2019 ESIP Winter Meeting

Session Abstract:
FAIR principles need to be applied to all outputs of scientific research, including physical materials such as natural and synthetic specimens that are collected as part of the scientific process. Making physical samples and collection FAIR requires virtual representations of the physical objects that can be located on the web via a persistent identifier and that are documented with sufficient metadata that are persistently accessible in trustworthy metadata catalogs to be findable and reusable, and that follow standard protocols for accessibility and interoperability. While best practices for sample identification, documentation, and citation are emerging, there are many open questions and challenges that need to be solved, including vocabularies and ontologies for describing and classifying samples; effective and consistent ways to link samples with the literature and digital data; as well as policies and infrastructure for trustworthy curation of the sample metadata and of the actual physical objects. In this session we will look at ongoing and new initiatives related to physical samples as part of digital research data infrastructure and explore how ESIP can facilitate collaborative solutions to some of the most urgent problems.

Session Takeaways (post-meeting):
1) Physical sample behind the data needs to be findable. Need licenses on physical samples.
2) Need to work on the guidelines of what metadata is necessary
3) Priority topics: Metadata, Policies for citations, Trustworthiness of metadata catalogs and sample repositories, Open access policies for physical objects & digital representations, Easily usable system for uploading metadata