EMBRC funds new FAIR training
Marine biologists and biodiversity scientists are invited to learn how to make the most of their research data in a three-day FAIR training course funded by EMBRC and organised by VLIZ and the University of Ghent (EMBRC Belgium).
Course details
Taking place 23-25 January 2024 at InnovOcean Campus, Oostende, Belgium, (or remotely for the first two days), this practical, hands-on course is designed for marine biologists, Ph.D. students, future data managers, lab technicians and anyone who has experience collecting and managing data. Participants will learn what it means to make your data Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Re-usable (FAIR) as well as why and how to make your data FAIR.
Three days of lectures and interactive sessions
This three-day blended course (300 euros including breaks, lunches and one dinner) is intended for on-site participants but online-only students can join for the first two days (150 euros). Participants will receive a certificate on the successful completion of the course and a variety of take-home materials will be provided.
Days one and two will be a mix of lectures, exercises, interactive sessions and discussions for both on-site and remote participants covering:
- Practical understanding of how to make different types of data FAIR by making them Findable online.
- Different ways data can be made Accessible.
- Making data and metadata Interoperable (everyone can read and understand them).
- Understanding how provenance provides Reusability.
On the third day, which is not available remotely, the VLIZ Data Centre will hold a Data FAIRness Clinic to teach participants how to make their own data FAIR and publishable.
Helping important research findings spread more widely
“Making research data accessible to add reusable by others is really important as it adds to our knowledge and understanding of what goes on in the sea. Understanding FAIR data principles makes it easier for researchers to find and use each other's data, giving their work a longer lifetime and helping it to reach more people. As well as benefiting individual marine scientists and data managers, this also helps important marine biodiversity research spread more widely,” says Nicolas Pade, Executive Director, EMBRC.
This FAIR data course is part of EMBRC's contribution to the UN's Sustainable Development Goal 4: Quality Education.
"Collecting data can be very expensive. Many researchers agree that datasets should be used as many times and in as many projects as possible to increase the benefits for our marine ecosystems," adds Pade.
Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable (FAIR)
Before FAIR data principles were established, a wide variety of data formats and lack of standardised data practices made it difficult for researchers to access, organise or reuse data and collaborate in a useful way. By ensuring data is Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable, FAIR data principles help scientists more effectively organise, access, share and build upon each other’s data. As a result, scientific research and discoveries can progress more quickly: boosting the impact of the research sector.
For more information
This course, which will be available via the University of Ghent Marine Training Unit, has capacity for 20 participants (onsite) and 10 (online).
For more information and to sign up, visit: https://www.vliz.be/en/events/embrc-fair-training-course.
