Background on PRISM



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What is PRISM?
RWC-PRISM is an internet-based information service for sharing and managing existing and new information on organizations and their experts, their projects and practices in agricultural research and development from the Indo-Gangetic Plains of South Asia.

Transects map of the IGP, based on agro-climatic zones.
PRISM, powered by the enthusiasm of committed scientists, researchers, and information managers, helps address questions related to 'Who is doing what where?' The PRISM initiative provides a regional window giving the people involved the opportunities to directly express themselves.

Using RWC-PRISM makes it possible to identify: 

  • Projects, practices or technologies that are either on-going or have been conducted in India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan.

  • Institutions focused on the same area of research, in a particular location.

  • Persons that may provide expertise to your project.
What makes PRISM work?
PRISM allows information to be entered from any global location and that data is funneled to focal points who coordinate information management within a organization or within a PRISM region. Each individual and organization decides which information to publicize, thereby following their own norms of information dissemination. To learn how to use PRISM, access the resources page to download the manual here.
PRISM users are regularly trained in using the software and in achieving best results. Workshops are held all over the IGP to bring the PRISM initiative to the research community.

            
 What is stored in PRISM?
PRISM is an effective way to store information on Projects, Practices, Organizations and Experts from India, Nepal, Bangladesh and  Pakistan. These records are classified and managed by the people at Organization or National Focal Point levels who are responsible for their visibility. PRISM records are thoroughly indexed and are searchable from within this website using specialized search technology. PRISM records are well-known to find their way onto global search engines databases - therefore magnifying resource possibilities.
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How was PRISM born?
RWC-PRISM derives its mandate from the recommendations made by the Regional Steering Committee of the Rice-Wheat Consortium comprising the Director Generals of NARS (Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan), CG Centers (CIMMYT and IRRI) and the representatives of the donor community (The World Bank, Asian Development Bank, IFAD, USAID) to strengthen the information management capacity of the regional NARS and other stakeholders in the Indo-Gangetic Plains. RWC and WIS International have developed the Project and Research Information System Module (PRISM), which was launched in early 2001.
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