Sharing or scattering information : a challenge for scientific information at Agropolis International Odile BEDU* and Chantal SALSON** * Inra, Institut national de la recherche Agronomique, **Agropolis International Agriculture Food Environment Biodiversity 12th IAALD World Congress, Tokyo, 24 to 27 August 2008

Background Agropolis in Montpellier, an old university town in the South of France Early 1970s: the French Government decided to assemble most of its Mediterranean and tropical agricultural research and training institutions in Montpellier 1986 : Founding of Agropolis association with the support of the Ministries of Research and Education, of Foreign Affairs, of Agriculture and Fisheries A regional association whose members belong to national or international organisations 12th IAALD World Congress, Tokyo, 24 to 27 August 2008

Agropolis in Montpellier, an old university town in the South of France

Early 1970s: the French Government decided to assemble most of its Mediterranean and tropical agricultural research and training institutions in Montpellier

1986 : Founding of Agropolis association with the support of the Ministries of Research and Education, of Foreign Affairs, of Agriculture and Fisheries

A regional association whose members belong to national or international organisations

Founding members: 21 French research and higher educational institutions 5 Universities: Montpellier (3), Nîmes and Perpignan 7 Higher Schools: Montpellier SupAgro, CIHEAM/IAM.M, ENGREF, ESCAIA, ICRA, ISTOM, Sup de Co 9 research centers: BRGM, CEA, Cemagref, Cirad, Cnrs, Ifremer, Inra, Inserm, IRD 12th IAALD World Congress, Tokyo, 24 to 27 August 2008

5 Universities: Montpellier (3), Nîmes and Perpignan

7 Higher Schools: Montpellier SupAgro, CIHEAM/IAM.M, ENGREF, ESCAIA, ICRA, ISTOM, Sup de Co

9 research centers: BRGM, CEA, Cemagref, Cirad, Cnrs, Ifremer, Inra, Inserm, IRD

Linked to an international scientific community Foreign laboratories : USDA (USA), CSIRO (Australia), EMBRAPA-LABEX (Brazil) International training centres: CIHEAM-IAM.M, ICRA Secretariats of International networks and fora Relations with the CGIARs : Bioversity International as associate member, Venue of the AGM09 12th IAALD World Congress, Tokyo, 24 to 27 August 2008

Foreign laboratories : USDA (USA), CSIRO (Australia), EMBRAPA-LABEX (Brazil)

International training centres: CIHEAM-IAM.M, ICRA

Secretariats of International networks and fora

Relations with the CGIARs : Bioversity International as associate member, Venue of the AGM09

The scientific community Academic activities in the region related to Agriculture, Food, Environment and Biodiversity 2300 researchers and lecturers 7000 students and trainees (10% of the whole region) 1 400 technicians and administrative staff 2nd region in France for publications in Applied Biology and Ecology, after Paris 12th IAALD World Congress, Tokyo, 24 to 27 August 2008

Academic activities in the region related to Agriculture, Food, Environment and Biodiversity

2300 researchers and lecturers

7000 students and trainees (10% of the whole region)

1 400 technicians and administrative staff

2nd region in France for publications in Applied Biology and Ecology, after Paris

STI activities STI Commission is opened to information specialists of Agropolis members’ organisations 35 documentation centers or libraries Moreover: Documentation centers can belong to several institutions (and the contrary, too) Their STI policy decisions can be implemented at the national level 12th IAALD World Congress, Tokyo, 24 to 27 August 2008

STI Commission is opened to information specialists of Agropolis members’ organisations

35 documentation centers or libraries Moreover:

Documentation centers can belong to several institutions (and the contrary, too)

Their STI policy decisions can be implemented at the national level

Organisation 1 delegate by institution, 3 to 4 meetings every year 2 news groups, collaborative platforms Several working groups on various topics Since 2007, an Information specialist works for Agropolis International The main purpose is to provide scientific community with a better access to information 12th IAALD World Congress, Tokyo, 24 to 27 August 2008

1 delegate by institution,

3 to 4 meetings every year

2 news groups, collaborative platforms

Several working groups on various topics

Since 2007, an Information specialist works for Agropolis International

The main purpose is to provide scientific community with a better access to information

Main achievements 1- Single access to academic resources Metasearch software (AskOnce programme, developed by Xerox Corporation , now Documentum ECI) Search through 31 catalogs, giving access to 1,5 million of bibliographic references and location to 18 000 titles URL: http://www. bomlr .info/home_eng.html Access to full-text document is planned (as often as possible) 12th IAALD World Congress, Tokyo, 24 to 27 August 2008

Metasearch software (AskOnce programme, developed by Xerox Corporation , now Documentum ECI)

Search through 31 catalogs, giving access to 1,5 million of bibliographic references and location to 18 000 titles

URL: http://www. bomlr .info/home_eng.html

Access to full-text document is planned (as often as possible)

Main achievements 2- Users’ information literacy education Public: students, Post-Doctoral students and researchers Training classes are organised in one institution and every Agropolis members can attend them for free. Topics : 1 - Information retrieval, management of bibliographic citations (freeware are encourage) 2 - Publication strategy 12th IAALD World Congress, Tokyo, 24 to 27 August 2008

Public: students, Post-Doctoral students and researchers

Training classes are organised in one institution and every Agropolis members can attend them for free. Topics :

1 - Information retrieval, management of bibliographic citations (freeware are encourage)

2 - Publication strategy

On-going projects Favorable context for Agropolis International Enhancing international visibility by facilitating a full-text access Scientometric analysis Sharing resources (not yet resolved) Next IAALD World Congress in 2010 12th IAALD World Congress, Tokyo, 24 to 27 August 2008

Enhancing international visibility by facilitating a full-text access

Scientometric analysis

Sharing resources (not yet resolved)

Next IAALD World Congress in 2010

Conclusion Success pulls its strength from a robust human network Substantial user interest in this network Skills of small working groups increase capacities for the whole STI commission 12th IAALD World Congress, Tokyo, 24 to 27 August 2008

Success pulls its strength from a robust human network

Substantial user interest in this network

Skills of small working groups increase capacities for the whole STI commission

Thank you for your attention And see you in Montpellier… Agriculture Food Environment 12th IAALD World Congress, Tokyo, 24 to 27 August 2008