Dear SDD interest group members!

Please do consider coming to TDWG 2007 in Bratislava! 

The following topics may be of interest to you:

============= 1. =============

A 90 minute session on Wednesday, 19 Sep called:
  "Descriptive model for analysis, identification, 
   description markup, and taxon pages"

As the name implies, analyses of all kind of descriptive data models are 
welcome, regardless whether they use SDD or not. Criticism of SDD version 1.1 
is also welcome. Due to the launching of the Encyclopedia of Life the taxon 
page topic is especially relevant.

Pleasse note that the SDD interest group is not just concerned with 
morphological data. Data useful for identification, genetic, or phylogenetic 
analyses are limited to morphology, and the interested group considers all that 
are inherent to a taxon (genetically or environmentally coded so they are 
stable. This includes molecular descriptive data like sequences or patterns, 
behavior, physiology, etc.

Stressing a general perspective both with regard to the kind of data and with 
regard to how the data are gathered and used will be important and welcome. In 
the light of the current parallel development of the SPM model, we need to 
assess whether separate models are needed for specific purposes, or whether a 
general model can be maintained as SDD presents currently.

If you whish to participate in this session, please send a rough draft (title 
and abstract may change later) to g.hagedorn@bba.de until 20th Juli.

Limited travel funds for students without funding may be available, covering 
one of transport costs, per diem (~US$71/night) or accommodation.


============= 2. =============

Existing applications of SDD are also welcome in further sessions on the 
following day, where two sessions are reserved for "Applications of TDWG 
standards".


============= 3. =============

On Saturday the SDD interest group will meet. Possible topics: 

 1. Which way ahead? XML-schema, natural language markup or RDF? 
    Are these combinable?
 2. Who wants to lead task groups for feature-vocabularies and ontologies?
 2. Which priorities may help to choose? 
 3. Usability of current SDD schema for natural language markup

Please add to this list or propose what you would consider to be most 
important.

Please note that Éamonn will hold a group discussion about the "Species
Profile Model" (previously known as "Taxon Data Model") during the 16.00-18.00 
slot on Tues 18th Sept. I suggest that people interested in SDD should also go 
to that meeting. I therefore propose a meeting on the last day (Saturday)

***If you are interested in in-depth discussion, please check your 
   travel plans and try to stay until Sept. 22nd, afternoon. Thanks! ***

============= 4. =============

We will try to have a "late-night show" (working group) on studying SDD and RDF 
on one evening, currently Tuesday. All SDD or RDF "experts" are welcome to 
that. 

It would probably make sense to suggest a separate task group for descriptive 
data in SPM? Can you have a name for it?

============= 4. =============

Thank you!

     Gregor Hagedorn