Date: Mon, 21 Jun 2004 15:35:13 +0530
From: Subbiah Arunachalam
Friends:
Sub: Braianstorming Session on Databases for Agricultural Research in India.
In association with the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, we at the
Bioinformatics Centre of the M S Swaminathan Research Foundation are holding
a one-day Brainstorming Session on Databases for Agricultural Research in
India in New Delhi on 11 July 2004, 10.00 - 15.30.
The purpose of the workshop is to decide on the databases to be developed in
India. About 5-7% (depending on the database one uses) of the world's
literature on agriculture and related areas is produced in India. It will be
a good idea to have them all available readily. For this reason, we propose
that we discuss the following databases:
1. A Research Output Database - This is a bibliographic database of all of
India's literature ouitput in agriculture, horticulture, veterinary science
and fisheries science. Right now this information is scattered over several
databases, mostly produced outside India, such as CAB Abstracts.
2. A Full-text database of All Indian Research Papers - This could be either
Interoperable Institutional Archives, each institution maintaining its own
papers, or a nationwide centralised Archive, say maintained by NAAS.
3. A Database on Research Projects - As different agencies support
agricultural research and different institutions perform , a regularly
updated database of projects will be useful. This database will also be
helpful in identifying experts in different specialties and research fronts.
Such a database assumes special importance in the context of current
developments in biotechnology and bioinformatics.
Ideas on other useful databses are welcome. Needless to say that all these
databases will be electronic and readily accessible in the public domain.
Attendance at the brainstorming session will be by invitation only. Invitees
include eminent researchers, information scientists and specialists in
information systems and database production.
The workshop will be held at the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences,
located between the National Physical Laboratory and Todapur (on the road
from Hotel Siddharth at the east Patel Nagar-Pusa roundabout going to
Indrapuri).
Because of limited financial resources, we will not be able to cover the
travel costs of outstation participants. However, we will provide a day's
accommodation and local hospitality to outstation participants.
We will be grateful for your suggestions on who should be invited to this
event. Please send your suggestions to my colleague Mr Senthilkumaran,
Associate Director, Informatics, MSSRF at . Fax: 044
2254 1319.
Regards.
Yours sincerely,
Arun
[Subbiah Arunachalam]
