The aims of the group are (1) To assemble a mailing list of colleagues who
would be interested in both receiving and contributing to a flow of useful
information on developments in computer and other technology that help us to
handle, exchange, analyze and otherwise deal with our data more effectively.
(2) We will attempt to tap as broad a group of sub-disciplines as possible, to
include both physical and biological data categories. (3) We plan to act by
producing a simple newsletter roughly once per year that will provide a
mechanism of communication among all with an interest, and it might include
up-to-date bibliographies on literature on data handling, quantitative
methods, etc., as well as an inventory of colleagues with particular expertise
and willingness to provide information, programmes, etc. (4) We will attempt
to keep abreast of new modes of communication, so that our mailing list can
include and perhaps eventually make use of such mechanisms as Bitnet, etc. A
small group of colleagues has agreed to serve but we are open to additions,
either by suggestion of others or volunteering. At present the group consists
of:
J.C. Ritchie John Birks University of Toronto University of Bergen Scarborough College Botanical Institute 1265 Military Trail N-5027 Bergen, NORWAY Scarborough, Ontario CANADA M1C 1A4 Bitnet: Ritchie@UToronto Louis J. Maher, Jr. Rick Battarbee Dept. of Geology & Geophysics Department of Geography University of Wisconsin University College London Madison, WI 53706 London, U.K. WCIH OAP Owen K. Davis Department of Geosciences University of Arizona Tucson, AZ 86721
Anyone who wishes to be added to the Working Group's mailing list and/or to contribute in any way, should please write or BITNET immediately to J.C. Ritchie, University of Toronto, Scarborough College, 1265 Military Trail, Scarborough, Ontario, Canada M1C 1A4. (Ritchie@UToronto)
This issue contains: a short article on general aspects on handling pollen data with microcomputers; specific programmes for data entry and plotting; short reviews of recent useful relevant publications; miscellaneous short notes; and a preliminary electronic mail directory. Future issues will contain information on databases for diatoms and for peatland stratigraphy; Quaternary vertebrate data storage; a contribution from Lou Maher on his latest programmes and their availability; and other items that you will contribute.