Highlights for June 11, 1999
USGS Center for Biological Informatics

• Science Information System Updates. USGS Center for Biological Informatics staff initiated several Science Information System (SIS) modifications:

• At the SIS Update Web Site, the SIS Updater can now change POC (Point of Contact) information and SIS Reviewer information.

• When the SIS Reviewer checks the SIS record, the record moves to the SIS "update" area, and an accession number is assigned. Now, both the SIS Reviewer and the SIS POC will be notified by E-mail of the accession number assigned to the record.

• When a SIS record is updated, the SIS Reviewer receives E-mail notification of the modification and the identity of the SIS Updater. Now, the SIS Reviewer will receive daily notification concerning changes to any SIS record they are responsible for reviewing.

• FGDC-University Forum on Metadata Curriculum and Training Materials. On June 3-5, Sharon Shin of the USGS Center for Biological Informatics attended an invited FGDC forum in Herndon, Virginia, to develop a metadata course for university, college, and community college GIS curricula. Three teams were established for discussion purposes: academics representing university, college, and community college audiences; those actively involved in workshop training for various audiences and venues; and those involved in Web, CD-ROM, and other distance learning methods. A variety of needs were defined and will be ranked though a post-workshop survey. Development of core modular metadata training materials was designated as an immediate need. The FGDC will reconvene the workshop team September 25-28 in Charleston, South Carolina. Materials developed will be presented to a peer review panel, revised to include the ISO metadata standard, presented to the academic team for integration into GIS curricula, and presented to the distance learning team. Training materials will be developed both as downloadable files and as low-technology products. (Sharon Shin, Denver, 303-202-4230)

III. Notable Congressional Activity: No report.

IV. Press/Media Inquiries: No report.

V. FOIA Requests: No report.