[Taxacom] e-Biosphere 09 Conference: Registration site and Online Conference Community are now open

[Schindel, David]

Registration is now open for the e-Biosphere 09 International Conference
on Biodiversity Informatics at www.e-biosphere09.org
<http://www.e-biosphere09.org/> .  A discounted early registration fee
will be available through 1 April 2009.  Computer demonstration booths
and exhibit areas are also available and information and application
forms are posted on the Conference website.

Important dates:

*	1 March 2009: Deadline for submission of poster abstracts
<http://www.e-biosphere09.org/webforms/abstract>  and applications for
travel bursaries <http://www.e-biosphere09.org/webforms/travel> . 
*	1 April 2009: Deadline for applications for exhibit space and
database/software demonstrations 
*	1 April 2009: Announcement of accepted poster abstracts and
awards for travel bursaries 
*	1 April 2009: End of reduced early registration fees 
*	15 April 2009: Deadline for proposals for discussion group
topics and side-events 
*	1 May 2009: Registration deadline 
*	1 May 2009: Release of abstract volume 
*	1 May 2009: Realease of Final Conference Announcement and
program 
*	1-3 June 2009: e-Biosphere 09 Conference 

The conference organizers have also created a series of electronic
discussion forums under the umbrella of the "Online Conference Community
<http://forum.e-biosphere09.org/> " (OCC;
http://forum.e-biosphere09.org/).  The OCC offers researchers and users
of Biodiversity Informatics the opportunity to interact and prepare for
the conference which will take place in London on 1-3 June 2009.  
 
The OCC has been divided into 14 subcommunities for more focused
discussions.  These correspond to major research topics related to
Biodiversity Informatics and its use by different groups.  One session
of the conference will be devoted to break-out discussion groups which
will correspond with these online subcommunities, giving the
participants the opportunity to meet in person to continue their
interactions.  
 

The conference organizers offer two challenges to researchers and users
of Biodiversity Informatics.  Subcommunities will have the opportunity
to submit manuscripts that respond to these challenges for possible
publication in the Conference Proceedings Volume.  The challenges are:

1.	Prepare a real-time demonstration for the three days of the
e-Biosphere 09 conference that shows how information on new discoveries
enters, propagates, and becomes interconnected with the rest of
Biodiversity Informatics.  For example, can a newly discovered species
be described, published, and documented worldwide through a cascade of
information through interconnected databases, all in three days? 
2.	Prepare a Position Paper that describes the information
resources, database interoperability, and data analysis capabilities
that each subcommunity will need five to ten years from now.  For
example, what new information resources and informatics capabilities
will agricultural researchers need?  What interoperability will they
need concerning plant biology, agricultural pests, pathogens, invasive
species, environmental factors, to name a few?

Questions concerning the e-Biosphere 09 Conference can be sent to
inquiries.e-biosphere09 at si.edu.

David E. Schindel, Executive Secretary

Consortium for the Barcode of Life
202/633-0812; fax 202/633-2938; portable 202/557-1149
Email: SchindelD at si.edu 
CBOL WEBSITE: http://www.barcoding.si.edu <http://www.barcoding.si.edu/>


Office and overnight delivery address:

   National Museum of Natural History
   Room CE-119
   10th & Constitution Avenue, NW
   Washington, DC 20560

Postal mailing address:

   National Museum of Natural History 
   Smithsonian Institution
   P.O. Box 37012, MRC-105
   Washington, DC 20013-7012