The CRIS-MER : a novel online research tool.

Current Research Information System on Migration and Ethnic Relations

The idea and first implementations: Research centres in universities, research departments within companies, decision makers in government and research funding agencies all hold or gather information on research for their specific purposes or particular clients. The existing data research sets held by all organisations are heterogeneous and unconnected. By keeping the data in heterogeneous format, the potential for wide exchange is not being exploited.

There is a need for current research to be made widely available to encourage and support all interested parties. To this end, the EU has developed the CERIF 2000 format (Common European Research Information Format). This format is proposed to be implemented in the development of all European systems providing information on current scientific research. CERIF offers the possibility of bringing together comparable information from various sources. Moreover, the common format simplifies information retrieval tailored to the requirements of individual users

ERCOMER, following her pioneering initiative in creating the "The WWW Virtual Library on Migration and Ethnic Relations", an increasingly popular information source, is pleased to announce her second initiative in developing world-wide an e-content information systems: The on online information system on current research projects in the field of "Migration and Ethnic Relations". The system will be highly focused on the research in the fields of international migration, ethnic relations, racism and xenophobia.

The first research projects descriptions, submitted to us electronically for the organisation of the last summer school, have been stored in a database from which webpages can be rendered. They have been recently validated and updated by the researchers themselves, through a direct mailing, ensuring the correctness of the present data. The research projects descriptions currently being published, represent 27 organizations in 14 countries, and become the germ for the Current Research Information System on Migration and Ethnic Relations.

The development of this system supports also one of the main goals of the summer schools sponsored by the European Union in the context of the TMR programme the creation of a 'Young Researchers network' in the field.

Scope of CRIS-MER and networked information systems The system will not only cover information on research projects from their inception to their completion, but will also incorporate information: on results: reports or any other type of scientific publications, events, research funding sources, participating expertise, and all type organisations involved in the projects.
The information structure of the system follow the proposed CERIF 2000 definitions but the exact content and scope of the information to be selected will take into account the specific nature of research and results in the field. First definitions have been formed in consultation with the researchers in the field that form the ERIS-MER committee.
The system will be fully linked to other information networks dealing with supplementary content information such as publishers networks or events specific web pages to contribute to the trend of web networked knowledge avoiding duplication of the information.

European standards-based, database-driven information system: We are currently publishing the rather loosely formulated research project descriptions.
The ERIS-MER, consists of two main components. A relational database where the information is securely stored and a web user interface to collect, moderate and view the information. The database is designed in line with the CERIF 2000, to confirm with the European framework for data exchange, therefore to facilitate comparison and increase public awareness of the research in the field. In addition to that enables ERIS-MER database to be integrated with ERGO the European Research Gateways On-line, that provides access to research in all scientific fields.

The interface: The data will be collected by an interactive web based application and will be stored directly in the ERIS-MER relational database. The contents of the database will be viewable as web pages. These web pages will be generated dynamically from the database, ensuring that the information retrieved will always be the most up-date available.

Content criteria: evaluating the information: Our first concern is that the validity and authority of these resources should not be questioned. Basically can only be guaranteed by the researchers themselves, by letting them be both contributors and end users at the same time. Parallel on line moderation by a committee of experts from the field will ensure that the information system is quality-filtered and remains focussed on the field. At the same time being dynamically updated and moderated will enable scientists and all in interest to learn in real time about the latest thoughts, ideas and proposals.

On line research and communication tool: By exploiting the opportunities offered by the new technologies of the web, the system will result in improved scientific communication tool. We believe that the participating community will see immediate returns on its involvement, profiting from the existing infrastructure of this widely linked website. In addition to that, the public awareness of research in the field is obviously being promoted by increased visibility.

If at a later stage research output in the form of downloadable reports or publication preprints are also made available, a potentially unique form of scientific information exchange could result, covering research projects from their inception to their completion.

The ERIS_MER committee

Hub Linssen (ERCOMER staff member)
Edwin Poppe (ERCOMER staff member)
K.Pouliasi co-ordination (ERCOMER webmanagement)

June 1, 2001

Unfortunately this project has not been completed due to organizational changes on directorships at ERCOMER, shift of priorities and time constraints. As of January 2003 Mrs. K. Pouliasi is no longer acting as Webmanager of ERCOMER.

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{Index of the projects}