This is the second ILR@40 update with information on what’s happening – plans, progress and how you can contribute (see update 1).

The main activity is a conference in two parts.

The first part is in Nairobi on 1 October. It comprises a high-profile scientific conference with participation from the Kenyan Cabinet Secretary for agricuture, livestock and fisheries together with selected external participants in the morning. It is followed by campus tours and exhibits after lunch, then a cocktail with alumni in the evening. These activities are open to ALL staff in Nairobi. Please tell us if you plan to attend (by 26 September). If you have ideas or suggestions, please contact Joyce Maru, chair of the task force.

The second part is in Addis Ababa on 6 and 7 November (following the ILRI Board meeting). This is invitation-only and we hope all IRMC members will attend. Parallel session organizers (day 2) have been asked to also identify other scientists from ILRI who need to attend. Invitations will be sent out in the coming week.  Please register before 24 October.

Addis family day

Immediately after the Addis event, on 8 November, a Task Force headed by Azage Tegegne will organize a ‘family day’ for staff, former staff, and families in Ethiopia. We hope all staff in Ethiopia will be able to join as well as some dignitaries and other participants from the 6 and 7 November conference. Please tell us if you plan to attend (by 24 October). If you have ideas or suggestions, please contact Meron Mulatu.

Side and other special events

Between now and the end of November, we are also organizing several side events at conferences organized by our partners and we will host gatherings in several country and regional offices. The idea is to bring our ILRI@40 messages and questions to wider audiences while also interacting and connecting with our partners and former staff and students. Information on each event is at http://40.ilri.org – we will also be reporting on discussions and results across our blogs, social media channels, yammer and elsewhere. You should be able to follow this using the hashtag #ilri40

Get involved!

Many people are already involved in planning and delivering the various events and activities.  We also need additional help and information from you:

1. Please register your interests (click the link).
2. Please join our Linkedin group and join the conversation.
3. We have sent information on these events and the Linkedin group to many former staff and students.  However, our lists are incomplete so please help us by passing this message on to any former staff or students you know.  Invite them to join the Linkedin group. Ask them to complete the surveymonkey page. We are similarly seeking your help to let any of your key partners or donors know what is happening. Point them to the http://40.ilri.org web pages.
4. Contribute to either of the Addis and Nairobi conferences and family day. Besides the scientific part, we look for help with displays, posters, exhibits, tours and the like. We have set aside space for staff, or teams of staff, to share their work so bring your ideas to the tables. Nadine (n.n.sanginga@cgiar.org) can help you.
5. Finally, we have started an exercise in Addis to identify and digitize some of the old ILCA and ILRI photos we have in our archives. If you have any older photos of ILRI and its work, please share them with us. We can arrange digitization as needed.  Contact Liya Dejene (dejene@cgiar.org) for help.