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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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TDWG 2005 - important updates to meeting web site
by Adrian Rissone 17 Mar '05

17 Mar '05

TDWG 2005 - St. Petersburg, Russia, 11-18 September 2005 I have posted inportant information on the TDWG 2005 Meeting web site at: http://www.tdwg.org/2005meet/TDWG_2005_Intro.htm concerning travel and hotel arrangements, and the first draft of the meeting schedule. It is important that you read this information if you wish to attend the meeting in September, as it introduces 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 soo so keep checking back. We look forward to seeing you in St. Petersburg! Regards, Adrian Rissone E-mail: A.Rissone(a)nhm.ac.uk with Subject line "TDWG 2005" Secretary and Meeting Coordinator Taxonomic Databases Working Group www.tdwg.org

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Job at SBMNH in collection informatics
by unknown＠example.com 23 Feb '05

23 Feb '05

JOB AVAILABLE Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History - Collection Database Specialist The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History is seeking a database specialist to develop and implement an online database of specimen and taxonomic data on California beetles. Responsibilities will include enhancing an existing MS Access database, porting data to MS SQL Server, developing a web interface for secure database access, and applying biodiversity informatics community standard protocols (DiGIR, XML) to permit database interoperability with other online services. The position requires thorough understanding of relational databases, including MS Access and MS SQL Server, Structured Query Language, OBDC standards, the use of XML to transport data between database systems, protocols for providing database access online, and web page construction, including HTML, PHP, JavaScript, CSS, and web ready imagery. This is a full time, temporary position lasting up to one year. To apply send resume and description of qualifications, including URLs of online databases previously implemented to: Human Resources - CDS Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History 2559 Puesta del Sol Rd. Santa Barbara, CA 93105. A more detailed job description is posted at: www.sbnature.org/visitors/hr.php For additional information email Dr. Michael Caterino at mcaterino(a)sbnature2.org SBMNH is an Equal Opportunity Employer

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Biodiversity: Science and Govenance conference in Paris, January 24 -28
by Donat Agosti 01 Feb '05

01 Feb '05

Sorry for crossposting with taxacom. But I think, the following might be of interest to the TDWG community, since access and exchange of data was one of the major points in this conference Here the link to (http://www.recherche.gouv.fr/biodiv2005paris/en/appelparisbiodiv.htm)th e Paris declaration and attached a statement from the "Biodiversity: Science and Governance" conference in Paris last week. It was a big meeting with over 1,000 participants initiated by the French president Chirac and the director General of UNESCO, Koichiro Matsuura, including among others the president of Madagascar and various ministers. At least in one way, this was a quiet unusual meeting. This time, real data played an important part. And it was not the North who made the case, but the President of Madagascar and Mexico who actually, following their top politicians, are now using taxonomy based data to make political decisions. It was a clear demonstration of the yield of sharing globally data, modern technological advances, and the importance of single scientists who actually have the vision to build up such infrastructures and do it. It was also a clear sign of the importance of institutions like GBIF and with it the drive to develop, or help to develop such tools as digir and other protocols which at the end help to go back to single specimen rather than getting lost somewhere in expert opinions, and to make each single, open access collecting an important part in this global endeavour. The increasing awareness that disregard of environmental services are leading to big environmental and humanitarian disasters for which not business is paying for, but in most cases the poor - one of the disconnects of the privilege to eat cheap shrimps and the much higher impact of the Tsunami on areas with removed mangrove forests due to shrimp farming was a clear warning finger. Still, it was just another conference, but the British, seconded by the French promised to make biodiversity an important issue at the forthcoming G8 summit hosted by the UK. Hopefully, we can pick up on this development... ------------------- Statement from the International Conference on "Biodiversity: Science and Governance" This statement is based on the presentations and discussions during the conference and the "Appeal" by the Scientific Committee of the conference. Recalling the commitment of governments to the global target of significantly reducing the rate of biodiversity loss by 2010 as a fundamental condition for sustainable development. Recognizing that: . Biodiversity is a vital and poorly appreciated resource for all of humankind that underpins the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals; . Biodiversity is being irreversibly destroyed by human activities at an unprecedented rate, and this demands urgent and significant action to conserve, sustainably use and equitably share the benefits of biodiversity; . Unless the rate of loss of biodiversity and the resulting degradation of ecosystem services are significantly reduced, efforts to combat poverty, reduce hunger and provide clean water and a healthy environment will be undermined; . A major effort is still needed to fill the gaps in knowledge, but there is already sufficient information available for improved management of ecosystems. Therefore the participants of the international conference on "Biodiversity: Science and Governance" urge: . Governments to take all necessary actions, including capacity building, needed to realize the 2010 biodiversity target, consistent with their sustainable development goals; . Civil society, including local and indigenous communities and the private sector, to take actions consistent with the 2010 biodiversity target; . The scientific community to develop greater national and international coordination; . That the necessary public and private resources be mobilized for the inter-disciplinary scientific research and monitoring required to improve our current understanding and to address the cost of conserving biodiversity; . Improved communications and partnerships among the scientific community, decision makers and civil society, including local and indigenous communities; . Parties and Secretariats to the multilateral environmental agreements to built greater cooperation and synergy. And recommend, in response to the call for action made by President Chirac at this Conference, the launch of an international multi-stakeholder consultative process guided by a balanced multi-stakeholder steering committee. This process would assess the need for an international mechanism which would: . provide a critical assessment of the scientific information and policy options required for decision-making; . build on existing bodies, current and recent activities. -------------------------------------- Dr. Donat Agosti Research Associate, American Museum of Natural History and Smithsonian Institution Email: agosti(a)amnh.org Web: http://antbase.org CV: http://antbase.org/agosticv_2003.html Dalmaziquai 45 3005 Bern Switzerland +41-31-351 7152

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International confernece on "Biosciences, biotechnology and biodiversity analysis
by Shubhada Nagarkar 11 Jan '05

11 Jan '05

Dear all, Forwarding information about forthcoming International conference in India...... Department of Botany, PG research center, Modern college, Pune India is organsing an international conference on "Biosciences, biotechnology and biodiversity analysis" on 8-10 August 2005. More details are available at http://www.geocities.com/kanchangandhe/index.htm For more information please contact Dr. Kanchan Gandhe and Dr. R.V. Gandhe, Organising secretaries at kanchan.gandhe(a)gmail.com kanchanganghe(a)hotmail.com

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out-of-print book
by Blackburn Press 15 Dec '04

15 Dec '04

The Blackburn Press is a relatively new publishing company, dedicated to keeping in print and available for purchase book titles that larger publishers have lost interest in and have declared "out of print." The following book has been mentioned to us as worth reprinting. We'd very much appreciate your reaction to this title: Chromosomal Evolution in Higher Plants by GL Stebbins, 1971 published by Edward Arnold Of course, we'd also be delighted to hear about any other titles you think would merit bringing back into print and made available again. Please respond directly to me. 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: <mailto:mdonovan@blackburnpress.com> mdonovan(a)blackburnpress.com Explore the latest additions to our list at <http://www.Blackburnpress.com> www.Blackburnpress.com All of our books are available at <http://www.Amazon.com> www.Amazon.com

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any interest in these books?
by Blackburn Press 03 Dec '04

03 Dec '04

The Blackburn Press is a relatively new publishing company, dedicated to keeping in print and available for purchase book titles that larger publishers have lost interest in and have declared "out of print." We are especially interested in scientific and technical titles. In several recent conversations, the following books have been mentioned to us as worth looking at for reprinting. We'd very much appreciate your reaction to these titles: Morphology of Plants and Fungi (1987) by Bold, Alexopolus, Delevoras Aquatic Plants of the US (1944) by Walter Muenscher Of course, we'd also be delighted to hear about any other titles you think would merit bringing back into print and made available again. Please respond directly to me. Thank you. Mary 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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Information Packet for TDWG 2004
by Stan Blum 08 Oct '04

08 Oct '04

Dear Participants in TDWG 2004, The information packet, containing * Pre-Registration information * Conference Reception at the Heritage Hotel * Places to Eat & Drink * TDWG Banquet * Conference Venue * Transportation * Registration at the Conference * Lunches & Refreshments * Room facilities * Posters * Demonstrations * E-mail/Internet access * Conference Organisers * Sponsorship * Useful maps has been updated and is available from the meeting web site (it's a big download, even zipped): http://www.tdwg.org/2004meet/TDWG_2004.htm (Thanks for pulling that together, Adrian!) NOTE, the conference will be at the University of Canterbury, some distance from the Heritage Hotel and downtown. A bus will leave the Heritage Hotel for the meeting at 8:15 AM. If you are not staying at the Heritage, you might still find it convenient to ride this bus. See you soon! Stan Blum Chair, TDWG Exec. Comm.

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TDWG 2004 - Please Register - deadline for Field Trips registration - 2 October
by Adrian Rissone 24 Sep '04

24 Sep '04

Please note that several TDWG officers will be travelling and/or at the GBIF meeting after 1 October 2004 - only one week away. It will help us organise the TDWG meeting if you can formally register as soon as possible. Please don't leave it until the last minute! There are links to the Registration Site on the main TDWG 2004 Meeting site at: http://www.tdwg.org/2004meet/TDWG_2004.htm The most urgent thing is to register for the informal Field Trips (to be held on Sunday 10 October) - by 2 October. Full details are now on the meeting web site. If you fail to register by that date we cannot guarantee you will be on the trip. To register for the field trip you must visit the Registration Site (just a little added incentive!). We look forward to seeing you in New Zealand! Kind regards, Adrian --------------------------------------------------------- Adrian Rissone TDWG 2004 Meeting Programme Coordinator http://www.tdwg.org/2004meet/TDWG_2004.htm Email: A.Rissone(a)nhm.ac.uk ---------------------------------------------------------

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[plain text re-send] TDWG 2004 -- online registration site now available
by Stan Blum 19 Sep '04

19 Sep '04

[With apologies for the previous encoded version of this message.] TAXONOMIC DATABASES WORKING GROUP -- 2004 ANNUAL MEETING Hosted by Landcare, New Zealand, Christchurch October 11-18, 2004 The online registration site for TDWG 2004 is now available at: https://www.regonline.com/Checkin.asp?EventId=16339 Multiple attendees can be registered and paid in a single transaction. Registrations can be partially filled out, saved, and completed later. If you registered last year, address and contact information can be re-used or updated. If you plan to attend, please register as soon as you can. Meeting schedule and details can be found at the meeting's main site: http://www.tdwg.org/2004meet/TDWG_2004.htm Please contact me if you have any questions or problems with the registration site. Stan Blum Research Info Mgr., California Academy of Sciences Chair, TDWG Execitive Committee 2004

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