2007: ENCYCLOPEDIA OF LIFE
[Overview]
Launched in May 2007, the Encyclopedia of Life is a global scientific effort to document all known species of animals and plants (1.8 million), and expedite the millions of species yet to be discovered and catalogued (8 to 10 million). This collaborative effort is led by several main institutions: Field Museum of Natural History, Harvard University, Marine Biological Laboratory, Missouri Botanical Garden, Smithsonian Institution, Biodiversity Heritage Library (BHL). The initial funding comes from the MacArthur Foundation (US $10 million) and the Sloan Foundation ($2.5 million). A number of pages will be available by mid-2008. The encyclopedia will be operational in 3-5 years and completed (with all known species) in 10 years. Built on the scientific integrity of thousands of experts around the globe, the Encyclopedia will be a moderated wiki-style environment, freely available to all users everywhere.