Data sharing - Why we should try

[Stuart G. Poss]

Walter Berendsohn wrote:
>
> A lot of thinking, planning and trying on the part of systematists and
> curators is spend on this process. Well spent, I believe, because it is
> contributing to current efforts to make systematics "competitive" as a
> science once more. Well spent also because the actual data capture is and
> will be a considerable effort, so we better make sure we do it right.
>

Dr. Berendsohn's important comments should be well taken by all in the
community and perhaps read several times.  Much of what we face in our
efforts to again elevate the stature of taxonomy and systematics in the
eyes of our scientific peers relates to how we address this issue, ie.
how we choose to communicate among ourselves and to the larger
scientific community.  Its important that we think clearly and
collectively about this, so our computers will be able to understand
each other, thereby better programmed to relfect the importance of the
taxonomy and systematics as BIG science, as well as its unique role
among all the sciences.

--
_____________________________________________________________________
Stuart G. Poss                       E-mail: sgposs at seahorse.ims.usm.edu
Senior Research Scientist & Curator  Tel: (228)872-4238
Gulf Coast Research Laboratory       FAX: (228)872-4204
P.O. Box 7000
Ocean Springs, MS  39566-7000