Plant Virus Ecology Network

Tentative Agenda for First Workshop

19-21 March 2008, E. Lansing

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This page was set up for planning purposes. The overall objective is to develop resources and ideas to accelerate research in the emerging international field of plant virus ecology. .The workshop is scheduled for 2 1/2 days. Currently, five topics of discussion have been suggested. That works out to one topic per half day. A brief summary of the topics and a suggested order is provided immediately below (some may be linked to further invormation). Further below you will find suggestions for how the sessions can be envisioned to proceed. Please note also the suggested confidentiality rules.

Proposed topics:

19 March AM: Interfield integration and collaboration. . A major theme will be developing greater integration and collaboration among virologists, ecologists, and vector biologists.
19 March PM: Database needs and mechanisms. A second theme will be developing geospatial databases on plant virus distribution appropriate for plant virus ecology work.
20 March AM: Paleoecology and viruses. How can studies of virus evolution enhance understanding of earlier, including prehistoric, ecosystems?
20 March PM: NEON. Discuss the relationship of national networks of ecological observatories to plant virus ecology.
21 March AM: Future plans. What would participants like to occur in future workshops?

Workshop format:

A topic leader will be assigned for each topic (volunteers and/or suggestions highly welcome).
The topic leader will identify key people with information relevant to the topic and ask them to make brief informative presentations to the participants.
The topic leader, in cooperation with the key people identified, will prepare a document that will give participants needed background on the topic and also list questions and challenges that may be considered. These will be made available to participants about 1 March, possibly by web site and will be provided in the registration packet.
The topic leader may identify one individual to act as scribe to write ideas on a board.
The workshop session will begin with an introduction by the topic leader, and will be followed by the aforementioned presentations.
Thereafter, there will be free discussion. Rules to be set by topic leader.
Poster session for already prepared posters that individuals care to bring along? Should this be held?

Data confidentiality:

All discussions are to be regarded as “off the record”.
Discussion of unpublished data is encouraged
Unpublished data discussed among the participants, however, are not to be discussed outside the group, unless the group has agreed on an information release.
If an individual sees or hears data or ideas similar to those from that individual's group the individual is to discuss this with the other party as soon as possible. This may result in joint publications or often as joint submissions to the same journal.

Send messages about these plans to U. Melcher

Last Updated: 16 December, 2007