GEO Dialogue Series – Concept Description
By Bente Lilja Bye and Marie-Françoise Voidrot
Introduction
The GEO Dialogue Series is an innovative online engagement format developed within the Group on Earth Observations (GEO) community over several years. The dialogues are part of the work of the GEO Data and Knowledge Working Group and aim to advocate for and increase understanding of the GEO Data Sharing and Data Management Principles as well as the GEO Open Knowledge Statement.
The purpose of the dialogue series is to strengthen knowledge exchange within the global Earth observation community by bringing together data providers, scientists, practitioners, and users of Earth observation information. Through these exchanges, the dialogues help capture user needs while also learning from real-world experiences of using Earth observation data in different domains such as science, policy, monitoring, and decision-making.
The GEO Dialogues are designed to support other GEO activities by creating a space where experiences, challenges, and solutions related to data sharing, data management, interoperability, and knowledge exchange can be discussed openly.
What Makes a GEO Dialogue Different
A GEO Dialogue is different from a traditional webinar, seminar, workshop, training session, or online course.
Rather than focusing primarily on one-way presentations, the dialogue format is designed to stimulate interaction, reflection, and community learning. Short presentations, audience engagement tools, and guided discussion help create a more dynamic exchange between speakers and participants.
The aim is not only to present information but also to encourage discussion, gather community insights, and strengthen collaboration within the GEO ecosystem and beyond, over all the thematic domains, the diverse the stakeholders profiles and the GEO regions.
GEO Online Dialogue Format
A typical GEO Dialogue follows a structured but interactive format.
Duration
Approximately 90 minutes
Presentations
3–5 speakers
7–10 minute presentations
Each presentation focuses on a specific perspective or experience related to the dialogue topic
Storyline
Each dialogue follows an overall theme and narrative, where the presentations collectively explore different aspects of the topic.
Polls
Simple audience polls are integrated during the presentations to maintain engagement and gather feedback.
Poll questions should be quick and easy to answer (for example: Yes / No / Maybe). Even simple polls provide valuable insights about the audience and can help guide further community engagement.
Moderated Discussion
A set of prepared questions helps deepen the discussion following the presentations. These questions aim to:
- Clarify key messages from the speakers
- Encourage audience participation
- Capture experiences and perspectives from the community
Chat and Resources
Relevant links, documents, and references are shared in the chat during the session to add value and provide participants with additional resources.
Why Short Presentations (7–10 Minutes)
The short presentation format is a deliberate design choice that supports the goals of the dialogue.
It helps to:
- Maintain the attention and engagement of the audience
- Encourage speakers to focus on the essence of their experience or knowledge
- Allow more speakers to participate, supporting GEO’s commitment to diversity and inclusion
- Enable a wider range of perspectives and disciplines to be represented
- Facilitate community expansion and networking around topics such as data sharing, data management, and open knowledge
By combining short presentations with interactive discussion, the GEO Dialogue format creates an effective way to engage the global Earth observation community and strengthen collaboration around GEO principles and initiatives.