image University of Colorado Boulder campus aerial

University of Colorado campus aerial. C. Cass. 2010

Biodiversity Informatics Training

The Biodiversity Informatics Training Workshop (BITW), June 24-30, 2012, will provide participants with the training and experience to work with primary biodiversity data sources and new tools necessary to become proficient in biodiversity informatics and conduct biodiversity research. Led by experienced informaticists and researchers, the BITW will emphasize the use and analysis of aggregated biodiversity data from VertNet, and other sources, for a wide of variety of research.

1 Description 2 Application 3 Trainers 4 More

Workshop deadlines

All applications materials and recommendations must be received by 11:59pm PT on January 10, 2012 for consideration.

Who should attend?

Advanced undergraduates, recent post baccalaureates, and early-career graduate students currently working, or interested in a career in a biodiversity related field, including, but not limited to, ecology, conservation, geography, biology, environmental science, computer science, and library science.

Workshop description

During the course of five days, participants will work closely with trainers to address compelling biodiversity research questions, focusing on the entire scope of a research project, from initial data acquisition to tools for data evaluation to analysis and finally, project dissemination and outreach. The workshop will include large and small group exercises on a common curriculum as well as the opportunity for participants to discuss and explore individual research questions with trainers. During the workshop, participants will explore and utilize:

  • Data sources for discovery, acquisition, data standards, database creation and organization (VertNet, GBIF, Darwin Core)
  • Organization, analysis, work flow, and data improvement tools
  • Biodiversity measurement and analyses techniques (e.g., species richness, turnover)
  • Species distribution modeling approaches
  • Dissemination, education and outreach mechanisms (e.g., citizen science)
At the end of the week, participants should leave the workshop with:
  • an understanding of the evolution of, and the work flows within, a research project
  • a set of basic skills to use data repositories and informatics and analytic tools, and understand which tools are appropriate for tasks
  • knowledge of the abundant resources and additional training available to them.