Workshop Agenda

Tentative Agenda As of April 23, 2001

Listed speakers have been confirmed

Tuesday Morning (8:30a), May 1, 2001

Title of Session: Gaining Knowledge from Data--the Long View

Description of Session: The session will outline the big picture, with keynote address and plenary talks on the importance of data centers to science by renowned scientists, leaders of the global change research program, and industry. Discussion with the participants will be an important start to the dialog about the future role of data centers.

Speakers:

Keynote Speaker - Francis Bretherton, University of Wisconsin, Madison (subject: Shared Use Environmental Information Systems)

Plenary Speakers:

Thomas Holm, USGS-EROS Data Center (subject: The Challenges for Data Centers)

Jack Dangermond, Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (subject: Gaining Knowledge from Geospatial Data) (invited)

Karen Siderelis, USGS Geographic Information Office (subject: Data, Information and Knowledge at a Science Agency)

Tom Barclay, Microsoft (subject: Private Industry Partnerships Around Data)

Michael Crowe, National Climatic Data Center (subject: The Evolving Role of Data Centers)

Tuesday Afternoon, May 1, 2001

Title of Session: The Challenge of Bridging the Gap from Data to Knowledge

Description of Session: One of the challenges we face today is effectively utilizing the vast amount of data that are being collected in an effort to address the questions about our Earth and its environment. Many tools, procedures and methods have been and are being developed which can and will help us solve this problem. This session looks at how we currently get from data to information and what the future looks like in this area.

Session Chairs: Beth Duff, USGS; Howard Diamond, NOAA NESDIS; Dave Clark, NOAA NESDIS

Speakers:

Keynote Speaker - Dave Jones, StormCenter.Com, LLC (subject: Bridging the Gap Between Science & Society through Remote Sensing, GIS and the Weather)

Plenary Speakers:

Kris Verdin, USGS/EROS Data Center (subject: Development and Applications of the National Elevation Dataset)

Steve Ekblad, USDA/NCRS (subject: Web Soil Data Viewer: Transforming Data into Information via a N-tier Architecture)

Eric Kihn, NOAA/National Geophysical Data Center (subject: Stopping a Tidal Wave: Intelligent Methods for Investigating Incredible Data Volume)

Breakout Panels: Three Breakout sessions consisting of the plenary speakers and chaired by the data session co-chairs will address the important questions: 1) What are the barriers to developing environmental data into information; 2) What are some of the ways that you have overcome these barriers; 3) What research in data management is needed to facilitate the use of environmental data?

Panel Leads (and chairs):

Eric Kihn, NOAA (Chair: David Clark, NOAA)

Steve Ekblad, USDA/NCRS (Chair: Howard Diamond, NOAA)

Kris Verdin, USGS/EROS Data Center (Chair: Beth Duff, USGS)

Wednesday Morning, May 2, 2001

Title of Session: Going from Data to Information

Plenary Speaker: Thomas Ackerman, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Chief Scientist for DOE ARM

Description of Session: Panel discussion on solutions and issues on handling of metadata at environmental data centers.

Speakers:

Session Chair - Joyce Tichler, Brookhaven National Laboratory

Panelists:

Raymond McCord, DOE ARM Archive, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (subject: Data to Information: Establishing Context with Metadata)

Howard Diamond, NOAA NESDIS (subject: The Importance of Metadata in NOAA and its Vital Link in Providing Access to Environmental Information)

Sharon Shin, Center for Biological Informatics, USGS (subject: Building Bridges Between Data and Information. Metadata Issues to Solution--the National Biological Information Infrastructure)

Description of Session: Panel discussion on intellectual property protection efforts and their potential impact on data centers.

Speakers:

Session Chair - Robert R. Downs, CIESIN/Columbia University

Panelists:

Henry Horbaczewski, Reed-Elsevier Inc

Paul Uhlir, National Research Council

Harlan Onsrud, University of Maine

Wednesday Afternoon, May 2, 2001

Title of Session: The Goal: Knowledge and Wisdom as Endpoints in the Continuum

Description of Session: Panel, with plenary speaker as lead-in

Speakers:

Plenary Speaker - Steve Goodman, Marshall Space Flight Center (subject: Feasibility of a National Environmental Change Information Service (NECIS): Bridging the Gap Between Data Producers and Decision Makers)

Panelists:

Ted Habermann, NOAA/NGDC (subject: Frontiers of the Spectrum: Building Knowledge into Wisdom)

Chris Kummerow, Colorado State University (subject: Understanding the Global Rainfall Patterns - What We Know, What We Don't Know & How Data Systems Can Help)

Jerry Garegnani, ESRI (subject: The Ultimate Goal, Exercising Wisdom By Applying Knowledge)

Carl Reed, Open GIS Consortium (subject: Knowledge Enhancement Through Geospatial Interoperability and Open GIS Interfaces)

Howard Burrows, Raytheon Technical Services Company (subject: The Social Dimensions of Knowledge Creation)

Wednesday Night Social (optional)

Wednesday Night Social We have arranged a social for Wednesday evening (May 2, 2001) following the day's activities -- approximately 6:00 pm. The social will be held poolside (pool tables) at Coopersmiths in the historic, downtown Fort Collins Old Town Square. There, we will enjoy a heavy appetizer buffet, a variety of Coopersmith's own brew, and lots of mingling, pool, darts, etc. The pre-paid fee of $15 (checks payable to Coopersmiths) covers food and games. Drinks are not included. Payment is to be made on Tuesday morning at the Registration/Check-in table. This is the only time tickets will be available -- if you want to go and will not be at the conference Tuesday AM -- please call (970) 226-9303 with your reservation. Please call us at (970) 226-9303 if you would like more information.

Thursday Morning, May 3, 2001

Title of Session: Gaining Knowledge from Data--Future Roles for Data Centers

Description of Session: Plenary speaker followed by three interactive presentations of conclusions, recommendations and actions developed in Data, Information and Knowledge sessions.

Speakers:

Plenary Speakers:

Tom Stohlgren, USGS/Colorado State University

Raymond D. Watts, USGS

Conclusions, recommendations and actions:

Data--chaired by Beth Duff (USGS), Dave Clark (NOAA-NGDC), and Howard Diamond (NOAA)

Information--chaired by Joyce Tichler (DOE) and Robert R. Downs (CIESIN/Columbia University)

Knowledge--chaired by Lola Olsen (NASA) and Paul Filmer (NSF)

12:00 noon Adjourn

Return to the DIWG Workshop 2001 Homepage