At the Amsterdam IUBS Biodiversity Conference last September a consortium
of organizations agreed to sponsor a workshop dedicated to explore the
"Needs and Specifications for a Biodiversity Network." Since that time the
World Federation for Culture Collections (WFCC) has been working with the
Tropical Data Base (BDT) in Campinas, Brasil and the Microbial Strain Data
Network (MSDN) in Cambridge, UK to organise a workshop to be held in
Campinas, Sao Paulo, Brazil, from July 27 - 31, 1992.
There has been considerable interest in the initiative. The organizers are
very pleased at the clear willingness among biologists with networking
experience to collaborate and consider the global needs in biodiversity
information exchange and availability. Funding has been secured from the
United Nations Environment Programme, the International Union of
Microbiological Societies (IUMS), Brasilian Agencies and the British
Council to bring participants from botany, zoology and microbiology to the
workshop. A number of participants have agreed to attend at their own
expense.
For those unable to attend in person, on-line participation will be
possible through the Microbial Strain Data Network, and through EcoNet and
its member networks within the Association For Progressive Communications
(APC). Additionally a Listserv will be set up for those unable to access
the MSDN or APC Networks.
If you or your organisation wish to participate through the APC Networks,
please contact the EcoNet Conservation Biology Desk 'consdesk at igc.org' for
details.
If you decide to participate via the MSDN Network contact 'msdn at gn.apc.org'
or 'msdn at phoenix.cambridge.ac.uk'. It will be necessary to obtain a
temporary ID number and password to be used for the week of the workshop.
You may also choose to follow the workshop via the listserv BIODIV-L. For
information about the listserv contact 'manager at bdt.ftpt.ansp.br'.
