Announcing the first iDigBio "Train-the-Trainers" Georeferencing Workshop
The Georeferencing Working Group at iDigBio is pleased to announce our first "Train-the-Trainers" Georeferencing Workshop for Thematic Collections Networks (TCNs) and others in engaged in the digitization of biological collections in the United States. The workshop will cover tools and techniques used to correctly interpret textual location data into spatial descriptions that can be used in mapping and analyses. Participants will learn the fundamentals of georeferencing best practices through a combination of lectures and hands-on exercises, including paper maps, the MaNIS Georeferencing Calculator, GEOLocate, BioGeomancer and online exercises. Special attention will be paid to the specific and unique georeferencing needs of the TCNs and their digitization activities.
This is a "train-the-trainers" workshop. Within one year of completion of this event (by October 12, 2013) participants are expected to organize and facilitate at least one multi-day georeferencing workshop targeted at the TCNs and other digitization projects of which the participants are representative.
The workshop leaders and trainers have extensive experience in workshops on this subject and have trained professionals around the world. Participants are expected to arrive having already reviewed prerequisite readings (TBA) and with a clear idea of how they intend to apply the skills they gain to benefit the activities of their TCN or other natural history digitization projects. Participants must bring their own laptops to this workshop.
The number of participants is limited but there are still 3 spaces available for this five-day workshop. If you are interested in attending, please submit an application describing the reason(s) for your interest in the workshop, the current and future projects that will benefit from your attendance, and any previous experience you have with georeferencing.
Applications should be submitted via email to iDigBio's Program Assistant, Cathy Bester, by August 1, 2012. The Georeferencing Working Group anticipates notifying applicants of decisions by August 7th, 2012.