lectures, seminars, symposia, conferences and conventions on contemporary issues and challenges under the major relevant domains.

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Build capacity of member organizations by imparting trainings, sharing of resources and strengthening through membership base.

d)

Promote professional unity, relations, mutual understanding, tolerance and national outlook among the members, and for this purpose to organize social and cultural activities with relevant forums and bodies.

e)

Act as a forum for national / regional climate and to bring forward climate concerns to the attention of national and international authorities.

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To act in unison as a scientific face and stand behind the government authorities on highlighting climate related issues, both at national and international levels.

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Undertake all such appropriate activities as the Association may decide to achieve its objectives.

The knowledge domains for ARGC professionals and industries involved/engaged shall include and not limited to: Remote Sensing, GIS, Climate Change, Meteorology, Environmental Science, Ecology, Urban Studies, Disaster Management, Sustainable Development, and related fields

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Research, education and advocacy in the relevant knowledge domains of Association.

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Capacity building of professionals and members organizations in the relevant knowledge domains of Association.

c)

Participation in global climate forums and negotiations.

d)

Develop linkages and collaborate with local, regional, and international organizations, universities, networks, donors, and government/non-government organizations for research, technical and financial support.

All faculty members/professionals/students and registered organizations/industries who are related to or have interest in Remote Sensing, GIS, Climate Change, Meteorology, Environmental Science, Ecology, Urban Studies, Disaster Management, Sustainable Development, or related fields are eligible to become members of ARGC.

The members of the Association will be categorized as:

a)

Members: All the registered members such as faculty members, professionals, students, academic and professional organizations, industries, and others as decided by the ARGC Cabinet. This type of membership shall include Regular Members, Associate Members, Fellows, and other categories as decided by the Cabinet upon receiving the applications for membership.

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Honorary Members: Honorary member, Observer, Affiliate or Advisor, may be such person of distinction upon whom honorary membership may be conferred on the proposal of any two registered members and approved by the Cabinet.

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Registered members will have the right to vote in all meetings, to contest elections, to attend all functions and participate in all activities of the Association and would be entitled to all other rights and privileges which are conferred upon them by the Constitution.

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Honorary members may attend all the functions of the Association but can’t participate in the voting process.

c)

ARGC membership benefits include all of the technical information and knowledge, needed to connect professionals & industries, and learning, leadership & decision making opportunities to enhance the prospects for a better productive and result oriented career growth.

ARGC values and strongly supports and promote the development of our emerging professionals who are younger than 30 years.  The Outstanding Young Professional Award (YPA) recognizes an individual or individuals who are pursuing excellence in their careers and have made a valuable contribution to research and development. This award is presented annually on the recommendations of the consultative committee from the list of nominees.

ARGC Secretariat, Centre for Remote Sensing, University of the Punjab, Lahore 54590, Pakistan