Distinguished Guests, Ladies, and Gentlemen:

On behalf of Taiwan Group on Earth Observations (TGEO), I am delighted to welcome you all to the Sixth International Conference on Earth Observations and Social Impacts, ICEO&SI 2016. This conference is jointly hosted by National Taiwan Ocean University (NTOU) and TGEO. The success of the conference ultimately depends on many people who have worked hard with us in planning and organizing both the program and supporting all the other arrangements. In particular, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to NTOU for the excellent preparation of the program, venue, and many festive activities. Meanwhile, I appreciate very much the sponsors of the ICEO&SI 2016, who make it possible for gathering us here.
 
The ICEO&SI was initiated by the TGEO in 2010 and has become an annual platform for the people who care about the sustainable development of the earth to exchange and share knowledge and experiences; essentially to find the solutions to resolve the threats the human beings are facing nowadays; and to provide the solutions to the policy makers for further actions. Ten areas of critical importance to the sustainability of global environment and societal welfare of our concerns include Natural Disasters, Health, Energy, Climate Change, Ecosystems, Agriculture, Biodiversity, Water Resources, Meteorology, and related industries, which are of great concern by the people, governments, and private sectors, as well as the Group on Earth Observations. The great intellectual works accumulated from ICEO&SIs have been turned into publications of journal special issues, such as Journal of Marine Science and Technology, Advances in Meteorology, Terrestrial, Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, Sustainable Environment Research, Remote Sensing, Atmospheric Research, … etc. 

Till today, more than 1000 academics, researchers, engineers and students from 20 countries all had wonderful time at the previous annual ICEO&SI conferences where distinguished experts delivered keynote/session keynote speeches, including Nobel Laureate Yuan-Tseh Lee, Minister without Portfolio Shin-Cheng Yeh, academicians of national or international academies, …etc. Therefore, I believe ICEO&SI 2016 will inherit the successful experience and bring every participant an even better scenario of international symposium. 

Finally, on behalf of TGEO, I hereby express my wholehearted thanks to all the organizers and everyone who contributes efforts to this conference. I wish all the participants a very pleasant stay at this beautiful harbor city, Keelung and overall success of the ICEO&SI 2016.

 
Dr. Yuei-An Liou
President, Taiwan Group on Earth Observations (TGEO)
President, Taiwan GIS Center (TGIC)
Distinguished Professor, National Central University
Academician, AES and IAA