User talk:Scmdc

SCMDC Database Project - Outline of Task
Here is a background of the work that has been done to the present, and what we think will happen next.

We have been looking at two database systems.

1. Kioloaencyclopaedia (seen notes attached) is a simple system created by ANU so that students can create species/object “pages” and undertake the referencing of their specimen. These pages are then verified by a senior scientist before they will appear on the “official” database. Each page appears to be a Word document page. Pat Backwell BoZo prof. said she wanted it a simple as possible so it could be managed in-house and used by anyone.

This database has been offered to us free and Luke Brown (our new Marine Education Officer) intends to use it with his school and community groups. He (and others) will need training so that they can maximise its potential and understand how it is maintained. We will also need to “brand” it for us, which means the creation of a website, like the Kioloa one.

2. If we are to be taken seriously by senior academics globally, we will need a database that is more complex and which has many more possibilities for manipulation of data. Having asked our advisers, they have suggested KE EMU (see notes) as being an industry standard for Museums – we don’t know who else uses it. It is Australian software, and is apparently known and used around the world.

On March 28th Sydney Uni is hosting a meeting of top scientists for us. They will meet to discuss what in their opinion should comprise our Research Agenda, and what management structure needs to be set up from this to ensure its continuing validity. After this meeting, Terry Caelli, Prof of Metadata ANU will, with others act as our IT adviser and help us to decide which database system we should go with. Southern Rivers Catchment Management Authority are also considering establishing a database, so hopefully we can agree the same system, so we will need to liaise with them.

A time constraint is April 15th 2007, when the next round of Envirofund applications needs to be in. We have been encouraged to apply, with the costs of the database as an element of the application, so we want to have made decisions and got costings before then.

So………………….. that is where we are up to, if you are interested in working on this important project, we will be delighted. First job is to get to know the Kioloa database and to establish the front end stuff for SCMDC.

''Can I suggest that the first task we should do is to start using this Wiki for collaborative project management. The advantage will be to enable those working on the project to see past and present thinking on the topic/topics. We all probably get a lot of emails in one day and sometimes its a bit of a struggle trying to tame the information flow. Thoughts please. Phil B''

Having read the background notes, please let me know what your thoughts are and if you wish to meet to discuss how to move forwards on this.

Looking forward to hearing from you both soon,

Aye, Libby