Scientists launch 'Encyclopedia of Life'
Leading scientists and scientific institutions from around the world have announced the launch of the 'Encyclopedia of Life', an international initiative which plans to document all 1.8 million named species of animal, plant and other forms of life on Earth. The initiative brings together species and software experts, who will collate detailed information on all known species, which will be made freely available online to scientists, students and the general public. In addition to written information, photographs, video, sound, maps and other multi-media information is likely to be included in the encyclopaedia. 'The Encyclopedia of Life will provide valuable biodiversity and conservation information to anyone, anywhere, at any time,' said Dr James Edwards, who has been named Executive Director of the project. 'The Encyclopedia of Life will ultimately make high-quality, well-organised information available on an unprecedented level. Even five years ago, we could not create such a resource, but advances in technology for searching, annotating and visualising information now permit us, indeed mandate us, to build the Encyclopedia of Life.' Scanning and digitisation of key information has already got underway at the project's scanning centres in London, Boston and Washington DC, and the first full species pages are expected to be ready by mid 2008. Meanwhile sample pages for a small number of species can be viewed on the project website. The initial focus will be on animals, plants and fungi, but the design can also be extended to cover microbial life. Work on the encyclopaedia is expected to last ten years. The project partners also hope to see their work translated into a number of foreign languages, to further broaden access to the information. 'The Encyclopedia of Life will be a vital tool for scientists, researchers, and educators across the globe, providing easy access to the latest and best information on all known species,' said Jonathan F. Fanton, President of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, which has donated USD10 million (€7.4 million) to the project. 'Technology is allowing science to grasp the immense complexity of life on this planet. Sharing what we know, we can protect Earth's biodiversity and better conserve our natural heritage.'