Highlights for December 11, 1998
USGS Center for Biological Informatics

I. Key Department News:

II. Agency Works on Presidential Initiatives: No report.

• NBII Metadata Training Cadre Grows. On December 15-17, Sharon Shin and Susan Stitt (USGS Center for Biological Informatics), Jennifer Gaines (USGS Office of Biological Informatics and Outreach), and George Lienkaemper (USGS Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center) will provide a National Biological Information Infrastructure MetaMaker and Metadata Workshop for the USGS Florida Carribean Science Center. This 2-1/2-day hands-on workshop will be held at the University of Florida. Participants will construct metadata files using their own information. The workshop will also include sessions on parsing tools and the NBII Clearinghouse. Lienkaemper, a trainer-in-training, will present a Center perspective, modules he has written to mine metadata information from ARC/INFO and ArcView coverages, and sections of the metadata standard. (Sharon Shin, Denver, 303-202-4230)
  
• NBII Assists ASPRS, Wildlife Society. On May 17-18, 1999, Sharon Shin (USGS Center for Biological Informatics) and Jennifer Gaines (USGS Office of Biological Informatics and Outreach) will present a hands-on NBII Metadata Workshop at the American Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing Annual Meeting in Portland, Oregon, and at The Wildlife Society Annual Meeting in Austin, Texas, September 7-11, 1999. (Sharon Shin, Denver, 303-202-4230)
  

III. Notable Congressional Activity: No report.

IV. Press/Media Inquiries: No report.

V. FOIA Requests: No report.