Highlights for April 30, 1999
USGS Center for Biological Informatics

Key Department News:

• USGS Scientists Obtain GPS Options. On April 19-23, Karl Brown of the USGS Center for Biological Informatics and Diane Burgoon of WRD's Georgia District facilitated a workshop at the USGS GIS '99 Conference. They provided information on Global Positioning System concepts, accuracy, methods, and field techniques to obtain better than 10-meter position data with handheld receivers. Both restricted military units and commercial options were discussed, and Brown and Burgoon assisted the researchers with tool selection. (Karl Brown, Denver, 303-202-4240)
  
• USGS Participates in IABIN Partnership: On April 19-23, USGS Center for Biological Informatics and Office of Biological Informatics staff attended the initial planning and development meeting for the Inter America Biodiversity Information Network (IABIN) in Brasilia, Brazil. Representatives from several South American countries, Canada, and the United States participated. The overall meeting focused on issues related to governance/finance, technical requirements/capabilities of the countries, and cooperative opportunities with respect to the establishment of IABIN. For further information, please visit the U.S. IABIN Web site at <http://www.nbii.gov/iabin>. (Mike Frame, Denver, 303-202-4260)
  
• USGS Scientist Assists GYI Researchers. On May 4-6, Karl Brown of the USGS Center for Biological Informatics will facilitate a Global Positioning System training session for Greater Yellowstone Initiative scientists needing better than 10-meter positioning data. The session will be held in Bozeman, Montana, at the BRD Forestry Sciences Lab. Bear, bison, and related wildlife and ecosystem researchers will attend the workshop. (Karl Brown, Denver, 303-202-4240)
  

II. Agency Works on Presidential Initiatives:

• GIS Users Receive Metadata Training: On April 19-23, Sharon Shin (USGS Center for Biological Informatics [CBI]) and Jennifer Gaines (USGS Office of Biological Informatics and Outreach) hosted a four-hour metadata workshop during the USGS GIS '99 Conference held at the Denver Federal Center. This combined BRD, GD, and WRD workshop also included representatives from the National Atlas Program and the Potawatomi Indian Tribal Lands. Shin and Gaines presented an introductory treatment of FGDC/NBII metadata, with a demonstration of MetaMaker 2.2. Susan Stitt (CBI), Peter Schweitzer (GD), and Shin also participated in a "Doctor's Metadata Workshop," where participants were invited to present specific metadata issues and problems for discussion. (Sharon Shin, Denver, 303-202-4230)
  
• Earth Day at the Federal Center: On April 22, at the request of GSA, Susan Stitt (USGS Center for Biological Informatics [CBI]) presented an Earth Day program to more than 50 school-age children who were touring the Denver Federal Center. Stitt focused on the unseen role of the Federal Center as habitat for a number of wildlife species. On April 28, CBI hosted 60 area fifth-graders, providing a program on Frog Web, the interactive NBII Web site that links to amphibian information and reporting sites, including Frog Force, which enlists citizen help in protecting and conserving amphibian habitat and provides information on malformation monitoring. (Terry D'Erchia, Denver, 303-202-4264)
  

III. Notable Congressional Activity: No report.

IV. Press/Media Inquiries: No report.

V. FOIA Requests: No report.