[Aqualist] Launch of www.paleoclimate.org.nz

[Tim Barrows]

From: "David Barrell" <D.Barrell at gns.cri.nz>

Hi folks

On behalf of the NZ-INTIMATE co-ordinating group (Brent Alloway, Jamie
Shulmeister, Rewi Newnham and myself), and following from Brent's email on
22 March, I am pleased to advise that the website

www.paleoclimate.org.nz

is now online.  The information on this website should be
self-explanatory, but by way of summary:

The site has been set up on behalf of all NZ (and adjacent region)
paleoclimate researchers, with the aim of providing interested people
throughout the world with an easy access point for information and people
to contact regarding paleoclimate science and research.

The website has two co-administrators (Brent and Jamie) and there is a
peer-review process for loading information.

We have listed links to websites that are sources of research and contact
information.  What is currently listed are the relevant sites that I could
find via internet searches.  Doubtless there are other links that you
would like to see listed.  For individuals involved in research projects
(e.g. NZ-INTIMATE), we have attached links to individuals' internet
profiles (where they have them - or more specifically - where I could find
them).  For those of you that are without contact details, please send us
your weblinks (if you have them), otherwise we will provide an email
contact form attached to your name (note that to combat misuse e.g. spam,
GNS policy prohibits the listing of email address text on GNS internet
servers - which is where the website is housed).

Although the website has been initiated in parallel with the INTIMATE
project, we hope that it will serve a wider range of purposes than simply
that project.  Thus we invite everyone to consider providing information
or links to websites that provide research information. The primary focus
should be on disseminating scientific information, rather than advertising
services or sales.

The website in its current form is a first draft, and suggestions for
refinement are welcomed.  As you will appreciate, we are not richly
resourced so, for the moment, we will look at doing an update with any new
material or refinements once every two to four weeks (approximately).
Obviously urgent 'spot updates' can be done in response to major news, at
the discretion of the administrators.  At this stage, work on the
assumption that we will do the first upgrade and refinement of the website
in late April, so please send any initial feedback by Friday 22 April.

The website would probably benefit from having more illustrations -
perhaps a gallery page - so feel free to submit any good images you have
(with the author/owner identified) - if approriate these could carry a
link to your research websites, where more information could be found.

For sending feedback, there are three options
  - via the NZ paleoclimate research discussion site 
at   http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nz-paleoclimate-community/
  - using the 'contact us' form on the website (note that this is a bit
flaky - if it claims to be not available  - try it again after a short
while) - this is emailed remotely to both Brent and Jamie
  - by email to Brent, Jamie or myself
(the discussion site option is our preferred one, since it allows everyone
to see the comments, and minimises multiplication of effort)

Most importantly, the NZ-INTIMATE poster and report are available for
viewing or download from the website.  But bear in mind that all of you
who attended the INTIMATE workshop in August 2004 will receive a printed
copy of the report and poster in the mail within the next few weeks.

With best wishes to you all,
David
---------------------------------------------------
David Barrell
Geologist & geomorphologist
GNS (Institute of Geological & Nuclear Sciences Ltd)
764 Cumberland Street, Dunedin
Postal address: Private Bag 1930, Dunedin, New Zealand
Phone:  64 3 479 9687
Fax:  64 3 477 5232
Email:  d.barrell at gns.cri.nz
Website: www.gns.cri.nz
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