Why do this?
There is much to share. An electronic seminar series is one step towards making our rich fund of research and applications increasingly available to Forest Service folks working in watershed and aquatic science and management. New research, syntheses, and science applications become available all the time. We need new channels to share them and build more common knowledge within our community of practice. Conferences and symposia are crucial for sharing, but are expensive in time and money, don't happen frequently enough to stay up-to-date, and not everyone can attend.
May I pose questions to the presenter?
Yes. Questions should either be posted to the Seminar Facilitator via Lotus SameTime (add the Facilitator to your SameTime list and send questions to him or her), OR you may simply email the questions to the facilitator on Lotus mail. Replicate immediately after sending so that the question gets to the Facilitator on time. Because the presenter will have time to respond to questions, the Seminar Facilitator will screen and arrange questions that the presenter will address. Others will be forwarded to the presenter who may choose to engage them later.
Can we discuss the seminar online?
We don't have this capability yet, but we're working on it. However, we encourage talking to your colleagues via email, the phone, and in person about what you learn and how it might apply to your work. Call someone you know from another region and talk about the seminar. The slides are numbered so you can review particular slides together if you wish.
How often will these occur?
For starters, we expect to hold one seminar per quarter. If we get good feedback, we might expand the program to more offerings, such as short courses, and discussion-based seminars. Use the feedback system on the WSS web page to tell us what you want?
Can I nominate a topic or presenter for a future seminar?
Yes! Send an email to mfurniss@fs.fed.us and we'll build a queue for the series. We may contact you to find out more about the presenter and topic. A steering committee will work up a schedule of presentations.
Is this a "Webinar"?
Using a conference call and web slides is sometimes called this or some other term that emphasizes the technology. We think the key part is the presenter, not the web support for showing slides. It is simply the Watershed Seminar Series.
Why aren't we using one those whizzy web conferencing software tools for this?
Initially we want to use the simplest and most reliable approach we know of, so that we can focus on the content and how our community receives the idea. We don't want you to have to install new software, learn a new interface, or worry if things will work. We are evaluating a range of technology support for this, and might use more technology sooner or later, and add some features for you. For now we are keeping it as simple as possible to deliver good content to you, reliably.
If I miss the seminar, can I view it later?
Yes. We expect to capture and produce the seminars using the "Portable Electronic Presentation" (PEP) technique developed by PNW. You'll be able to see the presentation or review it on your own schedule. Check the WSS web page to access these.
Why not invite other agencies and partners to participate?
For now, this seminar series is intended for the Community of Practice in watershed within the Forest Service, and we ask that you not forward an invitation to those outside the FS. We'll consider broadening the invites once we have worked out how to do it and have some feedback on utility.
How can I stay up to date with the WSS?
Visit http://www.stream.fs.fed.us/wss often. The announcements that go out via email will be here too. Archived presentations, in Portable Electronic Presentation (PEP) format, will be available here as well.
Can I provide feedback on the presentation and the Watershed Seminar Series?
Yes! Please take time to offer your comments. The WSS web page has an easy way to provide feedback. We need to hear from you about the WSS. Frankly, it can be hard to get feedback. We hope you'll break this pattern and send us your thoughts, suggestions, and critique.
The Watershed Seminar Series is brought to you by:
NFS Sherry Hazelhurst, Hydrology/Water Quality Program Leader, Washington Office, Watershed, Fish, Wildlife, Air, and Rare Plants Staffs
R&D Michael Furniss, Hydrologist and Boundary Spanner, PNW and PSW Research Stations, Redwood Sciences Lab
S&PF Al Todd, Watershed Program Leader, Northestern State and Private Forestry
Facilitated by the Stream Systems Technology Center |
