RE: Environmental Data Directory

[Lee Belbin <lee_bel@antdiv.gov.au>]

>From Shawn:

>We must remember, however, that the web is just a tool.  Just by putting
metadata on the web will not guarantee success.  There must be either a
stick or a carrot (or both) to motivate people to participate (ie put
metadata in).  In Lee's case it appears there is some sort of stick (please
forgive me if I have it totally wrong) - ie you are required to provide it
in a particular format. 
>
>Lee, what are your main reasons for providing the metadata?  A personal
survey - hope you don't mind me asking.

The Australian Antarctic Data Centre has one major obligation, to provide
support to Antarctic research. The first part of this is to facilitate
effective communication or information (particularly data) within the
Australian Antartcic research program. Metadata is FUNDAMENTAL to this. That
is, we need to facilitate searching for data/information.

Second, we have an official obligation to the Madrid Protocol on Antarctica
to send all metadata records to the international Antarctic Data Centre
(called the Antarctic Master Directory or AMD) in Christchurch. This is
simply the international aspect. In Antarctica, this is a very significant
issue. In this case, short-circuiting rebuilding wheels and international
co-ordination are serious aspects of the need for this facility.

Until very recently, I have been a research scientist. I don't need
convincing of the value of metadata. There are no real 'stick' when one is
in an absolutely dismal situation without it.

We are however in a rather fabulous position as to the acquisition of
metadata from the 'generators' of data. We have a research proposal scheme
(ASAC) which all researchers must go through if they want to get to
Antarctica. A part of this is the REQUIREMENT for not only filling out
metadata but also the supply of the actual data to the Data Centre. If they
ever hope to get south again, they had better get these two components in
order. We have good records!

Does this help clarify my situation?

I am off to the far south of the 26th, in part to interview a
'cross-section' of expeditioners prior to implementing metadata entry etc.
They will be a 'captive audience' on Aurora Australis. I think it is only
fair to ask the 'users' / 'suppliers' first hand at this point.

Lee
Lee Belbin                                      ! "I have never been lost,
Manager, Australian Antarctic Data Centre       ! but I will admit to being
Australian Antarctic Division                   ! confused for several weeks".
Channel Highway, Kingston, Tas, Australia 7050  !
phone: 61 02 323 460     fax: 61 03 323 351     ! - Daniel Boone
Web: http://www.antdiv.gov.au