News

Past issues of ISIS News

Welcome TO THE FIRST ISSUE OF "ISIS NEWS."

As a member of the ISIS community, you will receive this electronic newsletter monthly. If you would like others in your organization or with whom you work to also receive this newsletter, please send their e-mail address to news@isis.org.

ISIS news will cover current ISIS activities, new members, membership updates and other topics of interest to our members.

Please send your comments or ideas about this newsletter to news@isis.org. We look forward to hearing from you!

ZIMS UPDATE: ZIMS DESIGN SESSIONS PROVING SUCCESSFUL
ISIS is working with experts in the zoo and aquarium community to build the next generation of ISIS software – the Zoological Information Management System (ZIMS). more

THE NEXT STEP BEGINS: DATA STANDARDS MEETINGS
We are now beginning data standards work with our first meeting 19-22 November in Perth, Australia. A meeting is also scheduled for 14-18 February 2005 in Osaka, Japan. more

BUILDING ZIMS: THE CAMPAIGN FOR ISIS
We are almost halfway to our funding goal of US $10 million in our capital campaign “Building ZIMS: The Campaign for ISIS.” We have received pledges totaling US $4 million from 133 members of the zoological community. more

ZIMS: BE PART OF IT!
ZIMS is being designed by and for its owners – ISIS members. Your continued support of the ZIMS Project will ensure equitable sharing of data on animals in more than 70 countries. more

ZIMS UPDATE: ZIMS DESIGN SESSIONS PROVING SUCCESSFUL

ISIS is working with experts in the zoo and aquarium community to build the next generation of ISIS software – the Zoological Information Management System (ZIMS). As part of this process, ISIS and ZIMS software developer CGI are holding Joint Application Development (JAD) sessions around the world to seek advice on how the ZIMS application should be designed.

To date, we have held four JAD sessions: Minneapolis, Minnesota U.S.A.; Sydney, Australia; Dvur Kralove, Czech Republic and Bristol, England. A final session is scheduled for 8-11 November 2004 in Miami, Florida, USA.

JAD sessions are attended by zoo and aquarium professionals – or subject matter experts (SMEs). ISIS, through the International Animal Data Information Systems Committee (IADISC) and its regional groups, invites SMEs to participate these sessions. To date, 58 representatives from 15 countries have attended these sessions.

How does a JAD session work?

JAD sessions are designed to provide CGI opportunities to learn first-hand about the uniqueness of zoo and aquarium businesses and give curators, veterinarians, registrars, keepers and other SMEs the opportunity to provide their input into how the ZIMS application should function.

During these sessions, zoo and aquarium experts give their feedback to CGI through “use cases.” Use cases are documents prepared by technical experts to standardize definitions of animal management activities that will be supported within the ZIMS application. Use cases will provide the foundation on which the ZIMS application is built.

For more information on JAD sessions, see www.isis.org. To find out more about use cases or to review, see www.iadisc.org. Members may also contribute ideas about what ZIMS should be through the ZIMS Wish List.
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THE NEXT STEP BEGINS: DATA STANDARDS MEETINGS

We are now beginning data standards work with our first meeting 19-22 November in Perth, Australia. A meeting is also scheduled for 14-18 February 2005 in Osaka, Japan. In addition, we will hold two more large data standards meetings next year. Data standards are, for example, the rules for recording birth date, capture location or pathology findings.
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BUILDING ZIMS: THE CAMPAIGN FOR ISIS

We are almost halfway to our funding goal of US $10 million in our capital campaign “Building ZIMS: The Campaign for ISIS.” We have received pledges totaling US $4 million from 133 members of the zoological community. (Some of these pledges are not yet confirmed in writing. We ask members to please do so if you have not already. A complete list of investors can be found at www.isis.org “Explore ZIMS.”)
In addition, ISIS has secured a prestigious US $500,000 National Leadership Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS – www.imls.gov) and a US $300,000 grant from the US National Science Foundation.

Efforts are continuing to raise funds from other governmental sources and corporate sponsors.
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ZIMS: BE PART OF IT!

ZIMS is being designed by and for its owners – ISIS members. Your continued support of the ZIMS Project will ensure equitable sharing of data on animals in more than 70 countries.
Already, almost 500 members of the zoo and aquarium community, representing almost 200 organizations have been involved in the project to build ZIMS – and we need you too!

YOU CAN HELP!

Participate in the standards development process.
Meetings begin soon. (See “Next steps” above.)
Help raise funds for the project.
Our capital campaign has already raised US $4.8 million of our US $10 million goal.
To donate to the ZIMS Project, e-mail kim@isis.org.

Tell others in your institution and community about the ZIMS Project.

ZIMS will serve as the central location for accurate and comprehensive information on 2 million animals. Collectively investing in and developing ZIMS will improve animal care worldwide.
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TECH UPDATES: ISIS STAFF RECEIVES SERVICE AWARDS FROM ZRA

The Zoological Registrars Association (ZRA – www.zra.homestead.com, a member group of 130 members from around the world) has awarded the ISIS staff four “gold stars” for providing outstanding service to ZRA members. Four of five gold stars distributed at the ZRA annual conference went to ISIS.
Certified Help Desk Manager Elisabeth Hunt was awarded for her service to ZRA members
Database Systems Administrator Nate Hill was recognized for his work to “save the day” at a ZRA Institutional Records Keeping class
Chief Technology Officer Syed Hassan was thanked for being an advocate for the registrars in the South East Asian Zoo Association (SEAZA) and the Zoological Information Management System (ZIMS) Project
Executive Director Nate Flesness was awarded for his help in formalizing the relationship between ISIS and ZRA

Congratulations to our staff!

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