Download Environmental Thesaurus/Terminology Workshop

Environmental Thesaurus/Terminology Workshop
International Environment House (UNEP regional Office for Europe)
Geneva, Switzerland
Draft Agenda (Revised 15 Feb. 2004)
14-15 April 2004
Purpose:
Bring together the major providers of environmental terminologies to discuss the
status of their terminologies, how they are applying new technologies, and how
these resources can be “integrated” using new technologies.
Objectives:
Bring together major providers of environmental thesauri and provide a forum for
discussion about the current use and future of their resources
Present the concept of web services and demonstrate a prototype of several
simple services
Facilitate discussion among the participants to determine whether this approach
can be useful and if other groups are interested in implementing these services,
developing new ones, etc.
Collect information from participants that can lead to an enhanced terminology
web page through the collection of key information about each terminology
Present key components of terminology management including the terminology
types and the concept of different behaviors that influence how and what
services are provided
Identify a research agenda and possible funding opportunities to move the
process forward
Create an outcome relevant to one or more of the topical focus areas identified
as being of interest to the EPA and EEA – children’s health, biodiversity,
chemicals, etc. so that the results can be presented at the Ministerial Meeting in
May.
Note: Final agenda will be circulated in late March when presentations have been identified
Day 1 am: Workshop Introduction
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Welcome and Opening Remarks (UNEP Director)
Participant introductions
Ecoinformatics partnership and objectives of the workshop (B. Bargmeyer)
Presentation on types and varieties of terminology resources and technology
approaches (G. Hodge)
Introduction of web services concept (T. Lynch)
Coffee break
Overview of Existing Systems and Use Scenarios
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Overview of existing environmental thesaurus/terminology initiatives
(Participants to prepare one-pages overviews using a common format) – 10
minutes each
EARTh
GEMET
EPA TRS
Biodiversity Thesaurus
Agrovoc
ITIS
USGS Thesaurus
Envoc
Etc. (list to be finalised in consultation with the presenters)
Lunch
Day 1 pm - Continuation of the presentations
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Presentation of use cases and user needs, including multilingual
consideration; needs of different client groups
Possible presentation by donor community (?)
Coffee break
Continuation of the presentations
Reception
Day 2 am - Presentation of Ecoinformatics Web Service concept:
Demonstration of Ecoinformatics Prototype
Discussion
Coffee break
Next Steps and Research Agenda
Lunch
Day 2 pm - Next Steps and Research Agenda contd.
Discussion
Coffee break
Wrap-Up
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Summarization of recommendations and next steps
Concluding remarks
Closure of the workshop (UNEP representative)