Nordic Biodiversity Informatics Network

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Nordic Biodiversity Informatics Network
Isabel Calabuig, Nodemanager DanBIF on behalf of
Henrik Balslev Head of Denmarks delegation to
GBIF Chairman of Governing Board of
DanBIF Professor of Botany, University of Aarhus,
Denmark
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A proposal to coordinate the Nordic countries
GBIF related activities was submitted to NOS-N
and the Nordic Council in December 2002 and
resubmitted in May 2003 to NOS-N
The proposal was submitted by Henrik Balslev,
Denmark Jukka Salo, Finland Stefan Claesson,
Sweden Øystein Wiig, Norway Starri
Heidmarsson, Iceland
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All Nordic countries are members of GBIF
Norway 2004
Iceland June 2001
Finland April 2001
Sweden February 2001
Denmark January 2001
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GBIFs international secretariat is located in a
Nordic country (Denmark, Copenhagen)
The Nordic countries are linked by cultural
bonds and share many traditions, including such
ones related to science
Co-ordination of Nordic participation in GBIF
could avoid duplication of efforts provide
critical mass increase Nordic benefits from
GBIF membership
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Nordic cultural cooperation is promoted by The
Nordic Council (Nordisk Råd) and
its sub-committee for research - Nordisk
Forskningspolitisk Råd http//www.norden.org/udda
nnelse/forskning/sk/vedtaegter.asp
The Joint Committee of the Nordic Natural
Science Research Councils (NOS-N) coordinates
Nordic projects (http//www.forskningsradet.no/fa
g/nt/nosn.html)
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The proposal suggests the establishment of six
activities
1. Nordic GBIF-nodes exchange of experience
2. Training of Nordic Research students in
Biodiversity Informatics
3. A Metadata Inventory of Nordic biodiversity
research collections
4. Collaboration on Biodiversity Informatics with
developing countries, the Baltic countries and
Russia
5. Conference on Nordic Biodiversity Informatics
Research in 2005
6. Co-ordination of the NordBIN network
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Proposed budget (x1000 DKK) 2004-2006
Activity/year 2004 2005 2006 Total
1. Node exchange 100 100 100 300
2. PhD course 150 75 75 300
3. Meta-data-inventory 100 50 50 200
4. Developing countries etc. 60 60 60 180
5. Conference in 2005 300 300
6. Network-coordination 255 225 225 705
Subtotal 665 810 510 1985
Overhead (20) 133 162 110 405
Total 798 972 620 2390
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Whats next ?

• Nordic Council (Nordisk Forskningspolitisk Råd)
• likes the idea, but wants NOS-N to take the
  lead.
• If NOS-N funds NordBIN then the Nordic Council
• will consider co-funding the project

2. NOS-N has debated the project. Some are in
favour, some feel it is not the right time, and
some feel that some of the proposed activities
belong in other agencies (e.g. NORFA). But If
three countries agree, the project will go ahead
!!
3. NOS-N will make a decision in mid-September
2003
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Thank you very much