Hello ADA-ers -- Great to see things popping up on the list again. I hope 2007 will bring you all many new (& good!) adventures and interesting projects... :)... Speaking of which - I am growing my first little data garden as I type :). Here is the promised follow up to Ian's email. As a part of the early development of the research centre, we are working towards developing an online resource/education site which has a focus on projects that engage with culture, science, technology and art. The scope is flexible and can widen beyond this, but this is seen as our base. We are currently looking to prototype a content model that could be used for early tertiary teaching, as well as be accessible for a more general online public. The research centre and partnering institutions would develop the content initially, though the long term goals would be for this to expand to a wider network. We currently have working relationships and/or are in discussion with the Len Lye Foundation, Puke Ariki and the Walker Art Center in the States. The key goal is to create contextualised learning materials around this area of creative practice. Introductions to pioneers will be followed by contemporary practitioners, where the electronic art context provides a basis for discussion beyond the realm of art, and into interdisciplinary discussions. More general contextual topics will also form a set proportion of the content created. The bi-annual SCANZ residencies will provide a further base of work and relationships to draw from. How this work might most productively intersect with the wider ADA/AF efforts is not fully clear to us yet and so hence our writing to the list for thoughts (can be sent on or off-list). We've been talking a little so far with Jacquie Clarke at the Big Idea and Zoe Drayton of Audio Foundation as they both have interesting things in the works, but it would be good to talk with any others with similar interests, in case of potential for collaboration or at least to avoid duplicating efforts. So far we have done the pre-application (Expression of Interest) to the Digital Strategy Fund for support to build a working prototype. If accepted to apply to the fund, that application will be due in April, and if successful, funding would arrive in July and the work begin in earnest then. And meanwhile in the background... my first Packet Garden planet (made from today's activity) worked fine and turned out rather beautiful -- thanks Julian! :) Installation was straightforward (installed macpython 2.5). I am on OSX 10.4.8. All the best, // Trudy Lane.