ZIMS Project volunteers

The Zoological Information Management System (ZIMS) Project is one of the most ambitious online projects ever attempted – this project will span the entire globe. The ZIMS Project could not be completed without the help and support of the extensive volunteer network that has contributed to this project.

ZIMS Project volunteers put in long hours reviewing thousands of documents, creating structure for the project, monitoring listserves and attending workshops around the globe. Here are some of the dedicated individuals who have given their time to this project.

Individual volunteer highlights:

Frands Carlsen, Copenhagen Zoo
Frands was involved with the ZIMS Project before it was formerly known by that name. In 2001, Frands joined a group in Brookfield, Chicago, which was convened by Bob Lacy, presently Chairman of Conservation Breeding Specialist Group (CBSG) as a reaction to several ongoing projects that threatened the continuation of a global animal data information system.  This group established the Global Animal Data Group (GADG, which today we know as the International Animal Data Information Systems Committee (IADISC).

“There was a lot of debate in those days about which way to proceed with our animal information software,” said Frands. “Having worked with different ISIS software through the years, I experienced the need for a more flexible and better-integrated software package that made use of the latest advances in information technology, but at the same time needed this to be a truly global enterprise.”

Frands has continued with the project by being involved in most aspects, including membership in IADISC, co-chair of the European regional ADISC – EADISC, participating in development of the Request for Proposal (RFP) and the selection of a vendor for the project. Frands is a member of the ZIMS Core Team, contributes to ZIMS listserves, has participated in Joint Application Development (JAD) sessions in Sydney and Miami and has contributed to the project in numerous other ways.

“This has and will be a big part of my work in the near future and I am very grateful the foresight of Copenhagen Zoo in seeing the importance of this work and letting me use so much of my time for this,” said Frands.

Of the hard work and long hours involved in the project, Frands said, “Having worked with this project for some years now I have met a lot of wonderful people in our community. The meetings necessary to make this project a reality have created new, strong bonds and friendships and a better understanding between people from a great variety of backgrounds and institutions. This has helped make us a much stronger community.”

Robert Dulski, director of information services, Brookfield Zoo Chicago Zoological Society
Robert serves on the ZIMS Core Team and as a co-chair for ZIMS Technical Working Group (ZTWG).

Robert’s institution was a founding member of ISIS. When asked why he decided to participate in the ZIMS Project, Robert said, “Lots of reasons.” Among them are: the potential this project has to have great impact on the management of endangered species and the quality of care for the living creatures for which we are responsible, and “the unselfish collaboration of everyone involved in the project.”

“It is in our institutions’ own best interest to have ZIMS succeed,” said Robert. “The ZIMS Project is one of the most interesting and challenging IT [Information Technology] projects out there and I get to interact with some wonderfully talented people from all over the world!”

Robert looks forward to ZIMS as a commercial-quality application that will have a support and development infrastructure to help him serve the clients he supports at the zoo. “There are many good accounting and human resources systems available,” said Robert, “but the animal care/management community has not had any good commercial-quality options to meet their needs.”

Bob Gebert, Calgary Zoo, Canada
Bob has been involved in the ZIMS Project from the beginning, participating on the ZIMS Core Team and the ZIMS Technical Working Group (ZTWG).

Bob is involved in the ZIMS Project because he feels it is important for his organization’s interests to be heard, but also because of the opportunity the project presents for members to meet and talk with a group of very dedicated people and to be involved in this very large international project.

When asked what he expects the ZIMS application to offer his facility, Bob said, “The reduction of time spent maintaining accurate records and the ability to ‘see’ the world population in one consistent format will be awesome benefits.”

Bob added, “Whenever I get down on the project, I just phone Syed [Hassan, ZIMS Project manager] and his enthusiasm has consistently helped turn my attitude. Let’s not burn that out!”

John Inkson, Taronga Zoo
John has been involved with the ZIMS Project since shortly after it began. He started by assisting fellow Australian Kevin Johnson and other IADISC members wherever possible. In the beginning, John helped develop documentation for the RFP and review vendor's responses.

Since then, he has assisted in documentation of business processes (use cases) and reviewed documentation in relation to the technical aspects of ZIMS. John sums up work on the use cases as, "...trying to understand the process and then compiling the many varied view points from across the world to make a meaningful process to suit multiple organisations." (Editor’s note: Doesn't sound like an easy task!)

Lately John has been working the Kevin on the ZIMS Forum(http://www.zimsforum.com/discussion), which is an IADISC initiative to provide a more transparent involvement and feedback mechanism for members of the global zoological community. "We believe that this will encourage participation in the project and provide a forum where people can 'nut out' problems, ask questions and come to grips with and share ideas on the ways other people and institutions work," said John. "It's not as quick as verbal communication, but the benefits are enormous and it leaves a 'history of thought' so that new comers hopefully can get up to speed reasonably quickly."

John said there are multiple reasons he decided to participate in the ZIMS Project. "It's not often in the information technology [IT] industry that you get a chance to 'make a difference.' The chance that the ZIMS Project has presented is very exciting for me on a personal and professional level," said John. "In this project not only do I get a chance to assist in
potentially expanding the body of knowledge about some aspect of a population for example, but indirectly I might assist others in effectively managing threatened species. How many systems administrators in the world can say that?"

About the business benefits of ZIMS, John added, "Realistically, resourcing is one of the larger problems in our organisation and anything that makes a process more efficient will directly translate into a productivity benefit.

"If I can help provide a system to make our business more productive and efficient, assist our institution to be part of the 'global institution,'and at the same time help in managing populations and species and improve and promote the good health and welfare of the species under our direct care and in the wild, it's hard not to want to participate."

When asked what the most exciting aspect of the ZIMS Project is for him, John responded, "I feel privileged and proud to be part of this project and as it progressed it really has been difficult NOT to get excited about it. I think we all recognise the real value and benefits that an IT system such as ZIMS could bring to the global zoo community.”

Jean Miller, registrar, Buffalo Zoo, New York, USA Jean joined the ZIMS Core Team recently, but has been involved in the project for some time, reviewing documentation and providing input. Jean started using the ISIS system before it was computerized. She decided to join the ZIMS Project because of the opportunity this project offered to “provide input in the first system designed by its users.” Jean added, “the result will be either our glory or our fault, so I'm trying to make sure it's the former.” Jean is excited about the ZIMS application’s ability to allow users to see all facets of an animal’s records together -- to be able to see the overall picture.

Dr. Ulrike Rademacher, Wilhelma Zoological and Botanical Gardens, Stuttgart, Germany
Ulrike is a member of the ZIMS Core Team, the International Animal Data Information Systems Committee (IADISC) and the European ADISC. She has attended design sessions all over the world and has been very involved in reviewing the documentation on which the system will be built. In addition, she has volunteered to translate ISIS News into German each month so that her colleagues can be more aware of the project.

When asked why she is excited about the ZIMS application, Ulrike said, “I like the idea that with ZIMS we will be able not only to exchange core data of an animal…but also exchange all kinds of information about husbandry, veterinary care, behaviour…in a way that is very easy and less time consuming than now.

“With ZIMS you will be able to get all kinds of more flexible and customized reports. This will make life so much easier. Instead of writing e-mails and phoning colleagues we can search for these kinds of information in ZIMS.”

Rachel Watkins Rogers, registrar,Metrozoo Miami, Florida USA
When asked why she is involved in the ZIMS Project, Rachel said, “ZIMS is the next ARKS. Why wouldn't I want to participate in the development of what I will be using to do my job when it comes out?

“I also believe that in North America we often get bogged down with our own needs and forget that there is a whole world out there. Any small part I can play in the greater good for the zoological community as a whole is worth the effort!” Rachel is excited that ZIMS will function on the World Wide Web and about the flexibility and added features that ZIMS will bring, such as data analysis tools and the ability to master group numbers. “It’s almost like Star Trek or probably how people felt when ARKS2, MedARKS or SPARKS were released – very cutting edge and visionary,” said Rachel.

Rachel Watkins Rogers (right)

Rachel hosted the fifth Joint Application Development session and the International Animal Data Information Systems Committee (IADISC) at the Metrozoo in November 2004. “My personal pleasure came from being able to observe and participate in the development of what I perceive to be a ground breaking product that will change the way we keep records,” said Rachel.

Rachel has already become an integral part of the core team – bringing new energy and excitement to the project. Look for her ideas to come to fruition throughout the project!