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Vishwas Chavan, Eamonn O’ Tuama, Samy Gaiji, David Remsen and Nicholas King

Every datum counts! Capitalising on small contributions to the big dreams of mobilising biodiversity information. Vishwas Chavan, Eamonn O’ Tuama, Samy Gaiji, David Remsen and Nicholas King. Developed World. Biodiversity Data. Biodiversity. Developing World.

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Vishwas Chavan, Eamonn O’ Tuama, Samy Gaiji, David Remsen and Nicholas King

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  1. Every datum counts!Capitalising on small contributions to the big dreams of mobilising biodiversity information Vishwas Chavan, Eamonn O’ Tuama, Samy Gaiji, David Remsen and Nicholas King 2008 Annual Conference of Taxonomic Databases Working Group 19-25 October 2008, Fremantle, AUSTRALIA

  2. Developed World Biodiversity Data Biodiversity Developing World • Both biodiversity and biodiversity data are unevenly distributed around the world: Digital Divide Content Divide Lingual Divide Knowledge Divide Emerging catastrophe…………

  3. Uneven distribution of biodiversity

  4. Large volume of biodiversity data and information is in languages other than English

  5. Biodiversity Informatics activities are concentrated in the North

  6. Few more reasons…. • Investment in biodiversity information management is towards large projects • Research in biodiversity informatics is focused towards large data publishers • Small Data Publishers – A neglected mass!

  7. Biodiversity Knowledge Divide: Emerging Catastrophe

  8. Good News! Open Access movement can help mobilise data - (a) from mega-biodiversity regions, and (b) by small data publishers

  9. Small Data Publishers: Who are they? (1) • Can’t discover, access, and use their data • Do not know how to manage data for reuse by others • Lack of skills, infrastructure, and support for ‘interoperable’ data management • More interested in peer-reviewed publishing than data publishing – as former brings recognition and funding

  10. Small Data Publishers: Who are they? (2) • PI’s of small scale projects, small and medium sized R&D organisations and NGOs, Citizen Scientists • Citizen Scientists- e.g. Peoples Biodiversity Register • P. Bryan Heidorn’s Hypothesis: “Disproportionate amount of dark data is in the tail of science” • Small Data Publishers forms the “Long tail” as well “droplets” of ‘Oceans of Biodiversity Data’

  11. Small Are BIG! • Long tail or Dark Data is economically and ecologically very critical • Most of existing and future data would be hold by Small Data Publishers • 80% of current investment is towards Small Data Publishers • Total Awards: 9347 • Big Awards: 1869 • SMALL Awards: 7478 Source: Curating the Dark Data in the Long tail of science by P. Bryan Heidorn

  12. Characteristics of SDP Data • Heterogeneous • Distributed and isolated • Manually generated • Individual creation • Not maintained for reuse by others • Obscured or protected • Uneven distribution as well unequal access • It is highly “Unorganised” data sector.......

  13. Status and knowledge about medicinal plants Census of Birds Birds signs for forecasting or weather change Uses of Plants Burrowing or sub-soil fauna Wild Animals Festive uses of bio resources Paudi village, Siwani, India Census of trees

  14. Citizen Scientists Domestic Animals Need standards to discover and access such data! Seed Diversity Millions of Ramsingh’s across the world are busy in generating biodiversity data Social belief about biodiversity

  15. What do we lack? • Data Publishing Framework – Lack awareness about current knowledge system • Recognition for Data Publishing • Data standards for wide spectrum of biodiversity and associated data • Suite of standards for data life cycle (generation to dissemination) • Standards addressing data generation phase

  16. What do we lack? • Tools for Data Capture at its source • Metadata creation as close to the source of data as possible • Multilingual tools and standards • Hassle-free, skill-level independent tools Because..... Adapting to standards is time-consuming as well costly exercise

  17. Data mobilisation is like moving mountains……. Digital Biodiversity Data

  18. What Can be done! • Data Publishing Framework • Proposed GBIF recommendation on Discovery and Publishing of Biodiversity Data • GUID for data set and data records • Expedite the process of standards development • Standards development, ratification and uptake • Hassle-free, skill-level independent, easy to adapt standards • Standards as integral part of recording / monitoring devices • Metadata creation as close to source as possible

  19. What Can be done! • Standards for interoperability and/or integration with non-biodiversity data • Evaluation of authenticity, reliability, and data quality as close to source as possible • Outreach to national/regional/thematic standards building initiatives • Domain experts find it difficult to understand / adapt standards • Cultural as well lingual barriers • Engagement of eastern, southern, mega-biodiversity communities in standards development processes

  20. What Can be done! • Internationalise standards • Awareness in mega-biodiversity world about standards • Multilingual dissemination – talk the languages that people understand the bests • Think Globally – Act Locally • Moving beyond comfort zone • Standards for unorganised data sector • Standards for citizen scientists • Address concerns of data sensitivity through standards implementation • Will standards help me in identification and protection of sensitive data?

  21. “Krishna” can move data mountains, if standards bodies act as “Kamdhenus” GBIF TDWG

  22. because……Every datum counts!

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