Identifying Relationships between Scientific Datasets

Scientific datasets associated with a research project can proliferate over time as a result of activities such as sharing datasets among collaborators, extending existing datasets with new measurements, and extracting subsets of data for analysis. As such datasets begin to accumulate, it becomes increasingly difficult for a scientist to keep track of their derivation history, which complicates data sharing, provenance tracking, and scientific reproducibility. Understanding what relationships exist between datasets can help scientists recall their original derivation history. For instance, if dataset A is contained in dataset B, then the connection between A and B could be that A was extended to create B. We present a relationship-identification methodology as a solution to this problem. To examine the feasibility of our approach, we articulated a set of relevant relationships, developed algorithms for efficient discovery of these relationships, and organized these algorithms into a new system called ReConnect to assist scientists in relationship discovery. We also evaluated existing alternative approaches that rely on flagging differences between two spreadsheets and found that they were impractical for many relationship-discovery tasks. Additionally, we conducted a user study, which showed that relationships do occur in real-world spreadsheets, and that ReConnect can improve scientists\u27 ability to detect such relationships between datasets. The promising results of ReConnect\u27s evaluation encouraged us to explore a more automated approach for relationship discovery. In this dissertation, we introduce an automated end-to-end prototype system, ReDiscover, that identifies, from a collection of datasets, the pairs that are most likely related, and the relationship between them. Our experimental results demonstrate the overall effectiveness of ReDiscover in predicting relationships in a scientist\u27s or a small group of researchers\u27 collections of datasets, and the sensitivity of the overall system to the performance of its various components

System upgrade: realising the vision for UK education

A report summarising the findings of the TEL programme in the wider context of technology-enhanced learning and offering recommendations for future strategy in the area was launched on 13th June at the House of Lords to a group of policymakers, technologists and practitioners chaired by Lord Knight. The report – a major outcome of the programme – is written by TEL director Professor Richard Noss and a team of experts in various fields of technology-enhanced learning. The report features the programme’s 12 recommendations for using technology-enhanced learning to upgrade UK education

Monitoring the Pulse of the Planet: Assessing the Transformative Potential of Applying the UN Biodiversity Lab as a Governance Instrument

The current degraded state of nature proves that global efforts to reverse the loss of biodiversity has not yet been sufficient. However, in December 2022, a significant milestone was achieved as the international community reached a consensus on the Kunming-Montreal Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. The vision of this framework is for humanity to live in harmony in nature by 2050, and reaching this vision will require profound societal changes. This thesis aims at examining how the implementation of a Big Earth Data platform in the decision- and policy-making process can facilitate such transformative changes. This is explored through a case study of the UN Biodiversity Lab, a platform that explicitly aims at supporting national stakeholders deliver on the Global Biodiversity Framework. To examine the platform, a walkthrough- and content analysis method has been applied. The results from these methods are presented and analysed through a Big Earth Data Platform framework, which aims at providing frames for how a Big Earth Data platform should optimally be designed to support sustainability. The analysis shows that the UN Biodiversity Lab to a large extent is designed in accordance with this framework, as it is embedded in society, promotes actionable intelligence, and is listed as a digital public good. Thus, the platform seems to have a large potential to provide decision-makers, practitioners, and the public access to the best available data, information, and knowledge on biodiversity matters. The thesis contributes to theory on transformative biodiversity governance by examining the transformative potential of one specific governance instrument. Findings show that the UN Biodiversity Lab can support integrative, inclusive, adaptive, transdisciplinary, and anticipatory governance in conjunction. The platform can potentially also influence the indirect drivers of biodiversity loss through strengthening monitoring mechanisms, increasing awareness, and supporting polycentric governance. This implies that despite the indirect drivers not easily being quantified as spatial data, the platform can still target the indirect drivers of biodiversity loss by influencing key leverage points in society. The study therefore concludes that applying a Big Earth Data platform in the decision-making process can be an important tool for reaching the vision of the Global Biodiversity Framework. There are however some key challenges that must be tackled to unlock the potential of the technology. This includes solving technical issues, securing adequate funding, enabling co-production of knowledge, and establishing consistent reporting practices

MICESE: a new method used for the formulation of key messages from the scientific community for the EU post 2020 Biodiversity Strategy

The European Union (EU) 2020 Biodiversity strategy will soon come to an end and may not have been as successful as envisioned. In the current context of the global biodiversity crisis, the European Commission, the research community, and broader society cannot risk another, likely ineffective, attempt by the EU to halt biodiversity loss after 2020. Through the development of the EU post 2020 Biodiversity Strategy, the scientific community of the ALTER-Net and EKLIPSE networks saw a unique opportunity to make a difference for biodiversity in Europe by better involving scientists, policy makers, and society. We developed an innovative, transparent, and collaborative process—called the multiphased, iterative, and consultative elicitation of scientific expertise (MICESE) method. This process allowed us to produce a set of 12 key messages developed by scientists for the EU to prioritize in the development of the new post 2020 biodiversity strategy. These key messages were structured according to their systemic value, scale, and nature. We provide insights and analyses of the new MICESE method before reflecting on how to improve the future involvement of scientists in science–policy interfaces

Choreography, controversy and child sex abuse: Theoretical reflections on a cultural criminological analysis of dance in a pop music video

This article was inspired by the controversy over claims of ‘pedophilia!!!!’ undertones and the ‘triggering’ of memories of childhood sexual abuse in some viewers by the dance performance featured in the music video for Sia’s ‘Elastic Heart’ (2015). The case is presented for acknowledging the hidden and/or overlooked presence of dance in social scientific theory and cultural studies and how these can enhance and advance cultural criminological research. Examples of how these insights have been used within other disciplinary frameworks to analyse and address child sex crime and sexual trauma are provided, and the argument is made that popular cultural texts such as dance in pop music videos should be regarded as significant in analysing and tracing public perceptions and epistemologies of crimes such as child sex abuse

Harnessing Collaborative Technologies: Helping Funders Work Together Better

This report was produced through a joint research project of the Monitor Institute and the Foundation Center. The research included an extensive literature review on collaboration in philanthropy, detailed analysis of trends from a recent Foundation Center survey of the largest U.S. foundations, interviews with 37 leading philanthropy professionals and technology experts, and a review of over 170 online tools.The report is a story about how new tools are changing the way funders collaborate. It includes three primary sections: an introduction to emerging technologies and the changing context for philanthropic collaboration; an overview of collaborative needs and tools; and recommendations for improving the collaborative technology landscapeA "Key Findings" executive summary serves as a companion piece to this full report

Fall/Winter 2015 Vol.15 No. 1

https://surface.syr.edu/ischool_news/1019/thumbnail.jp

Workforce Alignment in Tennessee

https://digitalcommons.memphis.edu/govpubs-tn-comptroller-office-research-education-accountability/1013/thumbnail.jp