Active GO FAIR Implementation Network
The global aims of the biodiversity field are to understand the underlying mechanisms of nature, document and capture the state and dynamics of ecosystems, and build predictive models for the future. This understanding is based on access to and use of data, models and analysis tools, produced in ever greater quantities, and used by diverse communities tackling different aspects of biodiversity from observations, collections, sampling and experimental data.
The analysis of biodiversity data is essential for ecosystem services, risk analysis, and human well-being. The impact goes well beyond provisioning for material welfare and livelihoods, to include food security, resiliency, social relations, health, and environmental indicators. Species loss has dramatically accelerated around the world and now poses an existential threat to some ecosystems and susceptible human societies. There is an urgent need to; 1) collect, preserve and share FAIR data on species and ecosystems before they are lost to the scientific record, and, 2) provide automatic workflows producing biodiversity indicators so researchers, planners or policy-makers have evidence-based models to understand the complex dynamics of biodiversity.
Main purpose and objectives
Targeted Objectives for the IFDS:
- Standards and mapping: harmonisation of mapping taking into account emerging developments and recommendations within GO FAIR. We propose to evaluate and improve existing tools for describing and structuring data such as the IPT toolkit, Morpho, FME ETL or Openrefine. We will explore and build on existing Life sciences products (such as ISAtools) repurposed for ecology applications.
- Data and metadata portals: develop metadata and data portals based on FAIR utilities linked to PIDs and open licences, using the expertise already developed around the “Living Atlases” community (https://living-atlases.gbif.org/)
- Collaborative and workflows oriented online platform for data access and analysis: We envisage an Ecology software accessibility portal potentially based on Galaxy and capitalizing on the ongoing GEO BON EBV pilot as part of the EuroGEOSS “Biodiversity and ecosystem Action group”. This project is based on sharing ecological “analytics bricks” and workflows through the Galaxy-E initiative https://github.com/65MO/Galaxy-E
- Training: Develop and publish content on data processing at scale, metadata standards and workflows, and build on teaching resources developed by PNDB as a member of the Galaxy Training Network https://galaxyproject.github.io/training-material/
- Promote Interoperability: Seek accords on standards and PID to link different research objects (data, workflows, researchers, etc.).
- Promote Reuse: Promote the use of dynamic Data Management Plans, standardised machine readable licences for data and metadata, well described portable FAIR workflows, as well as data products, tool parameters and versions. We will advocate to broaden the use and promotion of FAIR Ecology standards within the IN and the broader community.
- Develop “small scale” pilot initiatives for high demand applications (killer Apps): tasks targeted towards specific “niche” domains with a high take-up potential (e.g. knowledge based descriptive data management and interactive identification Xper3 http://www.xper3.fr/).
Main tasks
- Create a single platform aggregating all biodiversity data and species collections starting with the PNDB and related initiatives (Recolnat, INPN,<GBIF France) in France, and spreading through partner networks and institutions in Europe, Africa, the French Pacific territories. This IN will initially have a national focus but will be open to the international community.
- Develop scalable FAIR workflows and services to aggregate, analyse and increase the level of FAIRness of this data.
- Increase the richness of metadata descriptions linked to PIDs used by other GO FAIR INs.
- Develop competences in semantic modelling, promote best practices and emerging standards within the diverse institutes and universities across the francophone community who contribute data and resources to this shared resource.
- Produce French language training materials, webinars, BYOD, and an e-learning platform to increase the awareness of FAIR and the Internet of FAIR Data and Services. Promote FAIR awareness and approaches through conferences, seminars and workshops.
Manifesto
Download the manifesto here.
Contact
Anne-Sophie Archambeau archambeau@gbif.fr
Yvan le Bras yvan.le-bras@mnhn.fr
Are you interested in joining BiodiFAIRse IN? Please express your interest by filling in the form below. Your request will be forwarded to the IN Coordinators who will get in touch as soon as possible.