Burkni Helgason (IS), Torfi Jóhannesson (IS), Erik Jørgensen (DK), Anders Ringgaard Kristensen (DK), Susanna Lehvävirta (FI), Hannu Rita (FI), Dietrich von Rosen (SE), Peter Sestoft (DK), Jukka Öfversten (FI), Rasmus Waagepetersen (DK).
The afternoon was used for a discussion of the future of Nordic collaboration concerning research training within the field of informatics in agriculture. The main background for the discussion was that the network grant from NorFA expires at the end of 2002. The conditions of a future collaboration will therefore be different from the current situation.
The discussion was based on an introduction by the head of Dina, Professor Mogens Flensted-Jensen, who emphasized that the important things are informatics and agricultural science as such. We should not try to establish a "new" science called "informatics in agriculture". Collaboration should always be based on the highest scientific levels from both disciplines.
The main purpose of the discussion was to decide whether or not the collaboration should continue even though the support from NorFA expires. All delegates supported a continuation of the collaboration. It may be considered to contact NOVA for a discussion of some kind of general economic support. Anders Ringgaard Kristensen was authorized to take a discussion with NOVA if he finds it appropriate.
As concerns the national contact persons, Anders Ringgaard Kristensen and Peter Sestoft will contact the department of mathematical sciences at the agricultural university of Norway in order to clarify the situation. Lars Snipen has been very passive. Dietrich von Rosen will discuss the situation in Sweden at his department.
In the evening there were reports from the three summer schools that have been held since last network meeting:
Furthermore Anders Ringgaard Kristensen gave a general survey of the activities of the network since the last network meeting in 2001.
Network meeting with the following agenda:
No comments.
In 2001 we had a network meeting in February at Hotel Scanticon Comwell Rebild Bakker, Skørping. We discussed the plans made by Hannu Rita and Jukka Öfversten for the 2002 summer school in Finland in details. The applications to NOVA and NorFA for financial support for the course were finished during the following weeks in close collaboration between Hannu Rita supplying the necessary information and Anders Ringgaard Kristensen putting everything together and completing the relevant forms. Fortunately, NOVA as well as NorFA granted the money we applied for.
The 2001 summer school on Geographical Information and Spatial Analysis was a success as it appears from the evaluation. Gerhard Skagestein was responsible for the course. Since the summer school series is the main activity of the network it is very positive that the course was a success.
In November 2001 we had a small Nordic workshop on Spatial statistics in agriculture and forestry. There were 12 participants from Finland, Sweden and Denmark.
At the end of 2001 we had to apply for continued financial support from NorFA to the general network activities. The initial grant was for 3 years, and it was possible to apply for 2 additional years. Unfortunately the answer from NorFA was that we were given a grant for only one additional year. As a consequence the network meeting in 2002 was postponed until November.
In april 2002 we had to finish the applications to NOVA and NorFA for financial support for the summer school next year (2003). According to the original plans it should have been about Pattern Analysis, but due to various problems in Sweden, it was decided to switch the order of the courses in 2003 and 2004. As a consequence, we applied for money for a course on Bayesian networks in Denmark in 2003. The course will be organised by Anders Ringgaard Kristensen, and it will be held at Tune Landboskole. Fortunately, NOVA as well as NorFA have now granted the money we applied for.
The course on pattern analysis in Sweden will accordingly be postponed until 2004. It will be organised by Dietrich von Rosen and Hans Liljenström. One of the reasons for the change of order was that Dietrich and Hans this year offered a PhD course on "Modeling and Analysis of Biological Processes and Systems". It was decided that NINA should contribute with 90.000 SEK to that course on the condition that it was offered as a NINA PhD course for PhD students from all Nordic agricultural universities. For the first time we therefore had 2 summer schools in 2002.
In August (and late July) the scheduled summer school on "Design of Data Generation - Experimental Design" was held in Finland. A total of 52 PhD students applied for participation, but since we had only funds for 30, we had to cut rather drastically and turn several applications down. According to rumors from the participants, the course was a tremendous success. We should really congratulate our Finnish colleagues with the result.
In November 2002 a Nordic workshop for PhD students on Hybrid Systems is held.
An other activity described as a goal for the network is the creation of a "common market" for workshops within the field of informatics and agriculture (in a broad sense) between the Nordic countries. Since our last network meeting, NINA has supported travels to national workshops in Sweden, Norway and Denmark (most in Denmark).
Anders Ringgaard Kristensen circulated the course description, the program and budget for the course. Comments from the delegates included:
Dietrich von Rosen informed about the plans.
The course will be held somewhere in Sweden in the period 7-19 June 2004.
The expected contents include:
The advice from the delegates was to concentrate on the first 3 issues and skip neural networks.
As international guest teacher Geoff McLachlan was mentioned.
The applications to NOVA and NorFA must be finished in due time before May 1. Dietrich von Rosen and Anders Ringgaard Kristensen will collaborate closely in the applicational process.
From the network meeting in 2001, the following subjects were available for consideration:
The list of previous courses include:
An attempt to classify the previous courses according to informatics discipline, applicational focus and the degree of focus on scientific methods was done:
| Year | Informatics discipline | Applicational focus | Focus on scientific methods |
| 1998 | Computer science | ||
| 1999 | Statistics | ||
| 2000 | Math | ||
| 2001 | (+) | ||
| 2002 | Statistics | + | + |
| 2003 | Statistics | + | (+) |
| 2004 | Stat/CompSci | (+) | (+) |
A brain storm resulted in the following suggestions:
From the list, the following subjects were selected for implementation:
It is realistic to assume that NorFA will only support our courses as long as they finance the network activities in general. Therefore, it will probably become necessary to demand a kind of fee from the participants in the future. Neither will we be able to cover travel costs in the future if the NorFA support ceases.
It will not be possible in the future to organize NINA workshops, since the NorFA grant expires.
Summary by Anders Ringgaard Kristensen
Author: phd@dina.kvl.dk. Updated:
15 January 2003