Comments on: Now then, where was I? http://www.vaviblog.com/now-then-where-was-i/ A voice for N.I. Vavilov Sun, 18 Jul 2010 14:10:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Eliseu Bettencourt http://www.vaviblog.com/now-then-where-was-i/comment-page-1/#comment-2074 Eliseu Bettencourt Thu, 10 Dec 2009 12:16:42 +0000 http://www.vaviblog.com/?p=1362#comment-2074 Hurrah for the Genebank Database Heaven!! I still remember the days of dBaseIII and how proud we're to be able to store large sets of data in an electronic manner but, most of all, to be able to retrieve meaningful information out of it, though through a somewhat complex and laborious reporting functionality. Long go those days and a long and arduous road has taken us to where we stand today: web services, global and regional information systems, crop specific databases, etc., etc., maintaining and making available information in quantity and quality never seen before. And it doesn't stop here ...since there's still so much to achieve, in spite of the enormous accomplishments made so far!! So, we still have so much to expect and gain from the efforts of the so often forgotten thousands of people that every day buckle down over keyboards to make the miracle of PGR information a reality. THANKS!! I do acknowledge, commend and support your efforts. Last but not least!! Should we blame Vavilov for, so inconsiderately, set off to his collecting missions without a GPS and laptop leaving us now whining because we don't manage, to the distance of a click, figure out the exact place where he collected a sample 100 years ago? Hurrah for the Genebank Database Heaven!!
I still remember the days of dBaseIII and how proud we’re to be able to store large sets of data in an electronic manner but, most of all, to be able to retrieve meaningful information out of it, though through a somewhat complex and laborious reporting functionality. Long go those days and a long and arduous road has taken us to where we stand today: web services, global and regional information systems, crop specific databases, etc., etc., maintaining and making available information in quantity and quality never seen before. And it doesn’t stop here …since there’s still so much to achieve, in spite of the enormous accomplishments made so far!! So, we still have so much to expect and gain from the efforts of the so often forgotten thousands of people that every day buckle down over keyboards to make the miracle of PGR information a reality. THANKS!! I do acknowledge, commend and support your efforts.
Last but not least!! Should we blame Vavilov for, so inconsiderately, set off to his collecting missions without a GPS and laptop leaving us now whining because we don’t manage, to the distance of a click, figure out the exact place where he collected a sample 100 years ago?

]]> By: Dirk Enneking http://www.vaviblog.com/now-then-where-was-i/comment-page-1/#comment-2073 Dirk Enneking Thu, 10 Dec 2009 11:17:27 +0000 http://www.vaviblog.com/?p=1362#comment-2073 Hi Jeremy, I've checked the European barley database for collector Vavilov. There is a nice dataset of locations for AFG; courtesy of USDA documentation efforts. Interested? Hi Jeremy,

I’ve checked the European barley database for collector Vavilov. There is a nice dataset of locations for AFG; courtesy of USDA documentation efforts. Interested?

]]> By: admin http://www.vaviblog.com/now-then-where-was-i/comment-page-1/#comment-2072 admin Thu, 10 Dec 2009 10:03:41 +0000 http://www.vaviblog.com/?p=1362#comment-2072 Of course, Dirk, you are absolutely right. The information is there, on paper. And if I could travel to St Petersburg, or find a VIR staff member who was not already overworked and underpaid, I would be able to find it. My point is that with all the talk about making data accessible, and the considerable money that has already been devoted to these efforts, it should be easier than that. As I said, this is not to denigrate the efforts to date, just that I feel more could already have been achieved. Of course, Dirk, you are absolutely right. The information is there, on paper. And if I could travel to St Petersburg, or find a VIR staff member who was not already overworked and underpaid, I would be able to find it.

My point is that with all the talk about making data accessible, and the considerable money that has already been devoted to these efforts, it should be easier than that. As I said, this is not to denigrate the efforts to date, just that I feel more could already have been achieved.

]]> By: Dirk Enneking http://www.vaviblog.com/now-then-where-was-i/comment-page-1/#comment-2070 Dirk Enneking Thu, 10 Dec 2009 07:44:27 +0000 http://www.vaviblog.com/?p=1362#comment-2070 Jeremy, If you have the VIR Katalogue numbers (K numbers) then you can get the information, eventually. There is a K series for each crop. The best bet is to look at the herbarium voucher specimen at the Vavilov Institute in St. Petersburg (VIR) that were deposited for each collected sample and botanical variety within it. There should also be a card catalogue. The information exists. It happens to be on paper. Considering that staff at the VIR are seriously underpaid by any standard, adequately funded projects and financial support for the institute may improve the information flow. Jeremy,

If you have the VIR Katalogue numbers (K numbers) then you can get the information, eventually. There is a K series for each crop. The best bet is to look at the herbarium voucher specimen at the Vavilov Institute in St. Petersburg (VIR) that were deposited for each collected sample and botanical variety within it. There should also be a card catalogue. The information exists. It happens to be on paper.

Considering that staff at the VIR are seriously underpaid by any standard, adequately funded projects and financial support for the institute may improve the information flow.

]]>