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Beifang

English translation: inadvertent/surprise/unwanted/unintentional/chance/fortunate/fortuitous catch/discovery/finding

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
German term or phrase:Beifang
English translation:inadvertent/surprise/unwanted/unintentional/chance/fortunate/fortuitous catch/discovery/finding
Entered by: David Moore (X)

12:43 Apr 8, 2009
German to English translations [PRO]
Science - Environment & Ecology / Research
German term or phrase: Beifang
Context is a magazine article heading (one of about 1800). Nothing more is available - that is all I have to work on.
The definition of "Beifang" is quite clear; it is (irrelevant) "incidental intelligence" gleaned while researching one specific subject, but I cannot think of a succinct term to use. Here is the heading itself:

Beifänge - lästig oder wertvoll? Der Wert von Beifängen in Erfassungsprojekten von Wissenschaft und Umweltplanung

MTIA.
David Moore (X)
Local time: 02:21
inadvertent/ unwanted catch
Explanation:
... is what I have heard of.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 49 Min. (2009-04-08 13:32:17 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I can't see a SINGLE proof for the "intelligence thing"!
Here is the official excerpt
Beifänge - lästig oder wertvoll? Der Wert von Beifängen in Erfassungsprojekten von Wissenschaft und Umweltplanung
Buchholz, Sascha; Kreuels, Martin; Kronshage, Andreas; Terlutter, Heinrich;

Nicht selten kommt es vor, dass zur Beantwortung einer wissenschaftlichen oder praxisorientierten Fragestellung vor allem wirbellose Tiere zur genauen Bestimmung und als Belegexemplare gefangen werden müssen. Aus methodischen Gründen werden dabei häufig Fallen eingesetzt. Diese enthalten am Ende neben den erwünschten Arten oft auch weitere Organismen. Die Auswertung dieser Beifänge kann für Fragestellungen in anderen Projekten und für andere Bearbeiter interessant sein. Eine Beifangdatenbank könnte landesweit übersichtliche Informationen zu abgeschlossenen und aktuellen Projekten und das vorhandene noch unbearbeitete Faltenmaterial liefern.

Artikel aus der Zeitschrfit: Natur in NRW
ISSN: 0947-7578
Jg.: 33, Nr.4, 2008
Seite 61-64, Abb.,Lit.
Standort in der Bibliothek: IRB Z 1439

And here is the link to the full text (page 61, to make the research not too difficult!!):
http://www.lanuv.nrw.de/veroeffentlichungen/natur_in_nrw/200... (
Selected response from:

Bernd Runge
Germany
Local time: 02:21
Grading comment
Thanks to all for your input. There are so many different realistic options, but I think "chance discovery" is the best in this case. Anyway, the points must go to Bernd as he identified the source -which was indeed a great help.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +3inadvertent/ unwanted catch
Bernd Runge
4Serendipity
Alba Arendsen
3happenstance
Susan Zimmer
3incidental discovery
Anne-Marie Grant (X)
3incidental findings
Kim Metzger
3fortuitous finding(s)
casper (X)


Discussion entries: 3





  

Answers


9 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
Serendipity


Explanation:
When you look for something, but find something else entirely.

Alba Arendsen
Local time: 02:21
Native speaker of: Native in DutchDutch

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  David Williams
3 mins
disagree  Isabel Severing: see Bernd's entry
1 hr
  -> Serendipity - nuisance or not? The value of serendipity in scientific and environmental development projects. (Possible translation of the whole thing... Works for me.)
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21 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
happenstance


Explanation:
perhaps...

Noun 1. happenstance - an event that might have been arranged although it was really accidental
coincidence
chance event, fortuity, accident, stroke - anything that happens suddenly or by chance without an apparent cause; "winning the lottery was a happy accident"; "the pregnancy was a stroke of bad luck"; "it was due to an accident or fortuity"

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/happenstance

Susan Zimmer
United States
Local time: 20:21
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 11
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30 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
incidental discovery


Explanation:
Less whimsical than the other suggestions, but not as succinct as you would like.

Anne-Marie Grant (X)
Local time: 01:21
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 4
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31 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
incidental findings


Explanation:
An incidental finding (IF) is an unexpected finding concerning an individual research participant that has potential health or reproductive importance, is discovered in the course of conducting research, but is beyond the aims of the study. They are an increasingly common byproduct of research using powerful technologies that generate "extra" data. Because IFs can potentially save lives but also cause alarm, the decision on whether or not to disclose them to research participants has been a major dilemma. "Researchers often stumble upon unexpected findings but have no idea whether to share this information with research participants," said Wolf. "The information may prove highly significant or a false alarm. And researchers have traditionally drawn a bright line between their research activity and the clinical care of patients;incidental findings challenge that line."

http://www.huliq.com/63135/managing-incidental-findings-huma...

Kim Metzger
Mexico
Local time: 18:21
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 162
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37 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
fortuitous finding(s)


Explanation:
...is my first thought.

[The alliteration is entirely fortuitous ;-) ]

casper (X)
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 16
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2 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +3
inadvertent/ unwanted catch


Explanation:
... is what I have heard of.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 49 Min. (2009-04-08 13:32:17 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I can't see a SINGLE proof for the "intelligence thing"!
Here is the official excerpt
Beifänge - lästig oder wertvoll? Der Wert von Beifängen in Erfassungsprojekten von Wissenschaft und Umweltplanung
Buchholz, Sascha; Kreuels, Martin; Kronshage, Andreas; Terlutter, Heinrich;

Nicht selten kommt es vor, dass zur Beantwortung einer wissenschaftlichen oder praxisorientierten Fragestellung vor allem wirbellose Tiere zur genauen Bestimmung und als Belegexemplare gefangen werden müssen. Aus methodischen Gründen werden dabei häufig Fallen eingesetzt. Diese enthalten am Ende neben den erwünschten Arten oft auch weitere Organismen. Die Auswertung dieser Beifänge kann für Fragestellungen in anderen Projekten und für andere Bearbeiter interessant sein. Eine Beifangdatenbank könnte landesweit übersichtliche Informationen zu abgeschlossenen und aktuellen Projekten und das vorhandene noch unbearbeitete Faltenmaterial liefern.

Artikel aus der Zeitschrfit: Natur in NRW
ISSN: 0947-7578
Jg.: 33, Nr.4, 2008
Seite 61-64, Abb.,Lit.
Standort in der Bibliothek: IRB Z 1439

And here is the link to the full text (page 61, to make the research not too difficult!!):
http://www.lanuv.nrw.de/veroeffentlichungen/natur_in_nrw/200... (

Bernd Runge
Germany
Local time: 02:21
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman
PRO pts in category: 15
Grading comment
Thanks to all for your input. There are so many different realistic options, but I think "chance discovery" is the best in this case. Anyway, the points must go to Bernd as he identified the source -which was indeed a great help.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Alba Arendsen: this looks kind of negative, whereas "Beifang" in this context is something positive.
8 mins
  -> Who says the asker is right with his assumption?
disagree  David Williams: Like "by-catch" - not exactly suitable in this context... (I presume the asker knows whether the translation is about fishing or not.)
10 mins
  -> It is about catching insects in free-field traps! // So??? // Still waiting ...
agree  Isabel Severing: with inadvertant & Bernd's take on things. See my comment in clarifications.
1 hr
  -> Danke, Isabel. Ja, inadvertant!
agree  Siegfried Armbruster
2 hrs
  -> Danke, Siegfried.
agree  Anne-Marie Grant (X): If this is the article being translated, then inadvertent catch works well.
2 hrs
  -> Thanks, Anne.
agree  Harald Moelzer (medical-translator)
5 hrs
  -> Danke, Harald.
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