Sustain what? Mission to explore earth's species and conserve biodiversity

Arizona State University, Scottsdale AZ

Investigators

Abstract

This project will be host a Biodiversity Conference in New York City from November 6-9, 2010 for the purpose of creating a blueprint for a coordinated mission of species exploration, inspiring public participation, and assessing impacts on science and society. This conference will assemble leaders from such diverse fields as taxonomy, ecology, evolutionary biology, biomimicry, computer engineering and grid computing, sustainability, climate change, history, and sociology. National and international perspectives will be represented as well as views of scientists involved in several related biodiversity initiatives, including the CollectionsWeb RCN, BHL, Encyclopedia of Life, CBoL, and PBI projects. The workshop will explore needs with regard to collections infrastructure, cyberinfrastructure, digitization, and the workforce; strategic goals to rapidly accelerate rate of species discovery by an order of magnitude; and strategic guidelines for assessing community needs over the decade ahead.