Developing an implementation plan for the Strategic Plan for a Network Integrated Biocollections Alliance (NIBA)
Reston, Virginia
September 17th - 18th, 2012
With support from the U.S. National Science Foundation, in September 2012 the American Institute of Biological Sciences will convene a two-day workshop in Reston, Virginia, to develop an implementation plan for the Strategic Plan for a Network Integrated Biocollections Alliance (NIBA). A report detailing the outcome of the workshop will be published in November.
The workshop organizing committee would like for the report to be informed by as many viewpoints as possible. There will be two opportunities for individuals and organizations to inform the recommendations contained in the report. At this time, interested parties are invited to review the Strategic Plan for NIBA at https://bcon.aibs.org/resources/. After reviewing, we ask that you share any suggestions or other comments you believe could help inform the discussion and outcomes of the September workshop.
The workshop will focus on how best to achieve the following objectives:
1. Digitize data from all U.S. biological collections, large and small, and integrate these data in a web-accessible interface using shared standards and formats.
2. Develop new web interfaces, visualization and analysis tools, and data-mining and georeferencing processes; make all of these interfaces, tools, and processes available for use in the nation's collections.
3. Through the use of tools, training and infrastructure, enable real-time upgrades of biological data and prevent the future occurrence of non-accessible collection data. The intent is to ensure digital capture of data from all specimens added to collections henceforth.
Of particular interest to the planning committee are suggestions concerning the organization and governance necessary to achieve these objectives, as well as the technology development, workforce development, and workforce training that will be required to achieve them.
Please email comments to PUBLICPOLICY@aibs.org by Friday, September 7th, 2012.
Following the workshop, additional community input will be sought on the draft report.
