Encyclopedia of Life Blog

NESCent, the National Evolutionary Synthesis Center, hosted representatives from EOL and the major national biology centers Oct 6-7.  The meeting focused on how EOL and the national centers can communicate effectively about science and can improve science education training and programs.  Although the centers have different foci (evolution = NESCent, ecological observations = NEON, plants = iPlant, mathematical biology = NIMBioS, biodiversity = EOL BioSynC, ecology = NCEAS), they have a common mission to advance scientific knowledge, to improve understanding about science, and to help train future scientists.  All of the centers host postdoctoral scientists, interns, and synthesis meetings, but their methods for training and communication vary widely. Centers use combinations of press releases, blogs, twitter, facebook, local NPR stations, local reporters, and news services to get their message out.  The centers range in age from 15 years (NCEAS) to 0 years (NEON) and we spent a lot of time discussing best practices and learning from the more senior centers.  EOL was represented by Audrey Aronowsky (Synthesis Group) and Tracy Barbaro (L&E Group).  The meeting was an excellent opportunity for EOL to collaborate with the national bio centers for potential EOL content, but more importantly for increasing the public’s awareness of and interest in science.

Hello from Fairfax, VA and the campus of George Mason University.  EOL has an exhibit and demonstration booth at the International Marine Conservation Congress, staffed by new EOL-er Jeff Holmes from Education/Learning/Outreach, EOL’s WhyReef specialist Beth Sanzenbacher, and me. We are here to spread the word about EOL; to give demonstrations of the site, Flickr uploading, LifeDesks, WhyReef, and EOL curating, and to talk about the EOL fellows program and proposing EOL synthesis meetings.

The response from the Marine Conservation community has been good so far.  Visitors have been enthusiastic about the Undergraduate Initiative to author species pages, becoming EOL content providers, and proposing synthesis meetings.

There have also been some great presentations on marine species (blue whales! spiny lobsters! oysters!), the design of marine protected areas, and coral reef conservation. The meeting is a great combination of presentations, workshops, discussion groups, and posters, so there is always something going on.  We hope that EOL’s presence at this meeting will stimulate the marine conservation community to become more involved with EOL.  I am sure that we will see lots more content and curators in the future!