• Campuses Move Against SARS with Information, Other Measures
  • Science Academy Picks Kroemer
  • CUE Approves UC Contract
  • Ready to Rock 'n Roll
  • May 21 Set for 'Reflection'
  • Albanese Awarded a Guggenheim
  • Center to Expand Access to Ecology Data Networks
  • 'Zero Tolerance' Policies Becoming Sticky Webs
  • Manzanita to Get Faculty Director
  • Layoff Policy Under Revision
  • Staff Shine Despite Rain
  • Work/Life Juggle Complicated by Iraq War
  • 2005 LANL Contract Open to Bids
  • 2003 UCSB Alumni Awardees to Be Honored at May 31 Banquet
  • Students Approve Parking Lock-in Fee
  • Campus Notes
  • Calendar
  • Credits
    •

    Center to Expand Access to Ecology Data Networks

    By EILEEN CONRAD

    Understanding complex inteactions' relies on integrating immense amounts of data as diverse as climatological records, spatial distributions of individuals, changes in biodiversity over space and time, patterns and processes of ecosystem functioning, and much more, according to Jim Reichman, director of the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS) at UCSB.
    Research at NCEAS, which is based on the notion of using existing data to address ecological questions, has revealed the need for more generic access to the extremely valuable resources that reside in laboratories, agencies, museums, libraries, research stations, and personal computers–all in different forms, formats, and storage systems. Nearly all this data is unavailable, even to those who need it most.
    "Only a tiny fraction–perhaps 5 percent or less–of what scientists have learned and measured in the natural environment has ever been published or produced in a form available to the research community," Reichman noted, comparing the situation to that of an art museum with only 2 percent of its collections on display.
    Recognizing the potential value of existing complex data sets and the need for new approaches to assembling, accessing, and synthesizing this information, the NCEAS has developed a powerful new Internet computing system with software capable of making accessible the world's immense store of ecological knowledge.
    The core element of the project, called the Network for Biocomplexity, is a data management system for scientists and research groups that allows both local information management and, at the researchers' discretion, access by a broader range of users.
    "The ability to extract useful information from these huge electronic repositories of data is fundamental to solving many of our most vexing environmental problems," said Reichman, professor of ecology, evolution and marine biology.
    With the support of a $700,000 grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, NCEAS is working with leading scientists to identify ecological data systems to incorporate into the network, introduce its capabilities to potential users, and involve scientists in using the tools and sharing their research data.
    Recent research topics at the center have included analysis of large scale processes, complex population dynamics, interactions within and between ecological communities, analysis of broad biogeographical patterns, development of new analytical and statistical methods, projects related to resource management and conservation, and ecological informatics. In addition, several projects have revolved around areas outside the core of ecology, such as in evolution and ecological economics.
    "Ultimately, scientists everywhere will be able to conduct larger-scale studies involving urgent issues that have been intractable because the information couldn't be accessed effectively," Reichman said.