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TDWG Annual Meeting 2005 - update [17 May 2005]
by Adrian Rissone 17 May '05

17 May '05

TDWG Annual Meeting 2005 - update [17 May 2005] I have posted important additional information on the TDWG 2005 Meeting web site at: http://www.tdwg.org/2005meet/TDWG_2005_Intro.htm concerning travel and hotel arrangements, and submission of abstracts. It is important that you read this information if you wish to attend the meeting in September, as it describes the procedure that will be necessary to book hotel accommodation and obtain a visa to enter Russia. Please note that, although it will be quick for most delegates using the system we have devised, nationals of some countries will require several months to obtain a Russian visa. More information will be available soon so keep checking back. Deadlines: 15 June 2005: submission of abstracts to be complete 10 July 2005: hotel bookings to be complete (to allow time for visa processing) You will also see on the site a request for pre-registration. Please pre- register if you can. The full Registration Site will be available in June. We look forward to seeing you in St. Petersburg! Regards, Adrian Rissone Secretary and Meeting Coordinator Taxonomic Databases Working Group

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Moore Foundation Support of TDWG -- A new era dawns
by Jim Beach 10 May '05

10 May '05

Congratulations are indeed in order for spectactular recent news of Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation funding for TDWG's standards development activities. Kudos to the matchmakers, Stan Blum, Walter Berendsohn, Donald Hobern, among others for approaching the GBMF for support, and kudos to recent GBMF Program Manager John Marchioni for recognizing the societal and research value of a stable, supported, biodiversity informatics network infrastructure. Great job, great insight, and congratulations all. I find it most heartening however, in the face of all of the challenges that we constantly face with funding, technology development, deployment and support, to realize that TDWG's first meeting was held 20 years ago, in 1985, as a 'blue sky' vision primarily of Professors Vernon Heywood and Frank Bisby. All of us who work in this field owe a debt of gratitude to them for their inspiration to imagine a standards-based, global architecture, and for their determination to strive over many years, with all those who followed and toiled, to make it real. Jim Beach Biodiversity Research Center University of Kansas

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2nd Quarter New Titles from The Blackburn Press PLUS Free Shipping
by Blackburn Press 04 May '05

04 May '05

The Blackburn Press Announces the Reprinting of a Biology Classic: The Art of Scientific Investigation by William I.B. Beveridge, ISBN 1-932846-05-0, paperback, 178 pages In The Art of Scientific Investigation, originally published in 1950, W.I.B. Beveridge explores the development of the intuitive side in scientists. The author's object is to show how the minds of humans can best be harnessed to the processes of scientific discovery. This book therefore centers on the "human factor"; the individual scientist. The book reveals the basic principles and mental techniques that are common to most types of investigation. Professor Beveridge discusses great discoveries and quotes the experiences of numerous scientists. "The virtue of Mr. Beveridge's book is that it is not dogmatic. A free and universal mind looks at scientific investigation as a creative art. . . ." The New York Times This and other mathematics and statistical titles are available at http://www.blackburnpress.com/mast.html Free shipping until May 30 in the United States; use Code "ShipFree" when ordering. This book is available from Amazon.com at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1932846050/qid%3D1109345621/sr%3D11-1 /ref%3Dsr%5F11%5F1/103-5317424-9474238 Also available from The Blackburn Press: The Growing Plant Cell Wall by Stephen C. Fry, ISBN 1-930665-08-3, paperback; 330 pages First published in 1988 and now known as a classic, Stephen Fry presents, in considerable practical detail, a wealth of information on methods for the preparation and analysis of plant cell walls and their constituents. The topics include: the isolation and purification of structural constituents, enzymes and metabolites; radiolabelling; an introduction to tissue culture techniques; the chemical characterization of polymers and biosynthetic intermediates. "Stephen Fry has written an invaluable book on the analytical techniques available in this important research field. This is an excellent book for the typical modern biologist." J. Experimental Biology "This book will be of considerable value to anyone engaged in the analysis of plant cell walls." Ann. Botany "For those who intend to do any practical cell wall analysis this book will be an invaluable laboratory manual." Plant Pathology These and other biology titles are available at http://www.blackburnpress.com/biologybooks.html Free shipping until May 30 in the United States; use Code "ShipFree" when ordering. This book is available from Amazon.com at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1930665083/qid%3D1114793506/sr%3D11-1 /ref%3Dsr%5F11%5F1/102-7030044-6887357 Plant Structure: Function and Development, by J.A. Romberger, Z. Hejnowicz, and J.F. Hill, ISBN 1-930665-95-4, paperback; 524 pages Originally published in 1993, and long out-of-print, this book has become a classic. The book covers the developmental anatomy of large, complex plants, particularly of perennial shrubs and trees that grow and survive for decades and centuries. The book is focused on the meaning of that anatomy, the integrated structure, as a determinant of effective function. A pervading theme is that the plant structures that have "survived" evolution within the larger context of geologic and climatic evolution are well attuned to biochemical and biophysical principles that determine and define efficient function. This book is intended for those who have already studied the anatomy and development of plants. It is addressed to advanced students, teachers and researchers in the broad, interrelated fields of botany, forestry, horticulture and agronomy, and to others having professional interests in the culture of woody plants and the stewardship of ecosystems. It is especially addressed to those who, by study and research, seek to narrow the wide gap between the cellular and molecular biology approaches to understanding the format and content of inherited information, and the actual morphogenesis and integrated functioning of higher plant organisms. "Plant Structure: Function and Development, first published in 1993, remained in print for such a short time that many of us missed the opportunity to purchase a copy (I have been working with a tattered photocopy for the past 7 years). The authors note in the preface that "complex plants, particularly woody plants . . . have survived eons of organismal evolution" and as such "are well attuned to biochemical and biophysical principles that determine and define efficient function." Too often plant anatomy has been treated in isolation from its' all-important functional significance. The authors of this book provide a welcome and well-developed bridge between structure and physiology, as well as providing the developmental aspects critical to a complete understanding. Not only does the book provide valuable insights for biologists studying extant plants (including applied areas of horticulture, agronomy and forest biology), but it is also, in my view, a valuable resource for paleobotanists, particularly those interested the rapidly growing area of paleo-ecophysiology. Often woody plants are given only cursory attention in plant structure texts, but not so here. Both Romberger and Hejnowicz spent their professional careers studying woody plants, and their insights are critical to the success of this treatise. Although the book is primarily a very turgid reference source, it could also serve as a text for advanced undergraduate or graduate courses - and then would become a valuable library addition for those students." Richard Jagels Professor of Forest Biology University of Maine These and other botany titles are available at http://www.blackburnpress.com/botany.html Free shipping until May 30 in the United States; use Code "ShipFree" when ordering. This book is available from Amazon.com at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1930665954/qid%3D1114800175/sr%3D11-1 /ref%3Dsr%5F11%5F1/102-7030044-6887357 The Blackburn Press was founded with the mission of keeping in print and available for purchase book titles that larger publishers have lost interest in and have declared "out-of-print." We specialize in scientific, medical, and technical books and textbooks. The Blackburn Press is interested in hearing of other titles we might consider returning to print. Your suggestions are welcome. Thank you. Mary S. Donovan The Blackburn Press Publishers of classic scientific and technical books Post Office Box 287 Caldwell, NJ 07006 Tel: 973-228-7077 Fax: 973-228-7276 E-mail: mdonovan(a)blackburnpress.com Explore the latest additions to our list at www.Blackburnpress.com All of our books are available at www.Amazon.com

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Re: [tcs-lc] Bibliographic Standards
by list.tdwg＠ACHAPMAN.ORG 22 Apr '05

22 Apr '05

Paul I know it may not be BPH (or is it? I've not had a good look) - but the databases on this site may be of some help. Perhaps with TDWGs new funding, we may be able to get some of those earlier standards that are still extant digitized. http://www.huh.harvard.edu/databases/cms/download.html Arthur >From Paul Kirk <p.kirk(a)cabi.org> on 22 Apr 2005: > what frustrates me is that we have the BPH as a TDWG standard and only > a= > privelaged few have an electronic version - the rest of us have to > labo= > riously use a couple of large books to find standard forms for journal > t= > itles and keyboard data into our respective databases. And this in the > 2= > 1st century! > > Frustrated of Twickenham > > ________________________________ > > From: tcs-lc-bounces(a)ecoinformatics.org on behalf of Richard Pyle > Sent: Fri 22/04/2005 08:04 > To: list.tdwg(a)ACHAPMAN.ORG; TDWG(a)LISTSERV.NHM.KU.EDU > Cc: tcs-lc(a)ecoinformatics.org > Subject: Re: [tcs-lc] Bibliographic Standards > > > > > Arthur -- > > Many thanks for the links! Interesting, and timely. I've quickly > looke= > d > over Miller (2004), and much of it resonates well with the data > manageme= > nt > challenges I face daily. What struck me is that the ten "Xobian > Princip= > al > Elements" encompass almost all my data management primary objects very > effectively (not just bibliographic). E.g.: > > CONCEPT (taxon concepts, keywords, etc.) > STRING (taxon names, vernacular names, catalog numbers, comments, > excerp= > ts, > etc.) > LANGUAGE (traditional human languages, and possibly Codes of > nomenclatur= > e) > ORGANIZATION/BEING (two major subtypes of Agents) > EVENT (Collecting events, curation events, specimen transaction events, > etc.) > TIME (self-evident) > PLACE (self-evident) > OBJECT (specimens & observed organisms) > WORK (Publications, unpublished documentation, images, etc.) > > I will give these resources more careful consideration when I have more > time. > > Again, many thanks for forwarding these links. > > Aloha, > Rich > > P.S. Apologies for the cross-post; but this has some relevance to recent > discussions on the LC/TCS list. > > Richard L. Pyle, PhD > Database Coordinator for Natural Sciences > Department of Natural Sciences, Bishop Museum > 1525 Bernice St., Honolulu, HI 96817 > Ph: (808)848-4115, Fax: (808)847-8252 > email: deepreef(a)bishopmuseum.org > http://hbs.bishopmuseum.org/pylerichard.html > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Taxonomic Databases Working Group List > > [mailto:TDWG@LISTSERV.NHM.KU.EDU]On Behalf Of list.tdwg(a)ACHAPMAN.ORG > > Sent: Thursday, April 21, 2005 7:57 PM > > To: TDWG(a)LISTSERV.NHM.KU.EDU > > Subject: Bibliographic Standards > > > > > > Hi all > > > > As part of the project I am doing for the FAO at the moment, I > > have had to look at Bibliographic > > software and bibliographic standards. > > > > During that process, I was made aware of a some interesting > > papers that those working on > > Bibliographic standards for TDWG may be interested in. > > > > The first is about XOBIS which is an XML Schema intermediate > > between the complexity of MARC and > > the simplicity of Dublin Core. It may be worth considering. It > > was recommendd to me by Beth > > Weil, the librarian at Berkeley. > > > > 1. Miller, Dick R. (2004). XOBIS - an Experimental Schema for > > Unifying Bibliographic and > > Authority Records. > > <http://elane.stanford.edu/laneauth/XOBIS_CCQ/XOBIS_CCQ.html> > > > > 2. There is a SourceForge site that you are probably aware of, > > but it lists most of the > > Standards and Schemas > > <http://wwwsearch.sourceforge.net/bib/openbib.html> > > === message truncated ===

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Bibliographic Standards
by list.tdwg＠ACHAPMAN.ORG 21 Apr '05

21 Apr '05

Hi all As part of the project I am doing for the FAO at the moment, I have had to look at Bibliographic software and bibliographic standards. During that process, I was made aware of a some interesting papers that those working on Bibliographic standards for TDWG may be interested in. The first is about XOBIS which is an XML Schema intermediate between the complexity of MARC and the simplicity of Dublin Core. It may be worth considering. It was recommendd to me by Beth Weil, the librarian at Berkeley. 1. Miller, Dick R. (2004). XOBIS - an Experimental Schema for Unifying Bibliographic and Authority Records. <http://elane.stanford.edu/laneauth/XOBIS_CCQ/XOBIS_CCQ.html> 2. There is a SourceForge site that you are probably aware of, but it lists most of the Standards and Schemas <http://wwwsearch.sourceforge.net/bib/openbib.html> 3. Caplin, P. (2003) Metadata fundamentals for all librarians. American Libraries Association 4.Miller, Dick R., and Kevin S. Clarke. 2003. Putting XML to Work in the Library, American Library Association 5. A bibliography recommended by Dick Miller <http://medlane.info/bibliography.php> regards Arthur Arthur D. Chapman Australian Biodiversity Information Services Toowomba Australia

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Re: Bibliographic Standards
by Richard Pyle 21 Apr '05

21 Apr '05

Arthur -- Many thanks for the links! Interesting, and timely. I've quickly looked over Miller (2004), and much of it resonates well with the data management challenges I face daily. What struck me is that the ten "Xobian Principal Elements" encompass almost all my data management primary objects very effectively (not just bibliographic). E.g.: CONCEPT (taxon concepts, keywords, etc.) STRING (taxon names, vernacular names, catalog numbers, comments, excerpts, etc.) LANGUAGE (traditional human languages, and possibly Codes of nomenclature) ORGANIZATION/BEING (two major subtypes of Agents) EVENT (Collecting events, curation events, specimen transaction events, etc.) TIME (self-evident) PLACE (self-evident) OBJECT (specimens & observed organisms) WORK (Publications, unpublished documentation, images, etc.) I will give these resources more careful consideration when I have more time. Again, many thanks for forwarding these links. Aloha, Rich P.S. Apologies for the cross-post; but this has some relevance to recent discussions on the LC/TCS list. Richard L. Pyle, PhD Database Coordinator for Natural Sciences Department of Natural Sciences, Bishop Museum 1525 Bernice St., Honolulu, HI 96817 Ph: (808)848-4115, Fax: (808)847-8252 email: deepreef(a)bishopmuseum.org http://hbs.bishopmuseum.org/pylerichard.html > -----Original Message----- > From: Taxonomic Databases Working Group List > [mailto:TDWG@LISTSERV.NHM.KU.EDU]On Behalf Of list.tdwg(a)ACHAPMAN.ORG > Sent: Thursday, April 21, 2005 7:57 PM > To: TDWG(a)LISTSERV.NHM.KU.EDU > Subject: Bibliographic Standards > > > Hi all > > As part of the project I am doing for the FAO at the moment, I > have had to look at Bibliographic > software and bibliographic standards. > > During that process, I was made aware of a some interesting > papers that those working on > Bibliographic standards for TDWG may be interested in. > > The first is about XOBIS which is an XML Schema intermediate > between the complexity of MARC and > the simplicity of Dublin Core. It may be worth considering. It > was recommendd to me by Beth > Weil, the librarian at Berkeley. > > 1. Miller, Dick R. (2004). XOBIS - an Experimental Schema for > Unifying Bibliographic and > Authority Records. > <http://elane.stanford.edu/laneauth/XOBIS_CCQ/XOBIS_CCQ.html> > > 2. There is a SourceForge site that you are probably aware of, > but it lists most of the > Standards and Schemas > <http://wwwsearch.sourceforge.net/bib/openbib.html> > > 3. Caplin, P. (2003) Metadata fundamentals for all librarians. > American Libraries Association > > 4.Miller, Dick R., and Kevin S. Clarke. 2003. Putting XML to Work > in the Library, American > Library Association > > 5. A bibliography recommended by Dick Miller > <http://medlane.info/bibliography.php> > > regards > > Arthur > > Arthur D. Chapman > Australian Biodiversity Information Services > Toowomba > Australia

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More Foundation Grant to TDWG and GBIF
by Berendsohn, Walter G. 20 Apr '05

20 Apr '05

Dear TDWG members and Colleagues: TDWG looks back at 20 years of efforts to advance standardisation of data used to describe, name and analyse global biodiversity. This year's meeting in St. Petersburg marks the discussion of several new standards that are of utmost importance for the establishment and operation of the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). TDWG has always depended on voluntary contribution, its process being completely community driven. This has worked well whenever individuals and organisations have dedicated the time and efforts necessary to advance the standard development. However, this voluntary form of organisation has also been an impediment, not allowing us to move ahead the organisational tasks that surround a successful standardisation body, such as developing appropriate procedural rules, making the organisation and its scope known to all interested communities, and disseminating its results appropriately. I am therefore extremely pleased to report the success of efforts initiated last year by the than Chair of the TDWG Executive Committee, Stan Blum, and Donald Hobern, the GBIF's Programme Officer for Data Access and Database Interoperability, with the aim of giving TDWG a solid organisational base for its important function. The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation has just awarded nearly USD 1.5 million to the GBIF - TDWG partnership. The funded project is designed to establish a more formal process for development and maintenance of each of the TDWG standards. The grant also includes funding to implement online collaboration tools for use by, among others, the TDWG working groups. Enabling such collaboration is intended to increase the productivity of these groups. To carry out these tasks, dedicated staff will be recruited. Also, contracts will be placed to develop documentation and software tools to support the existing TDWG standards. In addition, the project will organise two international workshops aimed at developing a model and central services for global unique identifiers to be used in biodiversity informatics. During the 30 months of the project period, TDWG's ongoing requirements for staff and infrastructure will be examined, and a long-term support model will be developed for the organisation. Walter Berendsohn Chair, TDWG Executive Committee

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Re: Moore Foundation Grant to TDWG and GBIF
by Gail Kampmeier 20 Apr '05

20 Apr '05

This is wonderful news!! Congratulations to Stan Blum and Donald Hobern and all the others who worked to get this process going! I attended the GBIF workshop in Columbus, Ohio in February on impediments to databasing entomological collections, and we recognized not only the importance of developing and maintaining globally unique identifiers, but that no one group was really in a position to do this on their own for the broad systematics (all taxa) community. I look forward to seeing the progress made in establishing the online collaborative tools to start building authority files for other areas such as people (I know the botanists are way out ahead of us in entomology here!) Cheers! Gail >Dear TDWG members and Colleagues: > >TDWG looks back at 20 years of efforts to advance standardisation of >data used to describe, name and analyse global biodiversity. This year's >meeting in St. Petersburg marks the discussion of several new standards >that are of utmost importance for the establishment and operation of the >Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). > >TDWG has always depended on voluntary contribution, its process being >completely community driven. This has worked well whenever individuals >and organisations have dedicated the time and efforts necessary to >advance the standard development. However, this voluntary form of >organisation has also been an impediment, not allowing us to move ahead >the organisational tasks that surround a successful standardisation >body, such as developing appropriate procedural rules, making the >organisation and its scope known to all interested communities, and >disseminating its results appropriately. > >I am therefore extremely pleased to report the success of efforts >initiated last year by the than Chair of the TDWG Executive Committee, >Stan Blum, and Donald Hobern, the GBIF's Programme Officer for Data >Access and Database Interoperability, with the aim of giving TDWG a >solid organisational base for its important function. > >The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation has just awarded nearly USD 1.5 >million to the GBIF - TDWG partnership. The funded project is designed >to establish a more formal process for development and maintenance of >each of the TDWG standards. The grant also includes funding to implement >online collaboration tools for use by, among others, the TDWG working >groups. Enabling such collaboration is intended to increase the >productivity of these groups. To carry out these tasks, dedicated staff >will be recruited. Also, contracts will be placed to develop >documentation and software tools to support the existing TDWG standards. > > >In addition, the project will organise two international workshops aimed >at developing a model and central services for global unique identifiers >to be used in biodiversity informatics. > >During the 30 months of the project period, TDWG's ongoing requirements >for staff and infrastructure will be examined, and a long-term support >model will be developed for the organisation. > >Walter Berendsohn >Chair, TDWG Executive Committee -- ======= Gail E. Kampmeier Senior Research Entomologist Illinois Natural History Survey, Box 5 NSRC, MC-637 1101 W. Peabody, Urbana, IL 61801 USA ph. 217-333-2824; fax 217-244-1707 email: gkamp(a)uiuc.edu therevid project: http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/cee/therevid/ therevid webMandala: http://pherocera.inhs.uiuc.edu/ FLYTREE: http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/cee/FLYTREE/ =======

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The Blackburn Press Announces the Reprinting of a Classic Book
by Blackburn Press 12 Apr '05

12 Apr '05

The Blackburn Press would like to announce the reprinting of a classic in the first quarter of 2005: The Art of Scientific Investigation by William I.B. Beveridge, ISBN 1-932846-05-0, paperback, 178 pages In The Art of Scientific Investigation, originally published in 1950, W.I.B. Beveridge explores the development of the intuitive side in scientists. The author's object is to show how the minds of humans can best be harnessed to the processes of scientific discovery. This book therefore centers on the "human factor"; the individual scientist. The book reveals the basic principles and mental techniques that are common to most types of investigation. Professor Beveridge discusses great discoveries and quotes the experiences of numerous scientists. "The virtue of Mr. Beveridge's book is that it is not dogmatic. A free and universal mind looks at scientific investigation as a creative art. . . ." The New York Times This and other mathematics and statistical titles are available at http://www.blackburnpress.com/mast.html This book is available from Amazon.com at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1932846050/qid%3D1109345621/sr%3D11-1 /ref%3Dsr%5F11%5F1/103-5317424-9474238 Also available from The Blackburn Press: Mosses: Utah and the West by Seville Flowers, ISBN 1-930665-25-3, paperback; 567 pages Mosses: Utah and the West made a substantial and original contribution to our knowledge of the mosses of the western United States. Before Flowers began his extensive bryologic research, Utah was considered to have a relatively small and uninteresting moss flora because of its generally low rainfall. This book however, treats 256 species in 77 genera and 18 families; a large proportion of which were discovered in Utah for the first time by the author. The beautifully executed and original illustrations form one of the finest features of this book; Seville Flowers became an extraordinarily accurate and skillful bryologic artist through the years. Mosses: Utah and the West is a monumental work on mosses of Utah and contiguous areas, providing keys, illustrations, descriptions and information on geographic distribution and habitats and detailed observations by Flowers. This book will be useful to bryologists, foresters, ecologists and other botanists. It will serve as a guide to the moss flora of most of the intermountain region. This and other botany titles are available at http://www.blackburnpress.com/botany.html This book is available from Amazon.com at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1930665253/qid%3D1112196158/sr%3D11-1 /ref%3Dsr%5F11%5F1/102-2598909-5896905 Manual of Cultivated Trees and Shrubs by Alfred Rehder, ISBN 1-930665-326, paperback, 996 pages For each of the 2,300 species of trees and shrubs covered in the book, Rehder included a concise physical description, as well as time of flowering and fruiting, references to published illustrations, region of native habitat, date of introduction into cultivation, hardiness zone, and comments on horticultural merit or special cultural requirements. He gave distinguishing features and pertinent information for 2,465 varieties. Brief mention was included of another 1,265 species and 507 hybrids that were either less well known or rarely cultivated. Its value to gardeners, arborists, botanical garden curators, and anyone else needing to identify trees and shrubs became readily apparent. These and other forestry titles are available at http://www.blackburnpress.com/forestry.html This book is available from Amazon.com at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1930665326/qid%3D1112121692/sr%3D11-1 /ref%3Dsr%5F11%5F1/103-0885757-5503811 Woody Plants for the Central and Northern Prairies by Walter Thaine Bagley and Richard K. Sutton, ISBN 1-930665-504, paperback; 600 pages Many people are frustrated by their inability to determine the identity of a woody plant growing in their backyards, neighborhood parks, along a roadside or at a vacation site. Woody Plants for the Central and Northern Prairies attempts to assist them by providing descriptions and sketches of most of the native and exotic plants that they are likely to find or wish to grow. Woody Plants for the Central and Northern Prairies evolved from a proposed woody plant handbook to its present form over a period of 18 years. During that time, the authors decided to expand the book to include line drawn illustrations for ease of identification. They also decided that in promoting sustainable landscapes, they should include both native and exotic woody plants adapted to a portion of the Great Plains. Since many of the plants described are native or adapted to other regions of the temperate zone, Woody Plants for the Central and Northern Prairies will be a useful reference well beyond the confines of the central and northern prairies of North America. The book will be an excellent basic reference for interested laypersons and teachers as well as professionals. Plants in the book can be identified by simple grouping charts and without the use of tedious keys. They are presented in related phylogenetic groups (orders, families, genera, species) based on a modern theory of evolution. This and other forestry titles are available at http://www.blackburnpress.com/forestry.html This book is available from Amazon.com at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1930665504/qid%3D1112196476/sr%3D11-1 /ref%3Dsr%5F11%5F1/102-5921285-7351368 The Blackburn Press was founded with the mission of keeping in print and available for purchase book titles that larger publishers have lost interest in and have declared "out-of-print." We specialize in scientific, medical, and technical books and textbooks. The Blackburn Press is interested in hearing of other titles we might consider returning to print. Your suggestions are welcome. Thank you. Mary S. Donovan The Blackburn Press Publishers of classic scientific and technical books Post Office Box 287 Caldwell, NJ 07006 Tel: 973-228-7077 Fax: 973-228-7276 E-mail: mdonovan(a)blackburnpress.com Explore the latest additions to our list at www.Blackburnpress.com All of our books are available at www.Amazon.com

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Annual meeting and proposed standards
by Stan Blum 21 Mar '05

21 Mar '05

[Posted on behalf of Walter Berendsohn] Dear TDWG List subscribers: Some news regarding TDWG activities: * Membership * To start with the most important: TDWG accounts are in the process to be moved to the new Treasurer - so please, don't be impatient, your bill for 2005 membership will soon be ready. * Support * A piece of very good news in these times of diminishing institutional commitments to the common good: The Natural History Museum in London has agreed to commit a substantial part of our elected Secretary's working time to TDWG matters, an essential pre-requisite especially for the preparation of the ever-growing annual meetings. * TDWG 2005 * As Adrian Rissoné has already informed you, the next TDWG meeting will take place in St. Petersburg, Russia, September 11-18. See http://www.tdwg.org/2005meet/TDWG_2005_Intro.htm for up-to-date information. * New Standards to be voted on * Perhaps the most important development is that four of the draft standards discussed during the Christchurch meeting have now formally been submitted to the Executive Committee for voting during TDWG 2005: - Darwin Core 2 (http://darwincore.calacademy.org/) "a simple set of data element definitions designed to support the sharing and integration of primary biodiversity data". - Access to Biological Collection Data (ABCD) 2.0 (http://www.bgbm.org/TDWG/CODATA/Schema/) "an evolving comprehensive standard for the access to and exchange of data about specimens and observations (a.k.a. primary biodiversity data)". - Structure of descriptive data (SDD) 1.0 (http://wiki.cs.umb.edu/twiki/bin/view/SDD/CurrentSchemaVersion) - Taxonomic Concept Transfer Schema (TCS) 1 (http://tdwg.napier.ac.uk) Please feel free to comment and contribute. The working groups will continue to improve their drafts until a final edited version will be submitted by the Executive Committee to the membership by July 17, 2005. * New proposed standards * Other working groups will contribute proposed standards, which will also be discussed during the meeting in St. Petersburg (this is a prerequisite for submission as a new TDWG standard in 2006). These also have to be circulated by July 17. Proposed standard should be send before that date to the TDWG Secretary Adrian Rissoné (a.rissone(a)nhm.ac.uk) With best wishes Walter Berendsohn Chair, TDWG Executive Committee 2005

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