EDIT WP6

Objectives

• Define and develop the means to provide access to the currently highly fragmented taxonomic information source.
• Formalise distributed, taxon-specific committees to lead expert networks for demonstrator taxa.
• Define what is needed from the cyber-environment for taxonomic Web content to be delivered.
• Assess barriers to implementation.

Description of work

6.0 Integration with other workpackages

• Coordinate activities in WP6 with other work packages to maximise benefit and minimise duplication of effort.
• Define areas of responsibility within an overall EDIT strategy.

6.1 Content, structure and presentation

• Design structure and plan content for exemplar web-revisions. Select target taxa (informed by Activity 3), including those where new knowledge needs to be created.

6.2 Define what is needed from the cyber-environment

• Working closely with WP Berlin, describe specific needs of the IT environment to deliver taxonomic content for a web revision.
• Assess and determine requirements of the Web interface to maximise access to content.
• Investigate and recommend means by which Web-content can be updated regularly to provide current taxonomic content for users.
• Assess the best model for managing taxonomic revisions in the Web-environment (centralised or distributed).

6.3 Community structuring and expert taxonomic networks

• Investigate mechanisms to develop taxonomic or regional communities 1) to promote an agenda for unifying European effort in revisionary Web-based taxonomy; 2) to provide the committed team to update and revise the web-located taxon information node under their charge.
• Derive general methods of implementation for all taxa. Promulgate, through NoE leadership, the management system beyond the Network so as to engage the taxonomic community across and beyond Europe (European leadership to encourage global partnership).
• Encourage community ownership and responsibility for sustaining products.

6.4 Publication within the Web-environment

• Examine ways of crediting content-contributing taxonomists and their institutions for publishing their work in cyber-space and as part of networks.
• Investigate means of developing an effective system of peer review for Web revisions.
• Explore and promote resolution of protecting intellectual property while encouraging open access.
• Identify content of International Codes of Nomenclature that conflict with Web-publication and promote means of resolution.
• Compare strengths and weaknesses of paper- and Web-based system (fixed versus fluid systems), notably data storage and the addition of new data. Explore possibility of the dual medium for taxonomy.
• Explore different models for Web-revision information access: centralised or distributed.