2 research outputs found
Towards a data publishing framework for primary biodiversity data: challenges and potentials for the biodiversity informatics community
Background: Currently primary scientific data, especially that dealing with biodiversity, is neither
easily discoverable nor accessible. Amongst several impediments, one is a lack of professional
recognition of scientific data publishing efforts. A possible solution is establishment of a ‘Data
Publishing Framework’ which would encourage and recognise investments and efforts by
institutions and individuals towards management, and publishing of primary scientific data
potentially on a par with recognitions received for scholarly publications.
Discussion: This paper reviews the state-of-the-art of primary biodiversity data publishing, and
conceptualises a ‘Data Publishing Framework’ that would help incentivise efforts and investments by
institutions and individuals in facilitating free and open access to biodiversity data. It further
postulates the institutionalisation of a ‘Data Usage Index (DUI)’, that would attribute due recognition
to multiple players in the data collection/creation, management and publishing cycle.
Conclusion: We believe that institutionalisation of such a ‘Data Publishing Framework’ that
offers socio-cultural, legal, technical, economic and policy environment conducive for data
publishing will facilitate expedited discovery and mobilisation of an exponential increase in quantity
of ‘fit-for-use’ primary biodiversity data, much of which is currently invisible