BSI is a partner in the USGS NBII program, helping to provide science content for a six-state region through the NBII Mountain Prairie Information Node (MPIN).  Click here to go to the MPIN website.

 
The National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII) is composed of a network of geographic (regions) and thematic information nodes that collectively provide Web-based access to high-quality data, information, and resources about the Nation's biological resources. The Mountain Prairie Information Node (MPIN) is a key part of the national program, focusing on Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, and Wyoming.

The mission of MPIN is to contribute to the understanding and management of biological resources in the Mountain Prairie region by providing ready access to:

Scientific data and metadata
Authoritative information about biological resource management initiatives
Interactive mapping, modeling, and other web-based tools to enable discovery
Educational materials

MPIN is managed by Montana State University's Big Sky Institute (BSI) and the USGS Northern Rockies Mountain Science Center (NRMSC). Previously NRMSC and Montana State University developed and managed the Northern Rockies Information Node (NRIN) which became MPIN during the summer of 2004. Given the expanded geographic scope and need for improved regional biological information, MPIN will develop a strategic plan during 2004-05. Currently MPIN has formed a Steering Committee of Montana State University, USGS, Montana Fish Wildlife & Parks, and North Dakota State University to guide the program and strategic planning process. MPIN is taking the following approach:

Develop partnerships with agencies and institutions that generate and maintain data, and work with them to make those data available
Provide a clearninghouse function to enable users to locate information on natural resources of the region, wherever it is housed
Develop data sets, educational materials and web-based tools to meet partner and client needs
Enable access to information spanning jurisdictional boundaries