[Terrapreta] Government funding for Aust TP trials.

[lou gold]

I'm really hoping that the open source approach will not appear as
controversial here on a terra preta forum where we are committed spreading
the idea globally at every level and for the benefit of all.

Actually, I see the confluence of terra preta and open access e-research as
a marriage of, well ... heaven and earth.

Thanks for your encouragement Gerrit.

hugs,   lou

On Dec 18, 2007 1:47 AM, Gerald Van Koeverden <vnkvrdn at yahoo.ca> wrote:

> I keep wondering too why its so expensive to get the results of
> publically-funded research like that TP book for over $200??
>
> The writers can't argue that the 'limited circulation' numbers raises the
> cost of publishing so exorbiantly.  There are too many publish-on-demand
> companies around like "lulu" who will do limited circulation numbers for
> very cheap - for no more than what you would pay for a regular book.  Is it
> the photos?  Just go into any bookstore and check out all those beautiful
> all-colour coffee-table specials on sale for peanuts...
>
> Give'em hell, Lou!
>
> Gerrit
>
> On 17-Dec-07, at 7:17 PM, lou gold wrote:
>
> Hi Everyone,
>
> I would like elaborate on my questions to Adriana.
> Here is my predicament: as a would-be terra preta enthusiast/evangelist
> living in Brazil, I find that I often do not have access to publications
> that I would like to read. The two main terra preta books are now available
> through Amazon.com for a mere U$ 314 http://www.amazon.com/Amazonian-Dark-Earths-Properties-Management/dp/1402018398/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_b
>
> or I can read other papers for a fee through services such as JSTOR. In
> practical effect, this means that I do not have access. So, when I am told
> that there will be a new Biochar book and new papers in journals I wonder if
> I will ever gain access to them.
>
> My general understanding is that this is no small problem in regard to the
> intellectual property notions of modern science. Perhaps, some will think
> that this is a side issue but in my view it seems especially pertinent as we
> push for more global research and publication on terra preta applications.
>
> See the following piece about the work of James Boyle...
>
> A web without science …<http://sciencecommons.org/weblog/archives/2007/09/04/a-web-without-science/> September
> 4th, 2007
>
> James Boyle <http://www.law.duke.edu/boylesite/>'s latest column in The
> Financial Times <http://www.ft.com/> - "The irony of a web without
> science"<http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/39166e30-5a7f-11dc-9bcd-0000779fd2ac.html>- examines how the  lessons learned from the world wide web can and should
> be applied to the sciences. From research funding to commercial publishing,
> Boyle posits that the capabilities made available through the advent of the
> Web and its design are not adequately being applied to scientific research.
>
> Boyle writes:
>
> "The greatest irony, though, is this. The world wide web was designed in a
> scientific laboratory to facilitate access to scientific knowledge. In every
> other area of life - commerce, social networking, pornography - it has been
> a smashing success. But in the world of science itself? With the virtues of
> an open web all around us, we have proceeded to build an endless set of
> walled gardens, something that looks a lot like Compuserv or Minitel and
> very little like a world wide web for science."
>
> The article notes a key element of Science Commons philosophy -  the
> almost-mythical "e-research" world, where collaboration is the norm and  we
> design our systems for the network. Meaningful e-research is going to
> require a fundamental redefinition of infrastructure. Infrastructure is more
> than just ethernet and fiberoptic cable. Content is part of the
> infrastructure, too, and likely the underlying ICT infrastructure content
> needs to be open by default and governed by open, standard protocols. We
> won't get to the e-research future any other way.
>
> Please see the Neurocommons pages<http://sciencecommons.org/projects/data/>for a sense of what an e-research project looks like. If only we had as much
> access to the literature online as we do to digital data …
>
> You can read Boyle's article in its entirety here<http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/39166e30-5a7f-11dc-9bcd-0000779fd2ac.html>.
> Boyle is a William Neal Reynolds professor at Duke Law School
> <http://www.law.duke.edu/>, and a co-founder of Science Commons<http://sciencecommons.org/>.
> He also sits on the Creative Commons <http://creativecommons.org/> board.
>
>
>
>
> On Dec 17, 2007 9:17 PM, lou gold <lou.gold at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Adriana,
> >
> > I pleased that the final papers will be available to the general public.
> >
> > Perhaps your missed my question? Will the data bases and research be
> > governed by open access protocols such as are being set in place at
> > http://sciencecommons.org/weblog/ ?
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > lou
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > On Dec 17, 2007 8:52 PM, Adriana Downie < adriana at bestenergies.com.au>
> > wrote:
> >
> > >  Lou,
> > >
> > >
> > > We are in the process of publishing several research papers based on
> > > the work in a range of journals. Some of the finding are also to be included
> > > in the Biochar book which is being compiled by Johannes Lehmann . We
> > > will also be presenting some of the results at the upcoming IBI conference
> > > in Newcastle , UK for which the papers will be publicly available.
> > >
> > >
> > > It is not our intention to keep this work a secret. The more
> > > scientifically rigorous and peer reviewed results we can get out the better.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Regards,
> > >
> > > Adriana.
> > >
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > *From:* lou gold [mailto:lou.gold at gmail.com]
> > > *Sent:* Tuesday, 18 December 2007 9:36 AM
> > > *To:* Adriana Downie
> > > *Cc:* Michael Bailes; Terrapreta
> > > *Subject:* Re: [Terrapreta] Government funding for Aust TP trials.
> > >
> > >
> > > Hi Adriana,
> > >
> > > Sounds like a wonderful thing to support. We need much char research.
> > >
> > > One question: how will the data, research findings, etc be licensed?
> > >
> > > Will they be under an Open Source protocol?
> > > http://creativecommons.org/
> > >
> > > Or, will they be governed by a conventional copyright?
> > >
> > > Thanks for all of you good work.
> > >
> > > lou
> > >
> > > On Dec 17, 2007 7:54 PM, Adriana Downie < adriana at bestenergies.com.au>
> > > wrote:
> > >
> > > Michael….and those who want to help via email,
> > >
> > >
> > > Your criticism (below) of lack of government support is not entirely
> > > justified. The trials that BEST has paid for at the NSW DPI has been done
> > > partly through funding we have through the NSW Department of Environment and
> > > Climate Change (DECC). BEST Energies (directly and through their clients)
> > > and the NSW DPI have also contributed cash and in-kind but it would have
> > > been a lot harder without the government support for which we are very
> > > grateful.
> > >
> > >
> > > I encourage those on the list with some time, to write an email of
> > > congratulations to the DECC for supporting this important work and to
> > > encourage them to continue and expand the funding that they have provided in
> > > this area. I have included the contacts below. All they ask out of this is
> > > to get some recognition so please feel free to give them some and hopefully
> > > this will help pave the way for more TP work in NSW.
> > >
> > >
> > > *Elizabeth Lechlein*
> > >
> > > Grants Administrator
> > >
> > > Department of Environment and Climate Change
> > >
> > > PO Box 644 Parramatta NSW 2124
> > >
> > > Level 2, 1 Fitzwilliam Street
> > >
> > > Parramatta NSW 2150
> > >
> > > elizabeth.lechlein at environment.nsw.gov.au
> > >
> > > Ph: (02) 8837 6038  Fax: (02) 8837 6099
> > >
> > >
> > > *Lisa Corbyn*
> > >
> > > *Director General - DECC*
> > >
> > > * Lisa.corbyn at environment.nsw.gov.au *
> > >
> > > 59-61 Goulburn Street, Sydney
> > > PO Box A290, Sydney South NSW 1232
> > > Phone: +61 2 9995 5000
> > >
> > >
> > > Mr Philip Koperberg,
> > >
> > > NSW Minister for Climate Change Environment and Water
> > > Level 35 Governor Macquarie Tower,
> > > 1 Farrer Place,
> > > SYDNEY NSW 2000
> > >
> > > Phone 9228 5488 Fax 9228 5766
> > >
> > > Email office at koperberg.minister.nsw.gov.au
> > >
> > >
> > > Regards,
> > >
> > > Adriana Downie
> > >
> > > BEST Energies Australia
> > >
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > *From:* Michael Bailes [mailto:michaelangelica at gmail.com]
> > > *Sent:* Monday, 17 December 2007 1:49 PM
> > > *To:* naomi luckett; Terrapreta
> > > *Subject:* Re: [Terrapreta] NZ leading the way
> > >
> > >
> > > I buddied up with a lovely kiwi at the IAI Confrence at Terrigal.
> > >  He was from NZ DEPT of Primary Industries. I have forgotten his name
> > > and unfortunately lost his details. He said the NZ Govt was very worried
> > > about GHGs especially methane from burping (He did say burping) cows.
> > > I only saw a couple of other 'PI' people from NSW and the ONLY
> > > Journalist was Kelpie Wilson.
> > > The Confrence got no running in the press at all.
> > >
> > > There have been some NSW pot studies done by NSW Agi Department -
> > > fully or partially funded by BEST Energies (You get nothing for free from
> > > the NSW Govt.-- and do they charge!).
> > > In my view BEST should be flogging their technology not researching
> > > and funding char experiments-The Government should be doing this!
> > >  NSW DPI even has a "GHG" Executive.
> > > If nothing else Australian Governments should be funding studies on
> > > Char's water saving potential. It seems the "water saving" crystals/polymers
> > > are fairly useless and expensive.
> > > MA
> > >
> > > On 17/12/2007, *naomi luckett* <naomiluckett at gmail.com> wrote:
> > >
> > > News from New Zealand,
> > >
> > >
> > > Published today in the New Zealand Herald...
> > >
> > >
> > > RESEARCH
> > >
> > > Roles focus on charcoal's benefits
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > Terrapreta mailing list
> > > Terrapreta at bioenergylists.org
> > >
> > > http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/biochar/
> > > http://terrapreta.bioenergylists.org
> > > http://info.bioenergylists.org
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > --
> > > http://lougold.blogspot.com/
> > > http://www.flickr.com/photos/visionshare/sets/
> > >
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> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > http://lougold.blogspot.com/
> > http://www.flickr.com/photos/visionshare/sets/
> >
>
>
>
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-- 
http://lougold.blogspot.com/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/visionshare/sets/
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