November 2006 - tdwg-content

[tdwg-ncd] NCD Toolkit bid
by Neil Thomson 28 Nov '06

28 Nov '06

Dear Larry, I have received no further requests for amendments to the bid document for the development of the NCD Toolkit and we would therefore be very grateful if you would submit the attached document to GBIF for consideration. Note that it is proposed that the work be carried out over the second and third quarters of 2007. Please let me know if there is anything else that the NCD Subgroup can provide in support of this bid. With many thanks, Neil <<NCD-GBIFToolkitBid-Final.doc>> ------- Neil Thomson Head of Data & Digital Systems The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD Tel: +44 (0)20 7942 5294, Fax: +44 (0)20 7942 5559, Email: n.thomson(a)nhm.ac.uk http://www.nhm.ac.uk

1 0

[tdwg-ncd] NCD Toolkit bid - draft for comment
by Neil Thomson 23 Nov '06

23 Nov '06

NCD, Attached is the first full draft of the bid to develop the NCD Toolkit which is being prepared for GBIF. Please look it over and let me have your comments before I submit it to Larry next week. I am particularly grateful to Wouter and Markus for tackling the technical issues and would ask them to examine the text to see whether I have accurately captured the proposal, since this goes beyond my own technical knowledge. With many thanks, Neil <<NCD-GBIFToolkitBid-Draft2.doc>> ------- Neil Thomson Head of Data & Digital Systems The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD Tel: +44 (0)20 7942 5294, Fax: +44 (0)20 7942 5559, Email: n.thomson(a)nhm.ac.uk http://www.nhm.ac.uk

1 0

[tdwg-ncd] RE: Moore Foundation Round II bid from NCD Task Group
by Neil Thomson 21 Nov '06

21 Nov '06

Hi Lee, As requested, here are the outputs that are expected from the NCD 2007 workshop: 1. Introduction to RDF/OWL modelling - may also be useful for TDWG-Education purposes 2. First draft of NCD RDF schema and agreement on implementation 3. Agreed list of terms for use with NCD picklists and for definition in the TDWG ontology 4. Final draft of NCD User Guide and first draft of Migration Guide. User Guide to include new section on the use og NCD for describing organisations. 5. Workshop Report Hope this helps, Neil ________________________________ From: Lee Belbin [mailto:leebel@netspace.net.au] Sent: 17 November 2006 05:35 To: Neil Thomson Subject: RE: Moore Foundation Round II bid from NCD Task Group Hi Neil I've spent the day summarising the proposals and will get a statement about them to all the submitters sometime next week. On your part 5 (the NCD meeting), I really need to know specifically what will be done at the meeting/workshop or by the people attending the meeting. I can't fund meetings, only what will be produced as a consequence of them. I've cut out part of an e-mail to Aimee Stewart (below) about this that may help. "Meetings and Workshops shouldn't be talkshops. I have found a simple process very effective for productive meetings. The cost of entry is the provision of a significant component of work. That work may be determining and documenting how to communicate between two components, outlining a portion of the workflow, providing data, writing software, researching options and presenting conclusions etc. The other key point is to come away from the meeting with the outcome. Done. Written up. The works. This tends to focus the mind, determine what is really needed, and ensure that it gets done." I've also broken your proposal into 5 components as we may end up having to pick and choose in some cases. I've done the same with a few others. On a related subject, Roger, Donald, Adrian, Stan and I have had some discussion yesterday on what the 'observations' may encompass. We currently have quite a few proposals (no charters as yet!) for Interest Groups. The structure is flat in that there has not been a 'horizontal perspective' on how any of these proposed IGs relate. I doubt we (the Exec) can do much on that until we have the charters. Catch-22. I mentioned that one perspective could put NCD into observations. Anyway, as I said early on, I strongly suggest you discuss the options with Adrian. We really need to keep the discussions flowing on this issue. Cheers Lee Lee Belbin Manager, TDWG Infrastructure Project Email: lee(a)tdwg.org Phone: +61(0)419 374 133

1 0

[tdwg-ncd] FW: Round-2 Proposals
by Neil Thomson 21 Nov '06

21 Nov '06

NCD, Thank you for your suggestions for specific outcomes for the 2007 Workshop - I'll be forwarding them as a supplemental today. For information, the Moore Foundation bids come to nearly three times the money that is available, so we may not get everything that we requested. Neil -----Original Message----- From: Lee Belbin [mailto:leebel@netspace.net.au] Sent: 21 November 2006 00:32 To: benjamin.clark(a)imperial.ac.uk; CooperJ(a)landcareresearch.co.nz; jatorre(a)gmail.com; renato(a)cria.org.br; J.Kennedy(a)napier.ac.uk; ram(a)cs.umb.edu; ICZN-AP; RichardsK(a)landcareresearch.co.nz; asimpson(a)usgs.gov; astewart(a)ku.edu; Neil Thomson; vieglais(a)ku.edu; ghw(a)anbg.gov.au; r.j.white(a)cs.cardiff.ac.uk Subject: Round-2 Proposals To all Round-2 funding applicants- I received 28 proposals that totalled US$704,255. Evaluation is currently underway and should be completed by the end of the month. I've split a number of the proposals into logical independent components. Each will be treated on its merit. Cheers Lee Lee Belbin Manager, TDWG Infrastructure Project Email: lee(a)tdwg.org Phone: +61(0)419 374 133

1 0

[tdwg-ncd] FW: Moore Foundation Round II bid from NCD Task Group
by Neil Thomson 17 Nov '06

17 Nov '06

Hi NCD'ers, Please see the initial feedback from Lee on our bid to the Moore Foundation. Please send me your ideas for outcomes expected from the 2007 Workshop, as indicated in the second paragraph. With thanks, Neil ________________________________ From: Lee Belbin [mailto:leebel@netspace.net.au] Sent: 17 November 2006 05:35 To: Neil Thomson Subject: RE: Moore Foundation Round II bid from NCD Task Group Hi Neil I've spent the day summarising the proposals and will get a statement about them to all the submitters sometime next week. On your part 5 (the NCD meeting), I really need to know specifically what will be done at the meeting/workshop or by the people attending the meeting. I can't fund meetings, only what will be produced as a consequence of them. I've cut out part of an e-mail to Aimee Stewart (below) about this that may help. "Meetings and Workshops shouldn't be talkshops. I have found a simple process very effective for productive meetings. The cost of entry is the provision of a significant component of work. That work may be determining and documenting how to communicate between two components, outlining a portion of the workflow, providing data, writing software, researching options and presenting conclusions etc. The other key point is to come away from the meeting with the outcome. Done. Written up. The works. This tends to focus the mind, determine what is really needed, and ensure that it gets done." I've also broken your proposal into 5 components as we may end up having to pick and choose in some cases. I've done the same with a few others. On a related subject, Roger, Donald, Adrian, Stan and I have had some discussion yesterday on what the 'observations' may encompass. We currently have quite a few proposals (no charters as yet!) for Interest Groups. The structure is flat in that there has not been a 'horizontal perspective' on how any of these proposed IGs relate. I doubt we (the Exec) can do much on that until we have the charters. Catch-22. I mentioned that one perspective could put NCD into observations. Anyway, as I said early on, I strongly suggest you discuss the options with Adrian. We really need to keep the discussions flowing on this issue. Cheers Lee Lee Belbin Manager, TDWG Infrastructure Project Email: lee(a)tdwg.org Phone: +61(0)419 374 133 ________________________________ From: Neil Thomson [mailto:N.Thomson@nhm.ac.uk] Sent: Thursday, 16 November 2006 9:54 PM To: leebel(a)netspace.net.au Subject: RE: Moore Foundation Round II bid from NCD Task Group Hi Lee, Thank you for confirming receipt. Neil ________________________________ From: Lee Belbin [mailto:leebel@netspace.net.au] Sent: 16 November 2006 02:18 To: Neil Thomson Subject: RE: Moore Foundation Round II bid from NCD Task Group Hi Neil Thanks for the proposal. I'll be evaluating them over the next few weeks and will get back you on the outcomes ASAP. Cheers Lee Lee Belbin Manager, TDWG Infrastructure Project Email: lee(a)tdwg.org Phone: +61(0)419 374 133 ________________________________ From: Neil Thomson [mailto:N.Thomson@nhm.ac.uk] Sent: Wednesday, 15 November 2006 1:53 AM To: lee(a)tdwg.org Cc: tdwg-ncd(a)lists.tdwg.org; leebel(a)netspace.net.au Subject: Moore Foundation Round II bid from NCD Task Group Hi Lee, I attach a one-page bid for funding from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation on behalf of the Natural Collections Descriptions Task Group. I look forward to hearing the outcome, in due course. Thank you for considering this bid, Neil <<NCD-MooreRound2Bid-Final.doc>> ------- Neil Thomson Head of Data & Digital Systems The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD Tel: +44 (0)20 7942 5294, Fax: +44 (0)20 7942 5559, Email: n.thomson(a)nhm.ac.uk http://www.nhm.ac.uk <http://www.nhm.ac.uk>

1 0

[tdwg-ncd] Moore Foundation Round II bid from NCD Task Group
by Neil Thomson 14 Nov '06

14 Nov '06

Hi Lee, I attach a one-page bid for funding from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation on behalf of the Natural Collections Descriptions Task Group. I look forward to hearing the outcome, in due course. Thank you for considering this bid, Neil <<NCD-MooreRound2Bid-Final.doc>> ------- Neil Thomson Head of Data & Digital Systems The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD Tel: +44 (0)20 7942 5294, Fax: +44 (0)20 7942 5559, Email: n.thomson(a)nhm.ac.uk http://www.nhm.ac.uk

1 0

[tdwg-tnc] TNC task group - TCS Usability
by Kennedy, Jessie 13 Nov '06

13 Nov '06

Dear All A new task group is being set up under TNS to report on TCS usability. A draft Charter for the group is now available on the TNC wiki http://wiki.tdwg.org/twiki/bin/view/TNC/WebHome direct link http://wiki.tdwg.org/twiki/bin/view/TNC/TCSUsageTaskGroupCharter We would like to get the charter off to the TDWG exec for approval so that the task group can get on with things... Please have a look and contribute if you have views. If you want to be a member please contact Aaron. Thanks, Jessie Prof. J B Kennedy School of Computing Napier University 10 Colinton Road Edinburgh EH10 5DT Tel: +44 (0)131 455 2772 Fax: +44 (0)131 455 2727 Email: j.kennedy(a)napier.ac.uk WWW: http://www.soc.napier.ac.uk/jessie

1 0

[tdwg-ncd] Final draft of Moore bid
by Neil Thomson 13 Nov '06

13 Nov '06

Dear NCD'ers, I enlcose a copy of the final draft of our bid to the Moore Foundation. Please check it over for mistooks etc. and, especially if you are named in the bid, indicate that you are comfortable with a submission in this form. Since Lee lives in Tasmania (8 hours ahead of GMT), I intend to send it to him late on Tuesday afternoon (GMT) to ensure that he receives it before the deadline. I am also copying this to the Index Herbariorum folk with an invitation to join the NCD list and activities, based on the discussions at the June Workshop. With thanks, Neil <<NCD-MooreRound2Bid-draft3.doc>> ------- Neil Thomson Head of Data & Digital Systems The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD Tel: +44 (0)20 7942 5294, Fax: +44 (0)20 7942 5559, Email: n.thomson(a)nhm.ac.uk http://www.nhm.ac.uk

1 0

[tdwg-ncd] RE: NCD - GBIF Proposal
by Neil Thomson 10 Nov '06

10 Nov '06

Hi Larry, Here, as requested, is the first draft of the bid proposal to develop the NCD toolkit based on the NLBIF implementation of NCD, for your use as a placeholder. I am also copying it to the NCD list so that members may comment and help to flesh it out for a final submission before the end of November. Please let me know if there is anything else that you need at this stage. With thanks, Neil -----Original Message----- From: Larry Speers [mailto:lspeers@gbif.org] Sent: 09 November 2006 10:07 To: Neil Thomson Subject: RE: NCD - GBIF Proposal Neil- Can you forward a summary or outline of the NCD-GBIF proposal and a draft budget this week or early next? It does not have to be finalized but it will give me something to put in as a place holder on the end of year budget discussions. I am concerned that if I do not have something in place it may be over looked. [snip] Larry

1 0

[tdwg-ncd] Draft text for Moore bid
by Neil Thomson 09 Nov '06

09 Nov '06

Dear NCD'ers, I attach a rough draft for the text of our bid to the Moore Foundation, which according to the guidance should be only 1 page long! See: http://www.tdwg.org/homepage-news-item/article/call-for-project-proposals-t… Please feel free to suggest changes. Are there any volunteers for terminology piece and for organising next year's workshop? Over to you, With thanks, Neil <<NCD-MooreRound2Bid-draft2.doc>> ------- Neil Thomson Head of Data & Digital Systems The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD Tel: +44 (0)20 7942 5294, Fax: +44 (0)20 7942 5559, Email: n.thomson(a)nhm.ac.uk http://www.nhm.ac.uk

2 2