View source for VoCamp1

<div style="font-weight: bold; font-size: large; margin-bottom: 20px; text-align: center">VoCamp Home</div>

This is the home page for the "Phyloinformatics VoCamp" workshop event scheduled to take place in coordination with the Biodiversity Information Standards (TDWG) meeting in Montpellier, France, in November, 2009.  

== Quick links ==

* [[VoCamp/Participants| Participants]], with links to some of their projects
* [[VoCamp/Pitches| List of candidate projects]], contribute your idea 
* [[VoCamp Resources| Resources related to the VoCamp]] such as ontologies and other artefacts to be used during the VoCamp
* [[VoCamp/Background| Background & bootcamps]]
* <span class="plainlinks">[https://lists.nescent.org/mailman/private/phylo-vocamp1 Mailing list archive]</span> or our [[VoCamp/Meeting Notes|meeting notes]]
* [http://evoinfo.nescent.org/VoCamp1_Proposal Original VoCamp proposal]
* [http://www.tdwg.org/activities/phylogenetics/ TDWG Interest Group on Phylogenetics Standards]

== Overview ==

Integrating diverse biological data with the historical process of evolution is a grand challenge for 21st century biology. The interoperability of data from diverse fields (e.g., genetics, ecology, biodiversity, biomedicine) requires a technology infrastructure based on formalized, shared vocabularies. Developing such vocabularies is a community project. In order to build controlled vocabularies and ontologies, the [http://nescent.org National Evolutionary Synthesis Center] (NESCent) is sponsoring a "Phyloinformatics VoCamp".

The Phyloinformatics VoCamp is a hands-on meeting for investigators to create and develop ontologies and lightweight vocabularies in support of integration and semantic cross-linking of evolutionary data with its many related fields.  It will be held on November 7-11, 2009 in Montpellier, France, co-localized with the annual meeting of the <span class="plainlinks">[http://www.tdwg.org/ International Biodiversity Information Standards Organization (TDWG)]</span>.

== Schedule for the event ==

* Saturday, Nov 7, LIRMM
** Introductions 
** Pitches
* Sunday, Nov 8, LIRMM
* Tuesday, Nov 10, Le Corum
* Wednesday, Nov 11, Le Corum

== Desired outcomes ==

Desired outcomes for the period prior to the VoCamp
* participants are aware of shared information resources, and know how to use them
* participants (including organizers) know each other by name
* participants know what is expected of them 
* participants identify and respond to information and training needs 
* participants discuss shared objectives and consider possible "pitches"

Desired outcomes during Day 1 of the VoCamp 
* participants collectively formulate, present, review and revise "pitches" 
* participants self-organize into groups that will turn "pitches" into projects
* participants choose a pitch that represents the best use of their time
* groups assign roles and set goals

Desired outcomes during Days 2, 3 and 4 of the VoCamp
* groups work to advance group goals 
* groups report their progress during stand-ups and on the wiki 
* participants reivew other projects and offer constructive criticism

== How to prepare ==

explanation about background, pitches, setting goals, finding collaborators

== Travel, maps and logistics ==

If you will have cell service during the conference ([http://gofrance.about.com/cs/cellphonerentals/a/cellphone.htm will my phone work?]), please consider sharing your number with the organizers.  It will help us all to keep in touch, in case there is some confusion about locations or meals.  

'''Transportation & getting there:'''
* [http://www.lirmm.fr/xml/en/0003-27.html Getting to LIRMM] (location for Nov 7-8)
* [http://maps.google.fr/maps/ms?hl=fr&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=102460398547808584321.0004746cce7b5f7830612&ll=43.634305,3.845215&spn=0.00702,0.01929&z=16 Chateau d'O], the closest Tram stop station to LIRMM, about 800 m from LIRMM on the Blue tram line.. See also the [[Media:Trams Montpellier.pdf| Tram map]] for Montpellier.
* See also [http://www.tdwg.org/conference2009/travel/ travel to the TDWG conference] and the TDWG [http://www.tdwg.org/conference2009/montpellier/venue/ information on Le Corum] (location for Nov 10-11) and [http://www.tdwg.org/conference2009/montpellier/ Montpellier].
* Note that Montpellier has a network of public bicycles and protected bicycle parking at select tram stations. See [http://www.montpellier-agglo.com/tam/page.php?id_rubrique=273 here] for more info.

'''Food & coffee:'''
* See [http://www.tdwg.org/conference2009/montpellier/to-eat/ Places to Eat] for the TDWG conference for Nov 9 and after.
* While at LIRMM (Nov 7-8):
** A cafeteria is located within a grocery story within 20min walking distance, see the [[Media:LIRMM-to-cafeteria.pdf|map for how to get there for lunch]].
** The organizers will buy ground coffee, and a local staff will lend a coffee machine. We will ask for a per-cup donation to defray costs.

'''Language translation:'''
* [http://babelfish.yahoo.com/BabelFish Yahoo BabelFish]
* [http://translate.google.com Google Translate]

'''Weather:'''
* Recent weather in Montpellier has been cloudy with showers and a daily high in the upper 60s F.  
** Current [http://www.wunderground.com/global/stations/07643.html weather in Montpellier]
** Past weather, in terms of average daily highs and lows, has been: 
*** October: daily high of 67 F (19 C), low of 53 F (12 C)
*** November: daily high of 57 F (14 C), low of 42 F (6 C)

== Acknowledgements ==

The VoCamp event is an official activity of the [http://www.tdwg.org/activities/phylogenetics/ TDWG Interest Group on Phylogenetic Standards] and takes place through the generous support of [http://nescent.org NESCent], which funded a [http://evoinfo.nescent.org/VoCamp1_Proposal VoCamp proposal] written by the organizers: 
* Nico Cellinese
* Karen Cranston 
* Hilmar Lapp
* Sheldon MacKay
* Enrico Pontelli
* Arlin Stoltzfus

The VoCamp proposal, in turn, builds on previous support from NESCent, which sponsored the [http://evoinfo.nescent.org Evolutionary Informatics Working Group].  The EvoInfo working group, which was active from 2006 to 2009, spawned the NeXML, CDAO and PhyloWS projects, and helped to organize 2 hackathons. 

The organizers also thank [http://tdwg.org TDWG] and [http://www.lirmm.fr LIRMM] for support. 

[[Category:Vocamp]]
[[Category:CDAO]]
[[Category:Metadata]]
[[Category:Standards]]
[[Category:NeXML]]
[[Category:Ontology]]