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February 2026

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Public review of Darwin Core conceptual model and data package extended
by Stan Blum 20 Mar '26

20 Mar '26

Discussion of the Darwin Core Data Packages (DwC-DP) proposal has ticked up over the last few weeks, so the ongoing public comment period will continue beyond the originally announced 90 days, which would have ended on December 15. If you are unfamiliar with the functioning of public comment periods for vocabulary changes, please review Section 3.3.2 of the Vocabulary Maintenance specification <https://tdwg.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=50f3cc44307841383062ca0d6&id…>. To summarize briefly, if there is dissent about a proposal, the proposal may be modified in an attempt to achieve consensus. Any such modification triggers a reset of a 30 day clock to give people sufficient time to consider the modified proposal. Because of this mechanism, it is possible for a small number of people to delay the acceptance of a proposal that is as large and complex as DwC-DP for a long time. In the case of DwC-DP, there are a large number of smaller individual proposals that are being considered as a package, and modification of any one of the individual proposals will delay the acceptance of the overall package for another 30 days. The Darwin Core Maintenance Group is committed to a fair and open review process of the DwC-DP, and will allow the public review to continue for as long as necessary to achieve consensus. So as long as there is active discussion, we will keep the public comment period open. However, because there is keen interest in the community from people who want to use DwC-DP in ratified form, we'd prefer that the review not drag on indefinitely due to people not getting around to reviewing it in a timely fashion. Therefore, if you have not yet reviewed the proposal, I ask that you do so and submit your comments by January 16. If those comments do not result in any changes in any part of the proposal after that date, the public comment could end on February 15 (30 days later). Continuing discussion after January 16 would cause the comment to continue correspondingly longer, and that's fine if the discussion continues to improve the proposal. We have gotten many excellent and substantive suggestions so far that have improved the proposal, and I am grateful for those who have taken the time to thoughtfully review and comment. I am hopeful that we will soon have a strong final proposal that the Task Group will be able to recommend ratification by the Executive Committee. Sincerely, Steve Baskauf Darwin Core Maintenance Group convener

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TIME SENSITIVE: 2 Days till TaxonWorks Together 2025!
by Deborah Paul 11 Feb '26

11 Feb '26

Greetings Biodiversity Information Standards TDWG'ers, RE: Just TWO Days till TaxonWorks Together 2025 <https://together.taxonworks.org/> - Registration open and free! May 6 - 8 online. Please remember to share this with colleagues and students not on the TDWG listserv so they don't miss out. Thanks! ‪This year's #TWT2025 offers a wide variety of topics. Perhaps of special interest to the TDWG community: * Building biodiversity informatics tools with the AI-lephant in the room * geoBoundaries: Challenges to curating (and using) global gazetteers - a conversation with Dan Runfola * Stories of (Data) Transition in the Realm of Biodiversity Informatics * Exploring emerging practical informatics needs surrounding the rapidly expanding use of eDNA * Adapting our biodiversity informatics infrastructure to keep pace with the evolution of what we think a taxon is - a conversation with Wayne Maddison * Natural History Collections in TaxonWorks: Entering a Community Consensus Phase Why TaxonWorks as digitization software? Status and vision. Opportunity for questions focusing on digitization functionality. Announcement of *a year-long working group on SpecimenPages*, facilitated by the SFG. * Informatics opportunities integrating field stations and collections, with special reference to the practical needs and opportunities at the Illinois Natural History Survey - a panel with Field Station and Collection Managers: Auriel Fournier, James Lamer, Arianna Kuhn, Enrique Santoyo Brito, and Jamie Minneart-Grote * Why are the Earth's scientific collections important? Perspectives from a catalyzed series of events emerging during COVID 19 - with guests Pam Soltis and Cody Thompson Most sessions are moderated discussions with opportunities for your input. Hear from people that inspire us, and add your voice to the conversation. Check the agenda for more session time and date details <https://together.taxonworks.org/>. We welcome everyone and look forward to your participation and insights. In anticipation, Debbie, for the SFG and TWT2025 /PS -- *please (please) share with your colleagues and students far and wide, thanks!* PPS -- yes there is cross-posting :-)/ -- - Deborah Paul, Biodiversity Informatics Community Liaison - Species File Group (INHS), University of Illinois -- Natural History Collections and Museomics NHCM Editor-in-Chiefhttps://nhcm.pensoft.net -- Biodiversity Information Standards (TDWG) Past Chair 2021-2022 -- Florida State University Courtesy Appointment -- Species File Group and Eventshttps://speciesfilegroup.org

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