Workshop to be held in Washington, D.C., Dec. 1-2, 2009; Enabling Biodiversity Research: The Roles of Information and Support Networks

地球上绝大多数的植物、动物和微生物仍然没有学名，我们也不知道它们的自然历史、功能作用或它们所包含的遗传和生化资源。由于这些生物通过产生氧气、降解废物、净化空气和水、提供食物、建筑材料和药品以及一系列其他生态系统服务，为人类提供了一个宜居的星球，因此迫切需要确定我们周围未知生物多样性的规模。作为生物多样性研究基础的协调和支助有很大一部分是由非政府组织和机构提供的。该项目将支持一项讲习班活动，将这一研究界的代表聚集在一起：1)编制一份目前提供的各种扶持支持的简编；2)找出这种支持方面的重大差距；3)提出填补这些差距的机制；4)制定加强社区不同要素之间沟通与合作的战略。来自世界各地的约40名代表生物多样性研究要素的支持网络的个人将参加为期两天的讨论，以考虑应该指导探索地球上未知的生物多样性维度的关键科学问题。讲习班参与者将审查目前支持生物多样性研究所需的能力(包括人力资源)，以及支持基础设施方面的主要差距。研讨会将于2009年12月1日至2日在华盛顿特区的美国国家科学院举行。讲习班的结果将以报告的形式提供，在讲习班结束后不久将张贴征求意见，并分发给与会者和感兴趣的各方。

The vast majority of the Earth's plants, animals and microorganisms still do not have scientific names, nor do we know their natural history, functional roles, or the genetic and biochemical resources they contain. Because these organisms provide human beings with a livable planet by producing oxygen, degrading wastes, cleaning the air and water, providing food, building materials and pharmaceuticals, and a whole host of other ecosystem services, there is a pressing need to determine the dimensions of the unknown biodiversity that surrounds us. A large proportion of the coordination and support that serves as the foundation for biodiversity research is provided by non-governmental organizations and institutions. This project will support a workshop activity to bring together representatives from this research community to: 1)Develop a compendium of the kinds of enabling support currently being provided; 2)Identify significant gaps in this support; 3) Propose mechanisms to fill those gaps; and 4) Develop strategies for strengthening communication and cooperation among the various elements of the community. Approximately forty individuals, representing support networks for elements of biodiversity research from around the world, will engage in two days of discussions, to consider the key scientific questions that should guide exploration of the Earth's unknown dimensions of biodiversity. Workshop participants will examine what is the current capacity (including human resources) needed to support biodiversity research, and what are the major gaps in the support infrastructure. The workshop will be held on December 1-2, 2009 at the National Academy of Sciences, in Washington DC. The results of the workshop will be made available as a report that will be posted for comment soon after the workshop has been completed and distributed to participants and interested parties.