Workshop

“Implementing the International Geo Sample Number in Geological Sample Curation”

organized jointly by SESAR and NGDC
February 26 & 27, 2007
Boulder, CO

This workshop is targeted at curators of marine, lacustrine, and terrestrial geological samples to jointly address issues concerning the application of the System for Earth Sample Registration, SESAR, and the International Geo Sample Number, IGSN, into an actual curatorial environment based on well-defined best practices and procedures for sample registration. The broad use of unique sample identifiers is becoming increasingly important and urgent with the rapidly expanding network of digital information resources about samples.

The goal of this workshop is to define procedures for registration of samples with SESAR that complement existing sample management procedures in the curatorial and academic environment and that ensure that sample metadata are entered into and synchronized among different data systems that store and manage such information (SESAR, curators’ databases, the Index to Marine and Lacustrine Samples, and other sample catalogs) in the most efficient way.

Outcomes of this workshop will be the topic of a session at the planned 30th Anniversary Curators Meeting hosted by NGDC in September of 2007.

The workshop is supported by SESAR through NSF grant OCE-0552123.

Logistics

Travel
Expenses for airline travel to Denver International Airport (DEN) will be reimbursed by SESAR up to $500. Please contact Rusty Lotti Bond (curator@ldeo.columbia.edu) if you require additional travel funds.

Please, make your airline reservation as soon as possible.

Fly to Denver International Airport (DIA), which is about 50 miles southeast of Boulder. Check ttp://www.flydenver.com/gt/index.asp for transportation options from the airport to Boulder. A good choice is SuperShuttle Boulder -- they will drop you off and pick you up at the Boulderado. Reservations highly recommended (303) 227-0000; http://www.bouldersupershuttle.com/.

The conveners will provide transportation from the hotel to the meeting place. Please avoid car rental.

Accommodations:
Boulderado Hotel
2115 Thirteenth Street
Boulder, CO 80302
303-442-4344
800-433-4344

Please contact the hotel for your room reservation as soon as possible. Room charges and taxes will be paid directly by SESAR. You will need to pay for your incidentals at the hotel.

Meeting Location:
NCAR Center Green Campus, Building 1, room 3131 (third floor)
3080 Center Green Drive, Boulder
http://www.ucar.edu/org/bouldermap.shtml

Meeting Schedule:
Sunday, Feb. 25
06:30pm Meet at the bar of the Boulderado Hotel (optional)

Monday, Feb. 26
08:00am Transportation to meeting location
08:30am Workshop starts
12:00 – 1:00pm Lunch break
05:00pm End of 1 st day
06:30pm Group Dinner (optional, please confirm if you want to participate)

Tuesday, Feb. 27
08:00am Transportation to meeting location
08:30am Start of 2nd day
12:30pm End of workshop
01:30pm Curators Discussion Group (optional)

Note to Attendees: Workshop Preparation
The goal of this workshop is to define procedures for registration of samples handled by repositories and museums with SESAR (who registers, when to register, what is registered etc.). We want to come up with procedures that make the various data systems that store and manage sample information (curators' databases, the Index to Marine and Lacustrine Samples, SESAR, and other sample catalogs) complementary and allow sample metadata to be synchronized among the systems in the most efficient way.

We ask that each curator, by February 10, provide an overview of their in-house database including details of how it is implemented (software), what data is stored and when, who enters data, how it is being used, is it web-based, is it available to the public, etc. We would also appreciate if you list any questions you would like to pose regarding repositories such as funding issues (especially database/data management), curatorial procedures. This information will give a head-start on planning our discussions.

We anticipate that the focus on sample registration will end around noon on the second day of the meeting. That afternoon would be a good time for curators to gather for a discussion of sample management systems – design, integration, funding. The goal of this discussion is to work toward a plan to present at the September Curators Meeting this September. At the time you send your summary, please advise if you wish to participate.