Tropical Data Hub Launch at JCU

Senator Chris Evans, the Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Science and Research, recently launched the Tropical Data Hub (TDH), http://tropicaldatahub.org, at James Cook University in Townsville. The Tropical Data Hub aims to provide research-relevant data and information related to the Tropics worldwide. ANDS has provided funding for the TDH through the Apps program, with additional funding from the Queensland Cyber Infrastructure Foundation, QCIF.

Ming and I were involved in some background help to JCU in preparation to the launch, including identifying outstanding records related to the Tropics in RDA, and providing comments on the TDH Web site. We now know a lot about Tropical records in RDA!

Thanks to Catherine Brady from ANDS, there is also now a Tropic Topic page in Research Data Australia, showcasing collections, parties and activities related to the Tropics.

Notably, Professor Steve Williams talked about the importance of the TDH data to his research and Professor Tom Burkot talked about the role the TDH has in the interface of his malaria research and policy based decisions.

Here are some links to the media coverage of the Tropical Data Hub Launch:

‘Silicon Valley’ of Oz: Townsville Bulletin, June 6th, 2012: http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/article/2012/06/06/336271_news.html

ABC news, June 06, 2012: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-06-06/website-hub-to-gather-tropical-research/4055292

DIISRTE media release, 5 June 2012: http://minister.innovation.gov.au/chrisevans/MediaReleases/Pages/TropicalDataHubtotackleglobalresearchissues.aspx

JCU media release, 5 June 2012: http://www-public.jcu.edu.au/news/JCU_103536