When iDigBio announced an upcoming wet collections digitization workshop to be held in cooperation with the Biodiversity Institute at the University of Kansas, we had no idea what to expect. As it turns out, we must have hit a nerve. By the close of the application period, well over 50 people had responded - far exceeding our expectations.
Recognizing the value of biocollections for research, education, and society, the biocollections community coalesced in 2010 to develop A Strategic Plan for Establishing a Network Integrated Biocollections Alliance (NIBA). The plan issues a strong and urgent call for an aggressive, coordinated, large-scale, and sustained effort to digitize the nation's biocollections in order to mobilize their data through the Internet.
iDigBio Augmenting OCR Working Group provides a detailed update on the recent Hackathon and presentations at iConference 2013, held in Forth Worth, TX, February 12-15.
As part of an NSF-funded Thematic Collections Network award, we will be offering in mid-May a 2-week course dealing with the fundamentals of insect specimen databasing and how the tools used in this process can facilitate research in biology. We write to make you aware of this offering should you have graduate or advanced undergraduate students who could benefit from participation in the course.
We have funds available to cover transportation, lodging, and per diem costs for out of town students. Enrollment will be limited to 20 students.
The following URL will provide information on exact dates, location, course content and the application process.
http://tcn.amnh.org/home/specimen-course
If you have questions please let us know.
Sincerely,
Tri-Trophic Thematic Collection Network
Toby Schuh, Christine Johnson, Rob Naczi, Melissa Tulig, Kim Watson and Katja Seltmann
On February 25, 2013 iDigBio launched a new design for http://iDigBio.org and a new set of features for our specimen portal at http://portal.iDigBio.org.
From the GRFP Program Office - please share with your colleagues!
Calling Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Graduate Students:
Have you ever thought of ways to improve STEM graduate education? Do you have a creative idea regarding graduate training? If so, NSF wants to hear from you!
The National Science Foundation Innovation in Graduate Education Challenge is calling for entries from currently enrolled STEM graduate students and teams. They are invited to submit innovative ideas to prepare today’s graduate students for tomorrow’s opportunities and challenges. Entries are solicited for ideas with the potential to improve graduate education and professional development. Ideas can be directed toward students, faculty, departments, institutions, professional societies, and/or federal agencies. Winning ideas will be shared widely and winners will receive prizes between $1000 and $3000.
For more information and to enter the challenge, go to www.nsf.gov/gradchallenge/
Entry deadline is April 15th! Make your voice heard on STEM graduate education!
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @GradEdChallenge
Send questions to gradchallenge@nsf.gov
Over the past 16 weeks, the aOCR wg has successfully orchestrated multiple initiatives intended to address some key issues on the working group's Wish List. Here, we briefly report on our recent Hackathon, held February 13-14, 2013 in Fort Worth, Texas, and on our "BioBlitz" at the iSchools iConference 2013, which was held February 12-15 in Forth Worth. We also discuss planned papers and new interactions resulting from these events.
The Association of Southeastern Biologists (ASB), in partnership with iDigBio, is pleased to announce a symposium and workshop that focus on workflows in the digitization of biological collections to be held at our annual meeting in Charleston, West Virginia, in April 2013.
Please join iDigBio in congratulating Dr. Anna Monfils on her selection as our 2012 Visiting Scholar. Anna is an Associate Professor at Central Michigan University and Director of the Central Michigan University Herbarium.
Dr. Monfils' winning proposal includes building generalized, web-deliverable specimen databasing protocols, designing web-based teaching activities focused on databasing, and organizing a workshop aimed at professional botanists, students and citizen scientists from throughout Michigan.
