Introduction to the Brahma Database - Revision history

Gauravm: /* Introduction to the Brahma Project */

2012-05-05T22:09:22Z

‎Introduction to the Brahma Project

Gauravm at 15:32, 23 April 2012

2012-04-23T15:32:37Z

Gauravm at 17:56, 2 January 2012

2012-01-02T17:56:51Z

Gauravm at 00:39, 6 November 2011

2011-11-06T00:39:00Z

Gauravm: /* Introduction to the Brahma Project */

2011-11-05T23:16:14Z

‎Introduction to the Brahma Project

Gauravm: /* Use in conservation: Identifying endangered species */

2011-11-05T00:30:30Z

‎Use in conservation: Identifying endangered species

Gauravm: /* Use in conservation: Identifying endangered species */

2011-11-05T00:29:58Z

‎Use in conservation: Identifying endangered species

Gauravm at 00:29, 5 November 2011

2011-11-05T00:29:31Z

Gauravm at 19:24, 12 September 2011

2011-09-12T19:24:49Z

Gauravm: /* Structure */

2011-09-12T19:16:21Z

‎Structure

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 [[wikipedia: Lord Brahma|Lord Brahma]] ([[wikipedia:Sanskrit|Sanskrit]]: ब्रह्मा, [[w:IAST|IAST]]:Brahmā) is the [[wikipedia:Hindu|Hindu]] God of Creation. According to [[wikipedia: Hindu mythology|Hindu mythology]], Brahma is the creator of the entire universe and all life that inhabits it. Our [[wikipedia: Earth|planet]] is teeming with life, from the abysses of the oceans to hot sandy deserts. The aim of Project Brahma is to create awareness about this [[w:biodiversity|diversity of life]], with a special focus on the biodiversity of [[wikipedia: India|India]] through various online and grassroots level initiatives.
-Project Brahma is the umbrella project consisting of three media:
+Project Brahma is the umbrella project consisting of four media:
 # This ''Biodiversity of India'' wiki
 # Our [https://www.facebook.com/brahmaproject Project Brahma Facebook page] and
 # Our [https://twitter.com/brahmaproject @brahmaproject Twitter account]

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 {{Work in progress}}
-'''''Also read [http://www.projectbrahma.org/index.php?title=Article:101 A vulnerable country on a fragile planet - Our efforts in conserving India's biodiversity with Project Brahma]'''''
+'''''Also read [http://www.biodiversityofindia.org/index.php?title=Article:101 A vulnerable country on a fragile planet - Our efforts in conserving India's biodiversity with Project Brahma]'''''
 ==What is biodiversity==
 The official definition of biodiversity, as adapted by UN [[wikipedia:Convention on Biological Diversity|Convention on Biological Diversity]] is "the variability among living organisms from all sources, including, 'inter alia', terrestrial, marine, and other aquatic [[wikipedia:ecosystem|ecosystems]], and the ecological complexes of which they are part: this includes diversity within[[wikipedia:species|species]], between species and of ecosystems"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.biodiv.be/glossary_keywords/B/biological_diversity|title=Glossary:Biological Diversity as defined by Convention on Biological Diversity|accessdate=2010--5-13}}</ref>

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-<div style="background-color: #FFF; border: 2px solid green; padding: 10px; margin: 10px 0 12px 0; padding-bottom: 10px;{{round corners}};">
+{{Work in progress}}
-{|
-| [[File:Men_at_work.png|100px|center|thumb|]]
-−
-<div style="margin-top: -6px; font-size: 150%; padding: 2px 10px 2px 10px; color: green; background-color:#E4EDF2; float: left;-moz-border-radius: 0px;"><u>This section is currently being updated</u> </div>
-<div style="text-align:left; padding: 20px 10px 2px 10px; margin-top: 2px; margin-right: 0px;font-size:120%;"></div>
-|}
-</div>
 '''''Also read [http://www.projectbrahma.org/index.php?title=Article:101 A vulnerable country on a fragile planet - Our efforts in conserving India's biodiversity with Project Brahma]'''''
 ==What is biodiversity==

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 ==Structure==
 ===Species Pages===
-The Brahma Database is a powerful way of extracting rich information about India's biodiversity. The database uses an intelligent software called [[w:Semantic Mediawiki|Semantic Mediawiki]] to automatically generate [[w:knowledge|"knowledge"]] from user-fed information. The more information this database gets as input, the more useful it becomes in terms of knowledge-discovery - almost like an [[w:intelligence|intelligent]] living organism.
+The Biodiversity of India Database is a powerful way of extracting rich information about India's biodiversity. The database uses an intelligent software called [[w:Semantic Mediawiki|Semantic Mediawiki]] to automatically generate [[w:knowledge|"knowledge"]] from user-fed information. The more information this database gets as input, the more useful it becomes in terms of knowledge-discovery - almost like an [[w:intelligence|intelligent]] living organism.
-The Brahma database runs on two entities - Species pages and Query pages. The species pages are populated by regular human users by filling in a form and making some text entries. This information then becomes part of the database and can be aggregated on query pages, using something called [[w:Semantic search|Semantic queries]]. So if you wanted to find out something as simple as - ''All plants growing in [[India]]'' - or something as complex as - ''All [[w:endemism|endemic]] plants growing in [[Karnataka]] used for treatment of [[w:Malaria|Malaria]], have religious significance in [[w:Islam|Islam]] and have been commercially exploited'' - you can do it using this database!
+The BOI database runs on two entities - Species pages and Query pages. The species pages are populated by regular human users by filling in a form and making some text entries. This information then becomes part of the database and can be aggregated on query pages, using something called [[w:Semantic search|Semantic queries]]. So if you wanted to find out something as simple as - ''All plants growing in [[India]]'' - or something as complex as - ''All [[w:endemism|endemic]] plants growing in [[Karnataka]] used for treatment of [[w:Malaria|Malaria]], have religious significance in [[w:Islam|Islam]] and have been commercially exploited'' - you can do it using this database!
 This powerful resource builds on the information provided to it by people like you. The more you are involved with this site, the better it will become. We encourage you to contribute to this website in whichever way you can.

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 ==Introduction to the Brahma Project==
 [[File:LotusFlower.jpeg|right|thumb|250px]]
-[[wikipedia: Lord Brahma|Lord Brahma]] ([[wikipedia:Sanskrit|Sanskrit]]: ब्रह्मा, [[w:IAST|IAST]]:Brahmā) is the [[wikipedia:Hindu|Hindu]] God of Creation. According to [[wikipedia: Hindu mythology|Hindu mythology]], Brahma is the creator of the entire universe and all life that inhabits it. Our [[wikipedia: Earth|planet]] is teeming with life, from the abysses of the oceans to hot sandy deserts. The aim of Project Brahma is to document the [[w:biodiversity|diversity of life]], with a special focus on the biodiversity of [[wikipedia: India|India]]. In addition,Project Brahma aims to make use this information to boost conservation and research into India's biodiversity.
+[[wikipedia: Lord Brahma|Lord Brahma]] ([[wikipedia:Sanskrit|Sanskrit]]: ब्रह्मा, [[w:IAST|IAST]]:Brahmā) is the [[wikipedia:Hindu|Hindu]] God of Creation. According to [[wikipedia: Hindu mythology|Hindu mythology]], Brahma is the creator of the entire universe and all life that inhabits it. Our [[wikipedia: Earth|planet]] is teeming with life, from the abysses of the oceans to hot sandy deserts. The aim of Project Brahma is to create awareness about this [[w:biodiversity|diversity of life]], with a special focus on the biodiversity of [[wikipedia: India|India]] through various online and grassroots level initiatives.
 Documenting India's biodiversity is a challenging task. India has some of the biggest [[w:megadiverse nations|diverse regions]] in the world. Given the rapid rate of population expansion, habitat fragmentation and species loss in the Indian subcontinent, it has become extremely important to document this biodiversity for the purpose of its conservation.
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 Efforts to document and conserve biodiversity assume special significance in the Indian context. The flora and fauna of the land are very intricately linked to its culture, its folk medicine and its way of life. For example, [[Elephas maximus|elephants]] may just be "magnificent animals under threat of extinction" in most parts of the world, but in India, they are also majestic symbols of royalty and are deeply engrained in religious and mythic lore. [[Ocimum tenuiflorum|Basil]] may be a plant used just for cooking in most parts of the world, but in India it is considered holy and worshipped every year during [[w:Diwali|Diwali]]. The enormous magnitude of biodiversity in India has spawned an equally magnanimous diversity in the customs, religious lore and [[w:folk medicine|folk medicinal practices]] associated with it. Thus, biodiversity documentation and conservation in India is not just of interest to environmentalists and academics, but also to every person interested in documenting and conserving the culture of the country.
-Project Brahma aims to provide a platform to document Indian biodiversity from all of the above mentioned perspectives, and more. The Brahma Database will pull in various pieces of scientific information, such as details of [[w:binomial classification|binomial classification]], morphology, habitat, geographical distribution, [[w:genomics|genomic data]] and couple it with the traditional information, such as vernacular names, [[w:folk medicine|folk medicinal knowledge]] and mythic folklore for every species in India. The result will be resource huge in its scope and implications.
+Biodiversity of India (BOI) aims to provide a platform to document Indian biodiversity from all of the above mentioned perspectives, and more. The BOI Database will pull in various pieces of scientific information, such as details of [[w:binomial classification|binomial classification]], morphology, habitat, geographical distribution, [[w:genomics|genomic data]] and couple it with the traditional information, such as vernacular names, [[w:folk medicine|folk medicinal knowledge]] and mythic folklore for every species in India. The result will be resource huge in its scope and implications.
-'''''However, documentation of biodiversity is not the final aim of this project.''''' The goal of Project Brahma is to act as a platform for encouraging conservation. Through the website and using modern "Web 2.0" technologies such as Twitter, Facebook, Youtube and so on, we plan to spread awareness and education about India's biodiversity. Through [[Brahma Notes]], we aim to highlight the intricate associations between Indian biodiversity and local cultural practices & mythology. One of the important components of the Project Brahma website is the [[Division:Education|Education division]], where we aim to create and compile tools such as online learning modules, blog articles, news, educational videos and biodiversity-related quizzes. In addition, we plan to organize grassroots level activities which will feed into the Project Brahma website.
+'''''However, documentation of biodiversity is not the final aim of this project.''''' The goal of BOI is to act as a platform for encouraging conservation. Through the website and using modern "Web 2.0" technologies such as Twitter, Facebook, Youtube and so on, we plan to spread awareness and education about India's biodiversity. Through [[Brahma Notes]], we aim to highlight the intricate associations between Indian biodiversity and local cultural practices & mythology. One of the important components of the BOI website is the [[Division:Education|Education division]], where we aim to create and compile tools such as online learning modules, blog articles, news, educational videos and biodiversity-related quizzes. In addition, under the umbrella of Project Brahma, we plan to organize grassroots level activities which will feed into the BOI website.
-The aforementioned tasks are no doubt enormously challenging. But we have to start somewhere. This is where we start. The Brahma Project will harness the power of [[w:Wikipedia|community participation]] to achieve this challenging task. We envision that enthusiasts from all walks of life will join hands through this Project to rapidly advance the status of biodiversity documentation and conservation in India. This Project will not only serve as an excellent reference for further research, but also make the scientific and traditional knowledge of India's biodiversity accessible all around the world to the common man.
+The aforementioned tasks are no doubt enormously challenging. But we have to start somewhere. This is where we start. The Brahma Project will harness the power of community participation to achieve this challenging task. We envision that enthusiasts from all walks of life will join hands through the BOI website to rapidly advance the status of biodiversity documentation and conservation in India. The BOI website will not only serve as an excellent reference for further research, but also make the scientific and traditional knowledge of India's biodiversity accessible all around the world to the common man.
 ==Biodiversity of India==

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 {|border="1"
 | {{#ask: [[IUCN status::Endangered||Critically Endangered]]
 | ?Species name
 | ?Common name

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 | format=list
 }}
-}}
+|}
 ===Use in research: Studying medicinal plants===

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 ===Use in conservation: Identifying endangered species===
 '''''All species in the Brahma database classified as Endangered or Critically Endangered by [http://www.iucn.org IUCN]'''''
-{{#tag:gallery|
+{|border="1"
-{{#ask: [[IUCN status::Endangered||Critically Endangered]]
+| {{#ask: [[IUCN status::Endangered||Critically Endangered]]
 | ?Header image
 | ?Species name
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 | mainlabel=-
 | headers=hide
-| format=template
+| format=list
-| template=Sgallery_gallery
 }}
 }}
 ===Use in research: Studying medicinal plants===

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:16, 12 September 2011
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	==Structure==		==Structure==
		+	===Species Pages===
	The Brahma Database is a powerful way of extracting rich information about India's biodiversity. The database uses an intelligent software called [[w:Semantic Mediawiki\|Semantic Mediawiki]] to automatically generate [[w:knowledge\|"knowledge"]] from user-fed information. The more information this database gets as input, the more useful it becomes in terms of knowledge-discovery - almost like an [[w:intelligence\|intelligent]] living organism.		The Brahma Database is a powerful way of extracting rich information about India's biodiversity. The database uses an intelligent software called [[w:Semantic Mediawiki\|Semantic Mediawiki]] to automatically generate [[w:knowledge\|"knowledge"]] from user-fed information. The more information this database gets as input, the more useful it becomes in terms of knowledge-discovery - almost like an [[w:intelligence\|intelligent]] living organism.