Hi Dave,
I e-mailed you earlier about this, but I thought I might send you a
reminder. I am happy to help you with the 1st task (vetting). If the load
is not too heavy as you say, I'd be very happy to help
Mind Regards,
Martijn Moree
> [Apologies for duplicates due to cross-postings]
>
> Hello fellow mineralogists and petrographers!
>
> I have been developing a pilot version of an online petrographic
> database for about a year, and I am preparing to submit a proposal to
> NSF to fund further development. Full details of the proposed system
> including a mock-up of a user interface are available here:
> http://almandine.geol.wwu.edu/~dave/petsearch/
>
> One of the pilot versions created by computer science students is
> online here: http://almandine.geol.wwu.edu/~dave/petsearch/demo1/
>
> In brief however, here are some aspects that distinguish this system
> from existing systems:
> - The database will incorporate uncertainty in optical properties,
> both in terms of known variation within mineral reference properties
> and in terms of uncertainty in measuring properties of unknown
> minerals in thin section. The system will use these uncertainties in
> an "intelligent" way during searches.
> - The data set will be open to all for improvement, but proposed
> improvements will be vetted by experts, and may be "rolled back" if
> necessary.
> - The system will be connected to the RRUFF IMA database run by Bob
> Downs.
> - The system will allow results to be biased by likelihood of mineral
> occurrence (essentially, estimates of crustal abundance).
>
> HELP NEEDED! The project needs collaborators, who will also if they
> wish become members of the IMA Subcommittee on Mineral Optical
> Properties. Collaborators are needed in two areas:
> 1) Experts in certain mineral groups and/or rock types. These experts
> would vet suggested improvements to the database. The particulars of
> how the minerals would be distributed among the experts is not yet
> fixed, but the experts could be divided by mineral groups (e.g.,
> amphiboles), or minerals typically found in particular rock types
> (e.g., calc-silicate minerals), or possibly not divide the group at
> all, but merely keep a pool of experts who would be asked to vet
> incoming suggestions on a rotating basis. I expect the work load to be
> very light, perhaps 3-4 revision suggestions per expert per year. The
> work would not begin until the database is complete in 2-3 years.
>
> 2) Recruiters/supervisors for undergraduates. In order to input the
> initial data set into the system, we will rely on undergraduates to
> mine the primary literature for mineral properties. Because I do not
> have enough undergraduates here at WWU to do this work, I would like
> to recruit and pay undergraduates from other institutions. I would
> like to set up a select group of interested faculty who can perform
> the small amount of student supervision required. I will apply for a
> small annual stipend to be paid to each supervisor.
>
> 3) Faculty willing to incorporate the finished database into courses.
> One target audience for the system is undergraduate students learning
> optical mineralogy and petrography. I plan to supervise a graduate
> student who will focus on documenting any improvements in student
> learning facilitated by use of this database. I am interested in
> finding faculty who teach such courses who are willing to participate
> in some before-and-after assessments.
>
> If you are willing to collaborate in any of these three ways, please
> let me know soon (I have a July 8 NSF deadline).
>
> Thanks in advance!
> -Dave Hirsch
>
> ============================
> Dave Hirsch
> Associate Professor
> Department of Geology
> Western Washington University
> persistent email: [log in to unmask]
> http://www.davehirsch.com
> voice: (360) 650-2166
> aim: [log in to unmask]
> vCard: http://almandine.geol.wwu.edu/~dave/personal/DaveHirsch.vcf
> ============================
>
>
>
>
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