IG Physical Samples and Collections in the Research Data Ecosystem - RDA 10th Plenary meeting

Meeting title:

Cross-domain Standards for Physical Samples & Collections in the Research Data Ecosystem

A short introduction describing the activities and the scope of the group:

Physical samples are a basic element for reference, study and experimentation in research.  Tests and analysis are conducted directly on samples, such as biological specimens, rock or mineral specimens, sediment cores, soil pedons, water quality samples, archeological artefacts or DNA and human tissue samples, because they represent a wider population or a larger context. Other physical objects, such as maps or analog images are also direct objects of study, and, if digitized, may become a source of digital data. There is an urgent need for these physical objects to be managed digitally, both in a global context and in an interdisciplinary way to support search, retrieval, analysis, reuse, preservation and scientific reproducibility. This group aims to facilitate cross-domain exchange and convergence on key issues related to the digital representation of physical samples and collections, including but not limited to the use of globally unique and persistent identifiers for samples to support unambiguous citation and linking of information in distributed data systems and with publications, metadata standards for documenting samples and collections, access policies, and sample and collection catalog interoperability.

The new IG on "Physical Samples and Collections in the Research Data Ecosystem" is currently being proposed to RDA.

BoF sessions related to the theme of physical samples in digital data infrastructure ("The Internet of Samples") have been held at RDA P4 and P6 and we have participated in various related RDA IGs and WGs (e.g. PIDs, metadata standards for attribution of physical samples and collection stewardship). Members of this group organized a CODATA Task Group that was active 2014-2016 (http://www.codata.org/task-groups/management-of-physical-objects) and organized workshops at the JCDL and ASIS&T conferences in 2016 as well as at the iConference 2017 in China. A cross-disciplinary workshop on "Linking Environmental Data & Samples" was recently (May 2017) held in Canberra, Australia, which recommended to propose a RDA IG on Physical Samples.

Additional links to informative material related to the group i.e. group page, Case statement, working documents etc:

The draft charter of the new IG will be posted on the RDA group web page.
Related web sites:
http://www.codata.org/task-groups/management-of-physical-objects
http://www.igsn.org
https://earthcube.org/group/isamples

Meeting objectives:

The session is intended to kick off the new IG "Physical Samples and Collections in the Research Data Ecosystem". The objectives of the meeting are to present, discuss and finalize the objectives in the case statement, identify activities and possible WG tasks, and explore partnerships, specifically with other RDA IGs and WGs.

Meeting agenda:

1. Rationale for this BoF session and discussion of the draft Charter for the new IG "Physical Samples and Collections in the Research Data Ecosystem" (Kerstin Lehnert) 15 minutes
2. Report on May 2017 workshop on "Linking Environmental Data and Samples" (Jens Klump) 10 minutes
3. Objectives of the IG, identification of tasks/activities and possible WGs (discussions, all participants) 45 minutes
4. Summary of the results, actions, and identification of contributions of the group members (Kerstin Lehnert)

Target audience:

The target audience of this meeting includes research data repository developers and providers who manage sample-based data; curators and developers from sample repositories, museums, and other institutions who maintain physical collections and related digital sample and collection catalogs; publishers and editors of journals that publish sample-based data; other stakeholders interested in topics such as persistent identifiers, metadata standards, and interoperability protocols for samples and sample-based data. In preparation of the session, participants are encourages to read documents that will be posted on the new RDA group page. As a declared goal of this session is to finalize the case statement, reading the current draft of the case statement and preparing comments and suggestions for improvement would be helpful for the session organizers.

Group chair serving as contact person: Kerstin Lehnert

Type of meeting: Working meeting

Session Room: Mansfield 9

Session Time:  Thursday 21 September, Breakout 7, 09:00 - 10:30

Collaborative session notes:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rWyjHvdpxVT37cySkZa9eGTSAv1ge2QA2eHB...

Session slides and materials: See Attachments

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