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: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Eric Wolf Sent: Friday, June 13, 2008 11:00 AM To: [email protected] 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 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 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: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of R E Sieber Sent: Thursday, June 12, 2008 1:32 PM To: [email protected] 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 [email protected] http://lists.burri.to/mailman/listinfo/geowanking _______________________________________________ Geowanking mailing list [email protected] http://lists.burri.to/mailman/listinfo/geowanking -- -=--=---=----=----=---=--=-=--=---=----=---=--=-=- Eric B. Wolf 720-209-6818 PhD Student CU-Boulder - Geography
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