[Geowanking] National Science Foundation Visualization Challenge
R E Sieber
resieber at gmail.com
Fri Jun 13 11:38:44 PDT 2008
Tell me about it. I'm currently developing a cyberinfrastructure for the
humanities. No disrespect to the humanities but they don't know about
computers. And it is a constant battle to get access.
Renee
Eric Wolf wrote:
> You miss my point - it's not that the NSF reviewers lack appropriate
> rights - it's that researchers outside of schools of engineering and
> departments of computer science frequently fight battles with IT
> security that can cause things not to work smoothly. I've experienced
> it many times.
>
> I know it's hard to believe. I'm constantly dumb-founded by the inane
> hurdles I have to go through in order to just do my work. I spent over
> a decade in the private sector developing software. This is the kind
> of problem that usually resolved in seconds outside of academia.
> However, inside academia it's a constant battle. And just when you
> thought you had everything working, someone changes policies and your
> demo doesn't work.
>
> But as I think more about it, the real reason the NSF is asking for
> stand-alone HTML is to provide a blind review process.
>
> -Eric
>
> On Fri, Jun 13, 2008 at 12:13 PM, Randy George <rkgeorge at cadmaps.com
> <mailto:rkgeorge at cadmaps.com>> wrote:
>
> Hi Eric,
>
>
>
> But… isn't that a compelling reason to just provide a link?
>
>
>
> The review committee only needs a highspeed link, a computer with
> a sufficiently modern GPU, and a decent projector. All the
> installation is out of their hands. The link points at an SGI or
> Deep Blue or whatever AWS Hadoop, Beowulf cluster … needed at the
> other end, no admin rights required.
>
>
>
> randy
>
>
>
> *From:* geowanking-bounces at lists.burri.to
> <mailto:geowanking-bounces at lists.burri.to>
> [mailto:geowanking-bounces at lists.burri.to
> <mailto:geowanking-bounces at lists.burri.to>] *On Behalf Of *Eric Wolf
> *Sent:* Friday, June 13, 2008 11:00 AM
>
> *To:* geowanking at lists.burri.to <mailto:geowanking at lists.burri.to>
> *Subject:* Re: [Geowanking] National Science Foundation
> Visualization Challenge
>
>
>
> One of the reasons for the limitations is to ensure that the
> content can be judged - but not because NSF lacks the facilities.
> If you've ever tried to say, get a development server set up in an
> academic environment outside of an engineering school or CompSci
> department, you'd know the challenges.
>
> I'm currently dealing with this problem in my work. I'm supposed
> to be exploring ways to contribute to OGC specs on behalf of The
> National Map. To do this, I want to make code changes to servers
> and clients that implement OGC - like GeoServer and OpenLayers.
> But I'm not allowed to have admin or root access on my workstation.
>
> Another possible reason is that NSF usually tries to use a blind
> review process. If they have to point a browser to your website,
> they know who created it.
>
> -Eric Wolf
>
> On Fri, Jun 13, 2008 at 10:49 AM, Randy George
> <rkgeorge at cadmaps.com <mailto:rkgeorge at cadmaps.com>> wrote:
>
> Hi Renee,
>
> Curious, I took a look at the NSF link. I would have guessed
> "interactive
> graphics" would fit geowanking more than "info graphics." I think
> you are
> right, though, about the winning entries. I wonder if it has
> something to do
> with NSF's limitations.
>
> For example here is the acceptable formats list for media:
> "Interactive and Non-interactive Media:
> Preferred animation formats: NTSC Beta SP, DVC Pro.
> Digital formats such as QuickTime, Flash, AVI or MPEG are
> acceptable.
> Digital files should be copied to CD-ROM(s) or DVD."
>
> Or this:
> "Q: May we use an online URL as an entry?
> A: No. We can't rely on Internet connections during the
> review/judging process. Save the relevant html and any associated
> media
> locally and then burn it to a CD-ROM or DVD."
>
> Hmm ... Is this "Visualization Challenge" or challenged
> visualization? I
> thought interactive media would include internet, browser, portal,
> online
> communities, virtual 3D worlds, OGC WPS pipes etc. I somehow doubt
> it can
> fit on a cd-rom or dvd. What is HTML without httpd? Perhaps NSF
> could rent a
> more up-to-date venue for their review process with a reliable
> highspeed
> connection.
>
> The judges appear stuck in an earlier media generation. Perhaps a
> case of
> Kuhn meets McLuhan? If NSF wants to stimulate innovation they should
> consider moving 'media' ahead a decade or two.
>
> randy
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: geowanking-bounces at lists.burri.to
> <mailto:geowanking-bounces at lists.burri.to>
> [mailto:geowanking-bounces at lists.burri.to
> <mailto:geowanking-bounces at lists.burri.to>] On Behalf Of R E Sieber
> Sent: Thursday, June 12, 2008 1:32 PM
> To: geowanking at lists.burri.to <mailto:geowanking at lists.burri.to>
> Subject: [Geowanking] National Science Foundation Visualization
> Challenge
>
> This may be of interest to some.
>
> Science and engineering visualization challenge (National Science
> Foundation)
> http://www.nsf.gov/news/special_reports/scivis/index.jsp?id=challenge
>
> Frankly, I find their winning entries uninspiring in terms of new
> technologies (e..g, look at their FAQs, which are incredibly snarky).
> However, winning in one of these categories -- I'm guessing the info
> graphics one would be right for geowankers -- would look very good on
> one's resume.
>
> BTW, it is open to international entries.
>
> Renee
>
> Some of science's most powerful statements are not made in words. From
> the diagrams of DaVinci to Hooke's microscopic bestiary, the beaks of
> Darwin's finches, Rosalind Franklin's x-rays or the latest
> photographic
> marvels retrieved from the remotest galactic outback, visualization of
> research has a long and literally illustrious history. To
> illustrate is,
> etymologically and actually, to enlighten.
>
> You can do science without graphics. But it's very difficult to
> communicate it in the absence of pictures. Indeed, some insights can
> only be made widely comprehensible as images. How many people
> would have
> heard of fractal geometry or the double helix or solar flares or
> synaptic morphology or the cosmic microwave background, if they
> had been
> described solely in words?
>
> To the general public, whose support sustains the global research
> enterprise, these and scores of other indispensable concepts exist
> chiefly as images. They become part of the essential iconic
> lexicon. And
> they serve as a source of excitement and motivation for the next
> generation of researchers.
>
> The National Science Foundation (NSF) and Science created the Science
> and Engineering Visualization Challenge to celebrate that grand
> tradition-and to encourage its continued growth. In a world where
> science literacy is dismayingly rare, illustrations provide the most
> immediate and influential connection between scientists and other
> citizens, and the best hope for nurturing popular interest.
> Indeed, they
> are now a necessity for public understanding of research developments:
> In an increasingly graphics-oriented culture, where people acquire the
> majority of their news from TV and the World Wide Web, a story
> without a
> vivid and intriguing image is often no story at all.
>
> We urge you and your colleagues to contribute to the next competition
> and to join us in congratulating the winners.
>
> Judges appointed by the National Science Foundation and the journal
> Science will select winners in each of five categories: photographs,
> illustrations, informational graphics, interactive media and
> non-interactive media. The winners will be published in a special
> section of the Sept. 26, 2008 issue of the journal Science and Science
> Online and on the NSF Web site. One of the winning entries will be on
> the front cover of Science. In addition, each finalist will receive a
> free, one-year print and on-line subscription to the journal
> Science and
> a certificate of appreciation.
>
> Entries for 2008 are being solicited now. We urge all researchers and
> science communicators to participate in this unique and inspiring
> competition.
> _______________________________________________
> Geowanking mailing list
> Geowanking at lists.burri.to <mailto:Geowanking at lists.burri.to>
> http://lists.burri.to/mailman/listinfo/geowanking
>
> _______________________________________________
> Geowanking mailing list
> Geowanking at lists.burri.to <mailto:Geowanking at lists.burri.to>
> http://lists.burri.to/mailman/listinfo/geowanking
>
>
>
>
> --
> -=--=---=----=----=---=--=-=--=---=----=---=--=-=-
> Eric B. Wolf 720-209-6818
> PhD Student CU-Boulder - Geography
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Geowanking mailing list
> Geowanking at lists.burri.to <mailto:Geowanking at lists.burri.to>
> http://lists.burri.to/mailman/listinfo/geowanking
>
>
>
>
> --
> -=--=---=----=----=---=--=-=--=---=----=---=--=-=-
> Eric B. Wolf 720-209-6818
> PhD Student CU-Boulder - Geography
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> _______________________________________________
> Geowanking mailing list
> Geowanking at lists.burri.to
> http://lists.burri.to/mailman/listinfo/geowanking
More information about the Geowanking
mailing list