2002 TDWG meeting

[Stan Blum]

Dear TAXACOM subscribers:

The Taxonomic Databases Working Group (TDWG <http://www.tdwg.org> ) is an 
international organization that promotes the integration and use of 
biodiversity information through the development of information technology 
standards and best-practice recommendations. In addition, TDWG annual 
meetings give practitioners of biodiversity informatics an opportunity to 
share their recent achievements, ideas, and plans for the future.  This 
year's TDWG meeting will be held in Indaiatuba, Sao Paulo State, Brazil, 
and hosted by Dr. Vanderlei Perez Canhos and his staff at "CRIA", the 
Reference Center for Environmental Information (Centro de Referência em 
Informação Ambiental).  The main TDWG meeting will occupy two days (Oct 
19-20) in a larger forum on biodiversity informatics (Oct 16-25) that 
includes a Species 2000 meeting, a symposium on "Key Innovations in 
Biodiversity Informatics" and several satellite workshops.

The primary work focus this year (Saturday, Oct 19) will be an examination 
of the four "work programs" recently established by the Global Biodiversity 
Informatics Facility (GBIF, see http://www.gbif.org), and an exploration 
(with GBIF staff) of how best to pursue our common interests -- the 
interchange of biodiversity information. Sunday will be largely devoted to 
presentations and demonstrations. There is still room in the schedule if 
you would like to inform your colleagues of your recent work.

Working meetings of the most active TDWG subgroups will be held before the 
TDWG plenary sessions. The larger symposium will take place the following 
Monday and Tuesday (Oct. 21-22).  Details about all of these events, 
including schedule, travel, visas, hotels, and on-line registration forms 
are available at the meeting web site:  http://www.cria.org.br/eventos/tdbi/

Please contact me (sblum at calacademy.org) if you would like to give a 
presentation or demonstration at the TDWG plennary session on Sunday, 
October 20.

This year promises a very significant set of meetings.  I hope to see you 
there,

Stan Blum
Chair, TDWG Exec. Comm.