2007年VOA标准英语-Scientists Develop Internet Catalog of All Eart

By David McAlary
Washington
09 May 2007

Scientists have announced they have begun assembling an Internet catalog of every living thing on Earth. The organizers say the new website will become the single location where researchers can go to study the nearly 2 million known plant and animal species.  As VOA's David McAlary reports, this so-called Encyclopedia¹ of Life is expected to be a major help to scientists in developing countries.

Screenshot from the Encyclopedia of Life website (eol.org)

An electronic Encyclopedia of Life has long been a goal of researchers. They say it is possible only now because of advances in Internet technology, high resolution digital photography, and the ability to quickly read the genetic² codes of species.

"I almost cannot put into words how exciting this development is for scientists, citizens around the world, and me in particular," said James Edwards, the Executive Secretary for the Global Biodiversity Information Center, based in Copenhagen, Denmark. 

He is the Encyclopedia of Life's first Executive Director.

"Once completed, the encyclopedia will provide scientists, students, and all citizens with multimedia³ access to all known living species, even those that have just been discovered," he added.

The project is a collaboration⁴ of six scientific organizations, including the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, Harvard University near Boston, and Chicago's Field Museum. But organizers say they hope to gain the participation⁵ of institutions around the world.

One of the intellectual forces behind the project is renowned⁶ Harvard biologist Edward O. Wilson, who says only about 10 percent of all living things are currently known.

"Our lives depend upon this largely unknown living world that we now propose to understand more fully," he said.  "Humanity exists, in other words, on a little known planet. What knowledge we have is scattered⁷ all through very technical literature. It is hard to obtain. It is usually available to and known about by a limited number of experts."

Wilson says The Encyclopedia of Life will change that, and in so doing, will advance the discovery of new species that could be adaptable⁸ to agriculture and medicine. He points out that it will let scientists better anticipate disease outbreaks and the encroachment⁹ of invasive plants and animals.

"Only with such encyclopedic knowledge can biology as a whole mature as a science and acquire predictive power," he added.  "Never again need we overlook so many golden opportunities in the living world around us or be so often surprised by the sudden appearance of destructive aliens that spring from that little-known world."

The Encyclopedia of Life will cost $50 million to develop, with support from the six founding institutions and two U.S. charitable foundations.

One of the charities is the MacArthur Foundation, whose president, Jonathan Fanton, says researchers worldwide will be able to contribute their knowledge to the website. He predicts that the project will be a boon¹⁰ to science in low income countries.

"The Encyclopedia of Life has clear utility for information sharing, especially in developing nations, where access to science is very limited. I think it is fair to say this could be a revolution for science in the developing world," said Mr. Fanton.

Encyclopedia executive director Edwards says the goal is to catalog 1 million species, a little more than half of those known, in five years.

1 encyclopedia   

n.百科全书

参考例句：

• The encyclopedia fell to the floor with a thud.那本百科全书砰的一声掉到地上。
• Geoff is a walking encyclopedia.He knows about everything.杰夫是个活百科全书，他什么都懂。

2 genetic   

adj.遗传的，遗传学的

参考例句：

• It's very difficult to treat genetic diseases.遗传性疾病治疗起来很困难。
• Each daughter cell can receive a full complement of the genetic information.每个子细胞可以收到遗传信息的一个完全补偿物。

3 multimedia   

adj.多种手段的，多媒体的；n.多媒体

参考例句：

• Multimedia is the combination of computer and video technology.多媒体是计算机和视频技术的结合。
• Adam raised the issue of multimedia applications and much useful discussion ensued.亚当提出了多媒体应用的问题，从而引发了许多有益的讨论。

4 collaboration   

n.合作，协作；勾结

参考例句：

• The two companies are working in close collaboration each other.这两家公司密切合作。
• He was shot for collaboration with the enemy.他因通敌而被枪毙了。

5 participation   

n.参与，参加，分享

参考例句：

• Some of the magic tricks called for audience participation.有些魔术要求有观众的参与。
• The scheme aims to encourage increased participation in sporting activities.这个方案旨在鼓励大众更多地参与体育活动。

6 renowned   

adj.著名的，有名望的，声誉鹊起的

参考例句：

• He is one of the world's renowned writers.他是世界上知名的作家之一。
• She is renowned for her advocacy of human rights.她以提倡人权而闻名。

7 scattered   

adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的

参考例句：

• Gathering up his scattered papers,he pushed them into his case.他把散乱的文件收拾起来，塞进文件夹里。

8 adaptable   

adj.能适应的，适应性强的，可改编的

参考例句：

• He is an adaptable man and will soon learn the new work.他是个适应性很强的人，很快就将学会这种工作。
• The soil is adaptable to the growth of peanuts.这土壤适宜于花生的生长。

9 encroachment   

n.侵入，蚕食

参考例句：

• I resent the encroachment on my time.我讨厌别人侵占我的时间。
• The eagle broke away and defiantly continued its encroachment.此时雕挣脱开对方，继续强行入侵。

10 boon   

n.恩赐，恩物，恩惠

参考例句：

• A car is a real boon when you live in the country.在郊外居住，有辆汽车确实极为方便。
• These machines have proved a real boon to disabled people.事实证明这些机器让残疾人受益匪浅。