Date: Mon, 21 Jun 2004 15:35:13 +0530 From: Subbiah Arunachalam <arun@mssrf.res.in> 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 <senthil@mssrf.res.in>. Fax: 044 2254 1319. Regards. Yours sincerely, Arun [Subbiah Arunachalam]