Re : Library vs Internet based research in Botany
Rakesh Biswas
Traditionally libraries have been considered as temples of learning and an important requirement for a library user is ‘silence’ which in effect means that the individual user needs to imbibe whatever learning available on his/her own from books or whatever other media available.
However in such an isolated learning environment, the single individual
has no access to a second opinion from another person, no access to a complementary perspective, or external critique, neither does the single individual have any chance to get complementary literature from anyone which might have a different reference library. Given this, there is not much social interaction in this kind of traditional learning environment. (Wiberg 2007)
However in modern libraries it is able to break past this ‘silence’ barrier where the library user predominantly browses an electronic information network rather than a paper based disconnected media.
Unfortunately, this advantage of the modern library is under utilized as even systems for online universities, or distance education may not have adequate support or encouragement for social interaction. Most of these systems assume a centralized communication model in which the learning peers (i.e. the students) mostly communicate with one central peer (i.e. a mentor or advisor). This leads in many cases to communication related to the structure rather than the content of an online education and does not support spontaneous, creative social learning processes. (Wiberg 2007)
What it is to be knowledgeable can be defined either in terms of how much one person has read and learned in isolation, or how knowledgeable a particular person is about different threads to grasp in order to gain access to other peers in different social networks. The latter concept pinpoints the social dimension of learning processes, the social interaction setting, and goes back to a Socratic understanding of knowledge gaining through conversations and argumentations with others.
Learning schools are redirecting the focus from what has been labeled “traditional computer-based learning environments” towards user-driven learning networks supported by social internet based applications. The assumption that computer-mediated learning will occur in the classroom, managed by a teacher, is now being challenged, not by schools and educational software developers, but by the consumer growth of personal technologies. (Sharples 2002)
I totally agree with Aparna ji with regards to the serious reference work one should do in a library. I feel no amount of links and material available on the internet can really at this stage, substitute the research work one need to carry out from acknowledged authors, volumes of flora of a state or region, wealth of India volumes, and related articals in magazines and scientifc journals. I have done that in the past at BNHS lib. when time permitted, and it gives a holistic dimension to a particular species or genus one is researching on. Moreover, one is never sure of the internet stuff, it could be misleading or it could be from one region or country and generalization could be misleading.
What is interesting and also confusing now is the system of classification being used and to be used, as I discussed with Dr. Stephen some days back. What is going to be the dominant system of classification, will Bentham and Hooker remain so? Is flora in countries of the west going to be classified more and more by the new emerging systems of classification based on relationships? Will India follow the same if not, how does one generalize? We have enough of Greek and Latin to deal with literally in Botany, the above will only add to the challenge.
regards,
Rashida.
Date: Sun, 20 Sep 2009 10:21:03 +0530
Subject: [indiantreepix:18887] Re:
From: jmg...@gmail.com
To: janaki...@gmail.com
CC: aparna...@gmail.com; indian...@googlegroups.com
Hi, Aparna ji,I fully agree with Janaki ji.I am qouting in this regard my views on the Draft of Task Force forwarded by you as below (I hope our honourable members care for it). I would also like to have your views in the matter:"The relevant aspects from the draft report, which require serious attention of this group, along with my views are reproduced below. I seek your independant opinions on the report as well as on my views so that these are finalised before submitting to the Task Force:
"Flora and Fauna of India
Theprimary mandate of the BSI/ZSI is to document the plant/ animal resources of the country. Hence an important focus of their activity would be to complete the Flora/ Fauna of India. Indiahas produced a large number of fine taxonomists, many of whom work outside BSI/ZSI, e.g., universities, research organizations and as emeritus scientists. Therefore, it is important that BSI/ZSI now take on the role of coordinating and pooling the expertise of all the taxonomists including those working outside this organization to consolidate the Flora and Fauna of India volumes. This is particularly important because the local field biologists and experts who have spent a considerable amount of time in a particular geographical area can add tremendous information on habitat, associations, biogeography and population status. Floras/ Faunas written by the individuals having limited field knowledge, merely based on the museum/ herbarium specimens lack in such information. Coordinated work on Flora/ Fauna of India should also include all the works on various taxonomic groups done through AICOPTAX Project of MoEF. Such coordination would of course require a strong editorial board and a few full time dedicated executive secretaries. This should be achievable in 10 years and should figure out as Priority I in BSI/ZSI’s Vision 2020 document. This could be achieved in the following phases:
i. Establish a panel of experienced and active taxonomists for each state and take their consent on participation in Flora / Fauna Project,
ii. Prepare an annotated checklist of vascular plants and other taxa under consideration for each state / UTs based on all published documents and herbaria, giving local names, if any, locality and habitat,
iii. Circulate the electronic version of checklists among the panel of botanists/ zoologists who would, in turn, check for omissions, ambiguities, localities and habitat through active consultation with other local botanists/ zoologists,
iv. To begin with, state floras/ faunas should be published electronically giving correct names, basionyms, localities, habitat, sketches and photographs of important species preferably on an interactive ‘Flora/ Fauna of India Blog’. On this page all naturalists, photographers and biological artists should be encouraged to contribute information on taxonomy, distribution, natural history, biology, ethnobiology, etc. This will also act as an outreach programme for all the biologists. The ethnobiological surveys should be done mainly by the local biologists, college and university teachers, working with local Biodiversity Management Committees under technical guidance by BSI/ZSI.
v. An editorial board may be constituted at the national level to decide the format of the flora/ fauna and also assign plant/ animal families for compilation which should include nomenclature, description, ecology, natural history, distribution, sketches and photographs."
I am not clear what it means by ‘Flora/ Fauna of India Blog’ & seek Madhav ji's guidance in the matter particularly w.r.t the word Blog. Also it is not clear whether it will be accessible to all or not. I think any restriction on its access as far as its contents are concerned, should go away in view of the 'Approach' followed in the paper (as subsequently highlighted). While it is encouraging to see " To begin with, state floras/ faunas should be published electronically giving correct names, basionyms, localities, habitat, sketches and photographs of important species preferably on an interactive ‘Flora/ Fauna of India Blog’. " in the draft, there is hardly anything which talks of creating e-flora of India on the lines of e-flora of China & other neighbouring countries. I feel 'AICOPTAX Project' of MoEF should be sufficiently strengthened with a mandate for simultaneously creating of e-Flora/ e-Fauna of India on lines of e-Floras of different countries of the world. How to go about creating e-floras is evident at link: http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/PDF/misc/eFloras_Taxon_55_188-192_2006.pdf
This becomes all the more important as the report in its 'Approach' rightly talks of "......Finally, the culmination of evolution of artifacts to the present day Information and Communication Technology has brought us to the threshold of a tenth major transition: x] Language based human societies –to- Human societies with global access to the entire stock of human knowledge, and engaged in an endeavour of collaborative knowledge generation." This approach will remain an illusion until & unless we are able to create e-Flora/ e-Fauna of India which is accessible to all human community & appear in top 10 while searching as far as 'Indian species' are concerned. The need of the hour is to move fast in this regard, if India is to be visible on the world map. It is sad that we have to refer to 'e-Flora of China', 'e-Flora of Pakistan' etc. when we search on net for information about any Indian plant species.We hardly find any inf. on search in our "......national networks like DBT’s India Biodiversity Information Network (IBIN) and NBA’s India Biodiversity Information System (IBIS)." as talked about in the report.
Further if the dreams of its 'Approach' "......Finally, the culmination of evolution of artifacts to the present day Information and Communication Technology has brought us to the threshold of a tenth major transition: x] Language based human societies –to- Human societies with global access to the entire stock of human knowledge, and engaged in an endeavour of collaborative knowledge generation." are to be fulfilled in this e-age, it has to speak loudly about increasing participation & expertise in on-line community activities like those of 'Indiantreepix' google e-group, regarding which it is totally silent. Here information is shared on real time basis for the benefit of all stakeholders, minimising delays & fastening processes, following multi-disciplinary approach with membership from diverse background. This should also help in the process of constant learning in ones' career & creating passionate scientists/ taxonomists aided/ guided by other willing scientists/ taxonomists. This should also help in "Capacity building: scientists" & "Capacity building: district level scientific community and barefoot taxonomists under "7)Human Resources"
2009/9/20 JANAKI TURAGA <janaki...@gmail.com>
Dear Aparna,For a majority of people: it is the question of access. From where does one have access to all these monographs, of which many of us are not even aware of?Unless someone lists all the monographs and other related works and puts them up for access on the internet which is accessible to all the people in the group.In absence of accessible knowledge, the key source of information are the fieldguides which are accessible in the lay public domain.And some internet sites which are maintained by people who are deeply interested in the areas.Interest groups like this group rely mainly on fieldguides, some good internet sites and very importantly-peers who have built their interest to a very high level and some professionals/subject specialists who sustain the group. I have learnt a lot from the peers in all the groups that I am a member of.We all would like to take things ahead, but we should have the awareness of and access to these resource.The issue is that of access and knowledge of the monographs etc.If some of the subject specialists in this group who do have access to these resources, can make them available to the rest of the group, then I feel a majority of people will benefit.Janaki Turaga
On 9/19/09, Aparna Watve <aparna...@gmail.com> wrote:
Dear All,
Considering all the serious discussions going on so far on various
identities, use of family names, I am so happy to realize how this
group is slowly maturing. People are discussing technical terms, use
of correct family names, below species ranks and nomenclature- things
which only the trained plant taxonomists bothered with.
Owing to this I feel the need to talk about more use of standard
floras and monographs which i had talked of in the past. Relying only
on handbooks, which are generally region specific and can have only a
limited number of species and descriptions as compared to our vast
diversity of flora, is good for beginners. But at this stage, the
serious ones on this group - and there are many- should devote time to
library and referencing work- not from a single book (as it is not
possible) but from various standard references and then form their
opinion on identity of a species. In many cases the taxonomic
literature is also influenced by varied opinions of the taxonomists
and it is actually fun to read how some plant species have baffled
generations of plantwatchers.
: )
Aparna
--
Dr. Aparna Watve
Asha Appt, Shanti Nagar, Ekata Colony
Nr. BSNL tower, Akbar Ward,
Seoni.480661
tel: 07692-228115
mobile: (0)9755667710 and 9822597288 still works
--
With regards,
J.M.Garg (jmg...@gmail.com)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Jmgarg1
'Creating awareness of Indian Flora & Fauna'
Image Resource of thousands of my images of Birds, Butterflies, Flora etc. (arranged alphabetically & place-wise): http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:J.M.Garg
For learning about Indian Flora, visit/ join Google e-group- Indiantreepix:http://groups.google.co.in/group/indiantreepix?hl=en
rashida atthar
Dr. Rakesh,
There is no versus here. It is both. It depends on the ingenuity of individual learner how best he or she combines both, with whatever is accesible and availble to the individual. In Botany right now very little Indian flora is online, and therefore, as Aparnaji said more serious research needs to be done in traditional library way. I can not understand why the volumes of 'Wealth of India' are not online yet?
It was interesting to go through the intro.of the book you are working on, I am sure it will fulfill a need for the same. Thank you and best wishes.
regards.
Rashida.
Date: Sun, 20 Sep 2009 11:58:41 +0530
Subject: [indiantreepix:18896] Re : Library vs Internet based research in Botany
From: rakesh...@gmail.com
To: rashid...@hotmail.com
CC: jmg...@gmail.com; janaki...@gmail.com; aparna...@gmail.com; indian...@googlegroups.com
Dr. Pankaj Kumar
Learn whatever is possible
As Rashida says, there is no versus here!!
Now a days many important references like Flora of British India is
available on internet, all the volumes, so it saves time!!
Pankaj
Dr E S Santhosh Kumar
--
SANTHOSH
-----------------------------------
Dr. E S SANTHOSH KUMAR
Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute, Palode
Thiruvananthapuram-695562
Kerala, India
www.drsanthosh.wetpaint.com
Please consider your environmental responsibility:Before printing this e-mail, ask yourself whether you need a hard copy!
singhg .
The main topic of discussion here is whether the huge wealth of research information lying in libraries of major Universities, BSI/ZSI is available to the average plant lover are not. Agreed serious researchers need libraries to work, but we are talking of taking knowledge to the general public and what is the best means of making information available to them. I have several volumes of Flora of Pakistan, a few of Flora of India, but please search through your libraries and let me know how many have all volumes of Flora of India published by BSI, how many have volumes Pakistan Flora, and more importantly Flora of China, which has so many plants common with our flora. Contrary to this I can sitting in Delhi, California or anywhere else have access to Efloras, and can identify my plants.We are aiming to take information to the common man, and www is the best medium for that.But as I wrote earlier, there is some misinformation on the internet, but there are then also meanins of sieving it. This group has proved that many a times.There are many important researchers active in BSI/ZSI and different Universities. But the important question is have we all benefitted from that?. WWW is there to pupularise that. Today if I have to find any new research and development in Taxonomy I browse APWeb and always find something new.
--
Dr. Gurcharan Singh
Associate Professor, Department of Botany, SGTB Khalsa College
University of Delhi, Delhi-110007
Res: 932 Anand Kunj, Vikas Puri, New Delhi-110018
Phone: 011025518297; Mobile: 9810359089
http://people.du.ac.in/~singhg45/
Pankaj Kumar
Respected Seniors,
I will request scientists and researchers to please go through
different volumes of Flora of India by BSI and tell me how many of you
really get help in identifying plants?
Just for example I have in my hand Flora of Bihar by BSI and I cant
get any help from it as there is no description and no keys at all.
They have enlisted each and every plant that was ever reported from
Bihar and Jharkhand since british period, without actually revisiting
the field and gathering the actual knowledge. Respected Dr.
Karthikeyan says that the plant is common throughout India, that means
it is there in Bihar too, according to that book. I imagine if Dr.
Karthikeyan visited each and every states of India ever???
I had been to CNH, better known as CENTRAL NATIONAL HERBARIUM, HOWRAH,
thats a part of BSI. Out of eight references I was looking for, 5 were
missing. I took three books out of the antique almirah and found that
the book was half eaten by termite.
The first hand information which is available in India today, is still
ironically, one and only, FLORA OF BRITISH INDIA by J. D. Hooker which
every one should follow and it is also available online. For recent
nomenclature offcourse there are other options.
Yes offcourse, there are some regional floras which were done by
regional university researchers which were later published by
BSI....everyone knows how.
This is a irony for Indian government and Indian researchers that most
of the best books on floristics in India are not written by any one
from BSI but from some of the University professors and researchers,
one of them being respected Dr. Gurcharan himself.
SECONDLY, BSI has been unscrupulously misusing their journal, Bulletin
of Botanical Survey of India, for published any articles they wish
especially new species, though they never gets accepted. Is it just
for the name sake??? or for the sake of having greater publications??
After 60 years of Independence what do we have today is just a
compilation by BSI. What we need today are more responsible persons,
who just dont think about promotions and about sitting and chewing pan
and ghutka in their office but to come up with better work which a
common botanist can feel proud about. I never felt anything good to
boost about BSI and I find mysef so unfortunate about it.
SHRIKANT INGLAHALIKAR is not from BSI
DR. SARAT MISRA (an engineer by profession) is not from BSI - Orchds of Orissa
DEVA and NAITHANI (Orchids of Northwest Himalaya): are not from BSI
PRADEEP KISHAN not from BSI
MR. GARG - not from BSI
DR. TABISH - not even a botanist!!
There are many such examples!!
Regards
Pankaj (not from BSI either).
PS: No hard feelings please!!
J.M. Garg
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/13814#, but was not successful. What can be the reason? Is it possible to download it from anywhere else? How much time does it generally take to down load a volume?
singhg .
Dear Pankaj ji
Rakesh Biswas
fromsinghg . <sin...@sify.com>
Dear Pankaj ji
Never have this feeling that your frank opinion will hurt any one. This forum is meant for frank exchange of opinion and single motto: carry forward the mission to educate more and more people about our great plant wealth. (and of couse Garg ji is always there to put breaks, when discussion gets out of control---keep up the spirit Garg ji). In fact today you have spoken what most have been feeling all along. Our only aim is to see that so many different works by different people (BSI, Universities or Private organisations), all ultimately forming the part of Indian Flora should be accessible to all sitting at home, and one does not run around to find information. Garg ji and Tabish ji have made great begining, that should one day bear the fruits.
We should feel lucky that more and more people like Garg ji and Tabish ji are joining us. I have been trying to know about members on the group through private communication so that I can interact accordingly. On my last visit to California in 2008 I had clicked many plants. A large number of them went into 3rd edition my book being published this month from USA. There were about 40 or so plants unidentified, which I uploaded to my webshots. I received mail from Kenneth (an active member of Indiantreepix) yesterday, to know that he was based in California and his experience with plants was largely through his interest and actually working with plants. I sent links to my professional list TAXACOM (having all major Plant & Animal Taxonomists of the World as its members) and also to Kenneth. I got five identifications from TAXACOM, and nearly all from Kenneth within few hours. We are blessed to have association of people like him, and few taxonomists on the group willing to help. The group has a great future, I believe.