Highlights for January 24, 1997
USGS Center for Biological Informatics

I. Key Department News:

• Geospatial Technology Coordination in the BRD: On January 21-22, Frank D'Erchia, Terry D'Erchia, Jim Getter, Ralph Root, Susan Stitt (Center for Biological Informatics), and Barb White (Midcontinent Environmental Science Center) reviewed the draft BRD Geospatial Technology Strategic Plan and the BRD Geospatial Technology Home Page, which is currently under development. The group also planned the first BRD Geospatial Technology Coordinators meeting, to be held in April. Geospatial Technology Coordinators have been appointed by each BRD center and program office.

• USGS Information Technology Infrastructure Committee Meeting: On January 22, Peter Strong (Center for Biological Informatics) and Ivette Gosser (Office of Biological Informatics and Outreach) attended a videoconference meeting of the Information Technology Infrastructure Committee. The meeting focused on the National Mapping Division's Information Resources Management Strategic Plan and was attended by two representatives from each USGS division.

• DOI LANAG Windows NT SubgroupFormed: On January 23, Mike Mulligan (Center for Biological Informatics) attended the initial meeting of the Windows NT Subgroup of the DOI Local Area Network Advisory Group. The Subgroup, which includes representatives from the USGS, NPS, USBR, MMS, USFWS, and the BIA, is drafting guidelines and standards for deployment of Microsoft Windows NT throughout DOI and its integration with other DOI-deployed operating environments. Mulligan will focus his efforts in the areas of domain model-hierarchical directories, integration with other environments (particularly with UNIX), and DOI Web server capabilities. Draft guidelines will be developed over the next 3-4 months.
• BRD Locator System Updated: John Clark of the Center for Biological Informatics has continued updating the online BRD employee locator system, currently approximately 90% accurate. The locator system drives a number of online resources, including searchable phone books and the E-mail directory for the Secretary's office. It also provides information for "@usgs.gov" E-mail addresses to work properly.

II. Agency Works on Presidential Initiatives:

• NBII Funds to Augment Butterfly Web Site: On January 22, National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII) funding in the amount of $17,000 was awarded to the Northern Prairie Science Center to augment NBII Web pages on butterflies and moths. Dr. Paul Opler of the Center for Biological Informatics has been instrumental in building this site, and has contributed data and many photographs. The Web pages now include distribution maps and images of adults and caterpillars; the new funding will be used primarily to add text paragraphs on the identification, ecology, conservation, and management of each species, so that the Web site will become a virtual field guide or handbook on butterflies and moths. Distributional information for other insect groups of concern also will be sought and added to the Web site. The enhanced site will enable biologists and resource managers--as well as the interested public--to have ready access to information on North American insects that may be of concern in making management decisions.

III. Notable Congressional Activity: Nothing to report

IV. Press/Media Inquiries:

• ITIS and NBII Highlighted in CBI Response to Media Query: On January 24, Gary Waggoner (Center for Biological Informatics) responded to a request for information for a radio documentary about the problem of loss of taxonomic expertise in biology. In addition to providing a list of expert scientists, Waggoner described the Interagency Taxonomic Information System, a partnership among several Federal agencies and the scientific community to develop and maintain a database on nomenclature and taxonomy of biota. He also pointed to the National Biological Information Infrastructure's cooperative project with the National Science Foundation and others to facilitate the automation of natural history collections and the serving of such shared information about the biodiversity of North America.

V. FOIA Requests: Nothing to report