8 research outputs found
The Emerging Scholarly Brain
It is now a commonplace observation that human society is becoming a coherent
super-organism, and that the information infrastructure forms its emerging
brain. Perhaps, as the underlying technologies are likely to become billions of
times more powerful than those we have today, we could say that we are now
building the lizard brain for the future organism.Comment: to appear in Future Professional Communication in Astronomy-II
(FPCA-II) editors A. Heck and A. Accomazz
Indicators for the Data Usage Index (DUI): an incentive for publishing primary biodiversity data through global information infrastructure
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>A professional recognition mechanism is required to encourage expedited publishing of an adequate volume of 'fit-for-use' biodiversity data. As a component of such a recognition mechanism, we propose the development of the Data Usage Index (DUI) to demonstrate to data publishers that their efforts of creating biodiversity datasets have impact by being accessed and used by a wide spectrum of user communities.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>We propose and give examples of a range of 14 absolute and normalized biodiversity dataset usage indicators for the development of a DUI based on search events and dataset download instances. The DUI is proposed to include relative as well as species profile weighted comparative indicators.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>We believe that in addition to the recognition to the data publisher and all players involved in the data life cycle, a DUI will also provide much needed yet novel insight into how users use primary biodiversity data. A DUI consisting of a range of usage indicators obtained from the GBIF network and other relevant access points is within reach. The usage of biodiversity datasets leads to the development of a family of indicators in line with well known citation-based measurements of recognition.</p
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