Digital Burgess and Paleo21

[Bruce Damer <damer@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Dear Paleonet,

The upcoming Digital Burgess conference in Banff, Alberta, Canada Aug
29-Sept 1 (Just before Paleo21) has been designed to aid paleontology in
precisely some of the ways you are seeking. We invite you to visit the full
web pages on the conference at http://www.biota.org and consider attending.
We would also be willing to promote Paleo21 to our attendees and submit a
report on Digital Burgess for consideration at Paelo21.

Here is how we see how the Digital Burgess event might aid paleontology:

1. The conference combines specialists from paleontology, computer science,
digital modeling and the fresh new field of "evolutionary arts". We hope to
promote collaboration between these fields and thereby suggest a richer
funding support matrix for paleontology.

2. The conference is fully funded by high tech companies, including British
Telecom, Sun Microsystems, Silicon Graphics, 3D Labs and Intel. We are
directly testing the model of high-tech support of Paleo events and
hopefully in the future, research activities. These companies were very
keen to be associated with paleontology.

3. The event also includes public events and media coverage (it will be
covered by Discovery Channel) with some exciting "hands on" paleontology
experience (we will be guiding attendees to the Walcott Quarries of the
Burgess Shale).

4. The Digital Burgess team has produced some attractive initial web-based
resources at http://www.biota.org including full 3D virtual worlds (one
with a swimming Anomalocaris) to provide a further mechanism to reach wide
audiences who have an interest in paleontology. We invite you to consider
linking to our resources for your Paleo21 discussions.

5. We have a listserver devoted to the themes of Digital Burgess and invite
you to join.


In conclusion, we hope to make a positive contribution to the following
purposes of Paleo21 as listed on your website..

2.To identify broad scientific initiatives for the 21st century that, if
successful, will maximize paleontology's relevance and impact on
technology, society and industry.

5.To promote better communication between the various specialties/fractions
in Paleontology.

6.To strategize development of a public support base.

8.To promote effective interfaces with other specialties. 


We would love to hear from you!

Bruce Damer
Conference Co-ordinator



DigitalSpace Corporation
343 Soquel Avenue
Suite 70
Santa Cruz CA 95062 USA
(408) 338-9400
damer@digitalspace.com
http://www.digitalspace.com