Highlights for March 8, 2001

I. Key Department/Bureau News: Nothing to report this week.

II. Agency Work on Presidential Initiatives

• Exploring Use of Gap Analysis Program (GAP) and Land Use History of North America (LUHNA) Program Data by the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science: Julie Prior-Magee, USGS Center for Biological Informatics, will meet with New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science staff on April 6 to discuss the use of GAP and LUHNA in the Topo New Mexico Project. Topo New Mexico is a map-making project that will guide 8th to 12th grade students in the construction of a 36 x 40 foot scale relief map of New Mexico. This map will be a permanent outdoor sculpture at the Museum. As part of this project, students will learn about the natural and cultural history of New Mexico. Discussion with museum staff will focus on the potential use of GAP and LUHNA data in the Topo New Mexico curriculum, as well as any informational displays for the public. (Julie Prior-Magee, Las Cruces, NM, 505/646-1084)

• NBII to Exhibit at AIBS 52nd Annual Meeting, From Biodiversity to Biocomplexity: Biodiversity around the globe is diminishing daily, and interdisciplinary collaboration is essential to quantify and protect it. Bringing together preeminent scientists to discuss the necessary transition to an interdisciplinary treatment of biodiversity issues, the American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS) annual meeting will have as keynote speaker Rita Colwell, Director of the National Science Foundation. The National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII) exhibit at AIBS will highlight the NBII’s recently-funded node development activities and also offer an overview of the Web site. The AIBS meeting will be held March 24-26 at the Key Bridge Marriott in Arlington, VA. (Annie Simpson, Reston, VA, 703/648-4281)

• Exploring Bioinformatics Partnerships with NASA : John Schnase from NASA Goddard Space Flight Center will visit the USGS Center for Biological Informatics on March 13 to explore possible collaborations between NASA Goddard and the Center. The focus of the meeting will be on both current and future efforts of the National Biological Information Infrastructure and related biological informatics activities as well as future directions for both the Gap Analysis Program and the Vegetation Mapping Program. (Mark Fornwall, Denver, CO, 303/202-4215)

III. Notable Congressional Activity: Nothing to report this week.

IV. Press/Media Inquiries: Nothing to report this week.

V. Key FOIA Requests: Nothing to report this week.