Project Spotlight...
IIa and Biodiversity Information Delivery Services
NBII
Since 1993, IIa has been working with the U. S. Geological Survey's
(USGS) Office of Biological Information (BIO), which coordinates the National
Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII). The NBII is a gateway for
natural science and information dissemination. As a public-private partnership
of more than 300 (and growing) international, federal, state, and local
government agencies; interagency, academic, and private industry groups;
and non-profit organizations, the NBII provides access to the nation's
biological resources information through a distributed, web-based information
system. (www.nbii.gov)
IIa provides information management, technology, and strategic planning services to the NBII. As a senior consultant, IIa President Bonnie Carroll advises the NBII on national and international program activities. In addition, several employees work full time on various projects as biodiversity information specialists and program coordinators in Oak Ridge (IIa headquarters) and in Reston, Virginia (USGS headquarters).
The NBII collaborates bi-laterally and multi-nationally with organizations that are developing information systems to support biological information. IIa helps the NBII identify strategic partnerships, assists in grant writing, and coordinates multi-national workshops and exchanges with organizations including NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization), the United Nations, and the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF).
In
the USGS Reston office, Biodiversity Information Specialist Andrea Grosse
helps coordinate the NBII's international program with emphasis on Latin
American activities to include an information network on invasive species
for North America, South America, and the Caribbean. Another of IIa's
Biodiversity Information Specialists, Annie Simpson is developing a national
information node for invasive species and recently journeyed to China
to attend an international invasive species meeting (see IIa Staffer in
China). Vivian Nolan is coordinating a new thematic node for wildlife
disease and human health issues, focusing on chronic wasting disease issues
and zoonotic activities. Since coming on board in June, Vivian Hutchison
has been developing the NBII's Botany page and will serve as content manager
for that site. From the Oak Ridge office, Emily Medley (photo
left, Emily receives "thank you" from USGS staff) manages
content for the NBII's international resources page and coordinates international
outreach efforts. Also in Oak Ridge, Kathryn Johnson provides program
support for NBII-related work. IIa employees working on the NBII team
are a multi-tasking, 
multi-talented
group of individuals dedicated to the freedom of information, preservation
of natural resources, and success of synergistic partnerships.
Although not a part of the contractual work for the USGS, Bonnie Carroll and staff have been instrumental at the national level, through the NBII Coalition, in maintaining a high level of visibility for the NBII. Bonnie has briefed several Congressmen and women on the work of the NBII and regularly communicates the NBII's progress to key local representatives. Steady increases in the NBII's budget have resulted from this hard work and the program continues to develop, serving a wide and growing audience. (photo right, Bonnie Carroll and U.S. Congressman Zach Wamp)
SAIN
Like its parent NBII, SAIN (Southern Appalachian Information Node) is a public/private consortium. It provides web-based access to regional biological information resources and is a one-stop-shop for integrated science including biological and socio-economic data, and other information created and coordinated in the region (sain.nbii.gov/). SAIN's site includes information resources, data, experts, maps, and educational tools that can
be
used in decision-making about resource management, use, and conservation.
Partners include Oak Ridge National Laboratory, federal agencies like the
National Forest Service and U.S.G.S., the Universities of Tennessee and
Georgia, elementary schools, municipal governments, and private and non-profit
organizations.
IIa is a vital player in Sain's development, creating the web portal
(sain.nbii.gov) following NBII's "look and feel." Built from
a web-enabled database, the portal stores information resources identified
by IIa staff who include them in an inventory of regional biological information
products. Staff collect and analyze web-available and commercial products,
working with the product producers to provide access through SAIN's user-friendly
interface. The node includes a powerful Geographical Information System
(GIS) housed at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville Campus.
Bonnie Carroll, liaison with NBII headquarters in Reston and Co-chair
of the NBII Coalition steering committee), Franciel Azpurua (Project Manager),
Shelaine Curd (specialist in biodiversity and ecosystems informatics),
Kathryn Johnson (project support), and Joe Henderson (Web Master) are
key IIa personnel involved in this exciting project.