SEE-U 2000: eBiome

eBiome is an innovative, integrated tool for storing and retrieving all types of field ecology data ranging from climatic and abiotic information to ethological and behavioral data. This tool has been developed exclusively for the SEE-U program and will serve as one of the centerpieces of the class. All data collected during the class will be entered into eBiome for use by students at the field site as well as by students who are in the other SEE-U field sites. eBiome will help students gain a unique understanding of how similar processes occur around the globe, because they will compare data from many biomes. In so doing, eBiome will help students to more thoroughly grasp and comprehend important ecological concepts.
# eBiome Will Assist Researchers the World Over Data collected during the SEE-U program will be used by some of the world’s most prestigious researchers. Students participating in the program will not only learn the most important techniques in field ecology, but they will also have the unique opportunity to assist leading scientists in answering overwhelmingly important questions in conservation biology. # How eBiome Will Work To use eBiome students will basically follow three steps: Students will use the GPS system to determine the latitude and longitude where the data was collected. Students will input the data into a specially designed database program. Students will search and retrieve data already entered in eBiome using a GIS program specifically formatted for this tool. # Skills Gained eBiome will enable students to gain three important technological skills: using GPS, familiarity with databases housing ecological data, and use of the most commonly used GIS package. These skills will be some of the most important skills required of conservation biologists in the new millenium! eBiome is a collaborative effort between the Center for International Earth Sciences Information Network (CIESIN), the Columbia Center of New Media Teaching and Learning (CCNMTL) and the Center for Environmental Research and Conservation.