The Institute for Genomic Diversity's Interactive Resource Center

One of the many challenges of scientists in the international community, particularly those in developing countries, is obtaining personalized, interactive support to address specific research needs. This lack of access to trained personnel, key literature, and an intellectual support system can limit the progress and success of research programs. At the Genetic Resources Challenge ProgramÕs Stakeholders Meeting in Alexandria, January 2003, one of the recommendations of the Working Group on Capacity Building was to create an Interactive Resource Center (a 'helpdesk') to support scientists involved in the Generation Challenge Program.

Targeted for, but not limited to, the international CGIAR centers, National Agricultural Research centers, and their clients, users of the Resource Center include scientists around the world working on plant genetic resources and breeding. The IRC is intended to be both informational (e.g., provides protocols, tutorials, literature and news) and interactive. Through the IRC's Helpdesk scientists are encouraged to submit questions on a range of subjects including laboratory protocols, technical problems, data management, and also on funding and training opportunities. The goal is not necessarily to directly answer each question, but to direct the client to the appropriate person or place that will be able to address your request.

Specifically, this will aid in the production and presentation of online tutorials and training materials that will be both for personal use (e.g., when a scientist logs on to learn about a specific topic) and for teaching and training purposes (e.g., when a scientist needs materials to assist him/her in training laboratory personnel, etc.). These materials could also be used as 'pre-training' or background material for people participating in a planned workshop, to insure that all participants begin more or less at the same level (greatly increasing the efficiency of workshop).

Tools available through the IRC include (click on arrows to go there directly):

Helpdesk >>>

For asking questions
Backstopping (= support in times of trouble, helping to implement newly learned procedures, linking to a local person for help)
Online bulleting board/discussion room for feedback, input, questions >>>
Email subscription for updates, FAQs

Tutorials >>>
Protocols >>>

List of suppliers (coming soon)

Chemicals
Primer synthesis
Equipment

Educational/Training Online Resources >>>

How to write a scientific paper or proposal;
How to make a budget
How to manage references (procite, endnote)
Basics of Intellectual Property Rights
How to manage a lab (supervising, lab notebooks, etc.)
How to use the Internet efficiently
How to give a presentation
Basics of communication (w/scientists, w/farmers, w/media, w/politicians, etc)
Entrepreneurship
Bioethics
Biosafety
How to set up a lab (for specific purposes, molecular biology, etc.)
Basics of genetic engineering
Bioinformatics (Blast searches, comparative genomics, etc.)

Virtual library

Free publications or journals >>>
Annotations of journals, what they emphasize

Scientific Research focused Education

Online ppt presentations on specific topics (microarrays, fingerprinting, bioinformatics)

Virtual lab: photos and/or movies of protocols in action [like cooking videos] (with warning if broadband is needed)

Pre-training for background content needed for upcoming workshops