Public Involvement Network News
Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.
The Earth Portal
The National Council for  Science and the Environment (NCSE) announced the launch of the Earth Portal  .  Earth Portal is a comprehensive, free and  dynamic resource for timely, objective, science-based information about the  environment built by a global community of environmental experts: educators,  physical, life, and social scientists, scholars, and professionals who have  joined together to communicate to the world.
.  Earth Portal is a comprehensive, free and  dynamic resource for timely, objective, science-based information about the  environment built by a global community of environmental experts: educators,  physical, life, and social scientists, scholars, and professionals who have  joined together to communicate to the world.
In contrast to information from anonymous sources with no quality control, the Earth Portal is created and governed by individuals and organizations that put their names behind their words and where attribution and expert-review for accuracy are fundamental.
The Earth Portal includes:
- Encyclopedia of Earth  has an initial 2,300 articles from over 700 experts from 46 countries, as well  as such content partners as the World Wildlife Fund and the United Nations  Environment Programme. The Encyclopedia is a means for the global scientific  community to come together to produce the first free, comprehensive  expert-driven information resource on the environment. The Encyclopedia  includes articles, e-books and reports, interactive maps, and biographies, and  will eventually be published in other major languages. Environmental scholars  and experts are invited to become contributors to the Encyclopedia. has an initial 2,300 articles from over 700 experts from 46 countries, as well  as such content partners as the World Wildlife Fund and the United Nations  Environment Programme. The Encyclopedia is a means for the global scientific  community to come together to produce the first free, comprehensive  expert-driven information resource on the environment. The Encyclopedia  includes articles, e-books and reports, interactive maps, and biographies, and  will eventually be published in other major languages. Environmental scholars  and experts are invited to become contributors to the Encyclopedia.
 
- Earth News  includes breaking news updates from many sources, with links from key words to  Encyclopedia articles, enabling readers to learn about the science behind the  headlines. includes breaking news updates from many sources, with links from key words to  Encyclopedia articles, enabling readers to learn about the science behind the  headlines.
 
- Earth Forum  allows the public to engage in discussions with experts, ask questions and get answers, and to participate in  community debates about issues that matter to them. allows the public to engage in discussions with experts, ask questions and get answers, and to participate in  community debates about issues that matter to them.
 
- Environment in Focus  provides an exploration of a major issue each week – energy, climate change,  environmental economics and other topics – led by a prominent expert in the  subject and involving articles, news, places, discussions, Q&A, interesting  facts, and more. provides an exploration of a major issue each week – energy, climate change,  environmental economics and other topics – led by a prominent expert in the  subject and involving articles, news, places, discussions, Q&A, interesting  facts, and more.
The National Council for  Science and the Environment  is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving the scientific basis  for environmental decision-making. The NCSE  specializes in programs that foster collaboration among diverse institutions,  communities and individuals. The Council works closely with those creating and  using environmental knowledge, including research, education, environmental,  and business organizations, as well as governmental bodies at all levels.
    is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving the scientific basis  for environmental decision-making. The NCSE  specializes in programs that foster collaboration among diverse institutions,  communities and individuals. The Council works closely with those creating and  using environmental knowledge, including research, education, environmental,  and business organizations, as well as governmental bodies at all levels. 
      While an  advocate for science and its use, the Council does not take positions on  environmental outcomes. This enables the Council to provide a neutral  forum for all.
  The NCSE  serves as secretariat for a growing Environmental Information Coalition of  environmental experts and organizations, which is building the Earth Portal. ManyOne Networks, an IT firm based  near San Jose, California, provided the engineering and  vision for the Earth Portal.
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