Workshop Report: Biodiversity and Ecosystem Informatics Workshop

In June 2000, a group of computer scientists, biologists, and natural resource managers met to examine the prospects for advancing computer science and information technology (CS/IT) research by focusing on the complex and often unique challenges found in the biodiversity and ecosystem domain. We refer to this emerging, interdisciplinary field of study as Biodiversity and Ecosystem Informatics (BDEI). This report synthesizes the discussions and recommendations made at the workshop. It itemizes current BDEI challenges, lays out a national BDEI research agenda, and recommends actions to be taken within the national research agenda. It also proposes specific mechanisms to communicate and implement those actions.