NBS/ASC press release

[Scott Miller]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 1995 10:39:45 -1000
From: Trudy_Harlow at nbs.gov
To: #NBS_News_and_Bulletins at nbs.gov, nbs at its.nbs.gov
Subject: NBS/ASC PRESS RELEASE

For Release: August 30, 1995
Contact: Anne Frondorf (202) 482-3980
or Jamise Liddell (202) 482-3048=20

National Biological Service and the Association of=20
Systematics Collections Create Electronic=20
Directories for Taxonomic Information

    Dr. H. Ronald Pulliam, National Biological Service (NBS) director, toda=
y=20
announced that the NBS has signed a cooperative agreement with the Associat=
ion=20
of Systematics Collections (ASC) to develop two directories of resource=20
information: one on taxonomists and their areas of expertise, and another o=
n=20
natural history collections.  Both of these directories will be accessible =
on=20
the Internet, through the National Biological Information Infrastructure (N=
BII).
    "These two directories on taxonomic information will be extremely impor=
tant=20
and useful, not only to the scientific community, but to anyone interested =
in=20
learning more about the natural history of North America," noted Dr. Pullia=
m.  =20
    "We are pleased to join the Association of Systematics Collections to h=
elp=20
make this important information more accessible. This is a crucial scientif=
ic=20
milestone."
    In the field of biology, taxonomy is the scientific field in which rela=
ted=20
organisms are grouped together based on their characteristics.  Understandi=
ng=20
how different groups of organisms are related to and differ from one anothe=
r is=20
the foundation for studying and understanding all the other aspects of biol=
ogy=20
and ecology.
    The directory of taxonomists will also help identify biological groups =
for=20
which specialists are lacking and where training or retraining efforts coul=
d=20
fill significant gaps in expertise.
    The natural history collections directory will be based on a comprehens=
ive=20
survey of the research systematics collections found in the U.S. and Canada=
. =20
This directory will provide valuable information on each collection includi=
ng:=20
the contents and biological groups represented, institutional and managemen=
t=20
information, and the status of the automation and electronic accessibility =
of=20
the specimen information.  When completed, the directory on the Internet wi=
ll=20
include direct "hot links" to individual collections which already have dat=
a=20
and information products available electronically. =20
    An important objective of this agreement is for ASC and NBS to identify=
=20
additional measures to help automate information about significant museum=
=20
collections that may be only available in paper files, and to foster an=20
electronic network of natural history collections information, i.e., a "vir=
tual=20
museum."
    The Association of Systematics Collections is an international non-prof=
it=20
organization that works to support the use, preservation, and improvement o=
f=20
systematics collections. Membership includes freestanding natural history=
=20
museums and botanical gardens, research institutions, university museums an=
d=20
collections, and State biological surveys.=20
    "This project directly supports our objective to work with other agenci=
es=20
and organizations to make good biological data and information more availab=
le=20
to people who need it," explained Dr. Pulliam.=20
    In 1994, ASC signed a memorandum of understanding with the NBS, agreein=
g to=20
coordinate and cooperate on efforts to promote better understanding and=20
conservation of biological diversity.  To that end, the electronic director=
ies=20
project is one of the many major endeavors on which the two organizations w=
ill=20
collaborate.
    The National Biological Service of the U.S. Department of the Interior=
=20
works with others to provide the scientific understanding and technologies=
=20
needed to support the sound management and conservation of our Nation's=20
biological resources.  The National Biological Information Infrastructure i=
s an=20
initiative of the NBS to foster the development of a distributed electronic=
=20
network of biological data and information maintained by a variety of Feder=
al=20
and State government agencies, universities, museums, libraries, and privat=
e=20
organizations.  The NBII is available on the Internet at=20
http://www.nbs.gov/nbii/

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