Purpose and Goals:

This session is a follow-on to the progress made in developing recommendations at the 1^st National Conference.  It will review those recommendations, review the status of the existing infrastructure and identify where gaps still need to be filled.  The emphasis will be on development of disciplinary capabilities, but also at how information systems can be federated to support the ultimate needs of integrated science.  The issue of sustainable communities has a necessary component of good scientific data and information to support understanding of the current situation as well as for forecasting and all other aspects of making good environmental decisions.

Proposed Outcomes:

1. It is envisioned that the recommendations of the 1^st Meeting will be updated in view of new developments and gaps as they are identified.         
2. We also will use this workshop to continue to build the community of practice in biodiversity and ecosystems informatics.  It can especially serve as a forum where different disciplines come together to look at interoperability for integrated science.         
3. We hope that some bilateral or multilateral ideas for projects or cooperation will emerge so that people will continue the discussion after the meeting.

Potential Presenters:

• Gladys Cotter, USGS, Associate Chief Biologist for Information
  The Developing Biodiversity Information Infrastructure: From Local to Global      
• Karen Siderelis, Geographic Information Officer, USGS
  Developing the National Spatial Data Information Infrastructure      
• Robin O’Malley, Fellow and Project Manager, H. John Heinz III Center for Science, Economics, and the Environment (Invited)
  The State of The Nation's Ecosystems:  Measuring the Lands, Waters and Living Resources of the United States       
• Robert S. Turner, Executive Director, SAMAB
  Developing the Southern Appalachian Regional Information System for Integrated Environmental Data