Summary

This online, fully self-paced training course provides a comprehensive introduction for the management and archive of marine biological data, including the guiding principles of biological data management and typical responsibilities for data manager. Several types of biological data will be tackled, including observational data, image-derived data and omics data and how these data can be formatted, standardized and quality controlled before being submitted to wider regional, national and international initiatives.

By the end of this course, participants will be able to describe the core tasks required for the processing and distributing of biological marine data, explain the importance of following standards, both for the data and the metadata and identify possible data flow mechanisms and pathways to ensure their data are shared as widely as possible, thereby stimulating re-use.

Learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of this training, learners will be able to:

• Describe the core tasks required for the processing and distributing of biological marine data
• Explain the importance of following standards, both for the data and the metadata 
• Identify possible data flow mechanisms and pathways to ensure their data are shared as widely as possible, thereby stimulating re-use
  

Course contents

The course is divided into the following modules

• Module 1. Guiding principles in data management
  This module discusses the need for guiding principles in data management, including FAIR, CARE,  INSPIRE and TRUST principles
• Module 2. Fundamentals of marine biological data management and the Research Data Life Cycle
  This module introduces the Research Data Life Cycle and how to create a Data Management Plan. Discussion on how marine biological and biodiversity data is collected, metadata standards, controlled vocabularies, data licences and the uses and reuse of marine data.
• Module 3. Best practices for data capture
  Topics covered include data structures, clear variables, consistent values, spreadsheet software caveats, data validation and basic quality checks.
• Module 4. Transferring your (meta)data to Darwin Core
  This module discusses the structure and formatting the data according to Darwin Core standards
  Module 5. Common issues with data format and quality
  Topics covered include temporal information, geographical information, taxonomy, and quality control on a marine biodiversity DarwinCore Archive.
• Module 6. Preservation & publication of marine biological data
  This module discusses sharing & publishing data, selection of repositories to archive marine biodiversity data, initiatives that publish marine biodiversity data & their tools, and how to publish data through IPT.
• Module 7. Imagery data
  Topics covered include how images are used to obtain marine biodiversity data, formatting marine biodiversity plankton imaging data according to international standards, metadata of imagery datasets, and tools for classifying images of marine biodiversity.
• Module 8. DNA-derived data
  Topics covered include what is DNA-derived data, defining (meta)data for DNA-derived dataset, and formatting & structure for DNA-derived datasets.
• Module 9. Data archaeology & rescuing historical data
  This module discusses some of the common challenges and recommendations for digitisation in data archaeology.

Target audience

• Marine data managers
• NODC and/or ADU staff
• Data stewards and researchers
• Early career researchers

Language and computer skills required (Applicants are expected to have):

• a good working knowledge of English
• basic computer skills
• the ability to find resources through search engines
• the ability to be self-directed in learning new technology skills (e.g. following a step-by-step tutorial, online video help, or access to support to learn necessary skills)

Instructors/Organisers

This course is organised by the OceanTeacher Global Academy with assistance of the Flanders Marine Institute.