INTERVIEW SERIES
A journey around data stewardship initiatives in the Netherlands
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Image: Illustration on a flyer of the TU Delft data stewards team
(Credit: Heather Andrews and Robin Duinker)
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One of DTL’s roles is to enable Dutch life science professionals to learn from each other’s experiences in organising data stewardship support and training. In this series of four articles, professionals that are committed to this, share their story.
Dr Salome Scholtens of the University Medical Centre Groningen (UMCG) explains: “In the past, scientists managed all data-related aspects of their work themselves. In some fields, such as genetics and epidemiology, this already became impossible about ten years ago. So, these fields recruited data experts to help them analyse and manage the massive amounts of complex data that were generated. In recent years, the need for data expertise has extended to other domains of science. This is because science in general is becoming more interdisciplinary and most fields are now working with large and complex data sets. In addition, data-related legislation is changing. So, research institutes now realise that scientists need data stewardship training, support, and infrastructure. Each institution is dealing with this same puzzle and they all start with another piece of the puzzle.”
Read how four DTL partners are approaching the puzzle:
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DATA
FAIR Data, Open Science, Research Data Management
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ELIXIR-NL runs inventory of Dutch core data collections
ELIXIR Europe has recently launched a list of so-called Core Data Resources; these are data resources of fundamental importance to the broader life science community. ELIXIR collaborates with data collection developers and data owners to enhance the international visibility and develop a sustainable funding base for these scientific resources. In addition, attention is given to improve access and external use, as well as interoperability with other global data resources. So far, no Dutch data collections are included on this international top list. ELIXIR-NL has now started an inventory of Dutch data collections in the broader life sciences field that are of significance in international research. Please report your collections to ELIXIR-NL before 1 June 2018. You can contact Rob Hooft for further details and requirements.
Register for the RDM discussion list
At the IDCC conference in Barcelona earlier this year, the idea developed to have a Dutch Research Data Management (RDM) discussion list, comparable to the JISC RDM discussion list in the UK. This list is now available and will be hosted by the National Coordination Point Research Data Management. Read more and register.
What do talented early career researchers think about research data management?
‘Early career researchers want Open Science’ is the title of a 2017 publication in Genome Biology by a group of talented early career researchers. They participated in the 2016 LERU summer school on data stewardship, which was organised by LERU, Leiden University, and Leiden University Medical Center. DTL supported the event. Read the paper.
24 May 2018: Towards cultural change in data management
On 24 May 2018, TU Delft will organise an event on cultural change in data management: data stewardship in practice. Read more and register.
22-26 October 2018: Building a FAIR bioinformatics environment
On 22-26 October 2018, the NETTAB workshop 'Building a FAIR bioinformatics environment' will take place in Genoa (Italy). Confirmed speakers include Michel Dumontier (Maastricht University), Rob Hooft (DTL, ELIXIR-NL), and Marco Roos (LUMC). The submission deadline for abstracts for oral communications is 20 May 2018. Read more.
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TECHNOLOGIES
From Omics to Bioimaging to Bioinformatics and Systems Biology
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New Implementation Study on metabolite identification
ELIXIR-NL will coordinate a new Implementation Study on metabolite identification. The study will start on 1 June 2018 and run for a one and a half year period. Merlijn van Rijswijk (DTL Technologies Programme Manager) explains: “The Implementation Study aims to deliver a metabolite identification workflow. It is led by Thomas Hankemeier of Leiden University and coordinated by me. Egon Willighagen and Chris Evelo of Maastricht University are also involved, as are ten other countries and the ELIXIR-hub. So, this really is an international community effort.” Read more.
New Implementation Study will improve reusability of proteomics datasets
ELIXIR-NL is also involved in a new Implementation Study that aims to dramatically improve the reusability of public proteomics datasets. This will be achieved by substantially increasing the amount and quality of technical and biological annotations for datasets stored in the PRIDE database. The study will start on 1 June 2018 and run for a one year period. Merlijn van Rijswijk: “Ten ELIXIR nodes are involved in this new Implementation Study. It is coordinated by EMBL-EBI. Peter Horvatovich of Groningen University and Magnus Palmblad of the LUMC represent ELIXIR-NL.” Read more.
National Roadmap: 138 million euros for ten top research facilities
The NWO executive board has awarded funding to ten proposals in the National Roadmap for Large-Scale Scientific Infrastructure. The total amount granted is 138 million euros. On 12 April 2018, the Minister of Education, Culture and Science, Ingrid van Engelshoven, presented the ten roadmap certificates at Utrecht Science Park. In the domain of life sciences, the following projects and clusters were awarded: BSL3, NPEC, NEMI, and the Netherlands X-omics Initiative. Read more.
Seventeen million euros for Netherlands X-omics Initiative
The Netherlands X-omics Initiative has received 17 million euros from the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO). The funding is part of the above-mentioned National Roadmap for Large-Scale Research Facilities. The X-omics initiative aims to radically improve technological approaches to study biomolecules such as DNA, RNA, proteins, and metabolites. Read more.
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The DTL website features a catalogue of 130+ Technology Hotels. These are expert groups that offer their high-end technologies, expertise, and infrastructure to researchers who do not have access to such facilities. Please contact Merlijn van Rijswijk for more information about the DTL Technologies programme.
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LEARNING
Training and Education related to Life Science Data and Technologies
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FAIR Data trainings
With the FAIR Data principles gaining momentum, many people want to learn more about FAIR Data. DTL and its partners frequently organise FAIR Data trainings, ranging from general introductions to highly specialised trainings. For instance, DTL and ZonMw are currently organising a series of FAIR data training events for Technology Hotel beneficiaries. The aim is to help researchers (hotel guests and managers) that have obtained a grant in the 4th round of the Enabling Technologies Hotels programme to apply FAIR data management in their research. The first event in this series took place on 26 March 2018. Read more. Please let us know if you have FAIR trainings coming up. We can help you spread the news by announcing your training in the DTL Course Catalogue and the European training portal TeSS.
5 June 2018: Pistoia Alliance Workshop on FAIR
On 5 June 2018, DTL partner the Hyve is organising a workshop on FAIR in Pharma Research & Development IT in collaboration with the Pistoia Alliance. The goal is to share best practices and tools for the FAIRification and the FAIR data management of internal preclinical and clinical datasets in Pharma IT. In this workshop, they will focus on concrete practical approaches and tools that exist today to bring existing pharma data assets in line with the FAIR Guiding Principles. They will evaluate key topics around the Findability, Accessibility and Interoperability of datasets, and discuss the role in this of recent developments such as Bioschemas. More information and sign up.
25-29 June 2018: Data FAIRification for Data Stewards course
DTL partner Phortos Consultants is organising a FAIR Data course in collaboration with the GO FAIR Foundation. On 25-29 June 2018, the ‘Data FAIRification for Data Stewards’ course will take place in Leiden, co-funded by the Irish Health Research Board. This course aims at librarians or data experts at universities and research institutions who are dealing with the ever growing complexity of data integration. More information and sign-up.
GOBLET will curate F1000 Bioinformatics Training & Education collection
GOBLET (the Global Organisation for Bioinformatics Learning, Education, and Traning) is working with F1000 to become the champion of the F1000 Bioinformatics Education and Training collection. DTL’s Celia van Gelder is one of the collection advisors. Please get in touch if you would like certain Education & Training materials (F1000R articles, reports, white papers, posters, slides etc.) to be included in this collection: info@mygoblet.org
DTL Learning will contribute to COSMIC training programme
The Horizon2020 programme COSMIC (Combatting Disorders of Adaptive Immunity with Systems Medicine) has been launched. COSMIC will deliver the next generation of systems medicine professionals who successfully combat complex human disorders. It will focus on B-cell lymphoma and rheumatoid arthritis, diseases that originate from abnormal functioning of the adaptive immune system, in particular the germinal center. COSMIC will develop and integrate experimental and computational approaches, and establish a unique cross-fertilisation between oncology and auto-immunity. DTL Learning will contribute to COSMIC's training programme. Read more.
Workshop report: Applying bioinformatics and data science competency frameworks to ELIXIR Training
On 4-6 April 2018, 25 participants gathered in Amsterdam for the workshop 'Applying bioinformatics and data science competency frameworks to ELIXIR Training'. This workshop was the kick-off of the ELIXIR Implementation Study on Learning Paths. Read more (including link to slides and posters).
Webinars and trainings on the GDPR
Several webinars and trainings related to the upcoming General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) took place recently or will be organised soon:
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The DTL course overview lists courses in the field of data and technologies for the life sciences. It is automatically transferred to ELIXIR's European training portal TeSS. Please contact Celia van Gelder if you want your training events and materials to be included or if you have questions about the DTL Learning programme.
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VARIA
Miscellaneous about DTL, ELIXIR-NL, and associated initiatives
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Save the date: DTL Conference on 2 October 2018
On 2 October, DTL will organise a conference with the overarching theme 'interoperability is done together'. It will be a one-day event, featuring plenary keynotes, parallel community sessions, and 'unconference-type' workshops that help to make further cross-overs.
DTL Projects website launched
Within the framework of the DTL network, a separate projects organisation supports collaborative projects that fit the scope of DTL. This DTL Projects Foundation (in short: DTL Projects) offers a formalised structure to establish collaborative multi-party projects. DTL Projects can be used as a vehicle to jointly respond to calls of national and European funding programmes on behalf of a group of organisations within the DTL network. We have recently launched a separate DTL Projects website.
Research infrastructure is key component of Dutch Research Roadmaps for health
‘Now is the time to invest heavily in order to solve the major societal challenges related to health’. That is the key message of three Research Roadmaps that Ernst Kuipers (Chair of the NFU) handed over to Ingrid van Engelshoven (Minister of Education, Culture, and Science) and Paul Blokhuis (State Secretary for Health, Welfare and Sport) on 22 March 2018. Health-RI features prominently in all of these Research Roadmaps. Read more.
22 June 2018: Programmers Meeting
To encourage collaboration and communication between scientific programmers active in the Dutch life sciences field, DTL frequently organises Programmers Meetings in collaboration with SURF. The next meeting will take place on 22 June 2018. Read more.
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Please consult the DTL website for an overview of courses and events in the field of data and technologies for the life sciences. Please send an e-mail to communication@dtls.nl if you want your course or event to be included.
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PARTNER VARIA
News from our partners and collaborators
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From 29 October - 1 November 2018, the Netherlands eScience Center will host the 14th IEEE eScience Conference in Amsterdam. This four day conference includes workshops, tutorials, plenary sessions on digital technologies to advance academic research, parallel sessions focusing on different academic disciplines, a canal cruise, a special conference dinner at the Scheepvaartmuseum, and more. Early bird registration for this conference is now open. More information and registration.
On 25 April 2018, David Parsons and Valerie Teng-Broug from Elsevier presented a webinar entitled ‘Make the most of your research: publish your data & methods’. Participants of this Researcher Academy webinar learned how to publish methods and data as separate, indexed, peer-reviewed articles in multidisciplinary, open access journals. Read more.
IOS Press is pleased to announce the beta launch of its Linked Data Portal: LD Connect. LD Connect contains linked metadata of all IOS Press books and journals. Making machine-readable metadata publicly available via this new platform opens up a wide range of opportunities. Read more.
Will you win the Dutch Data Prize? This year, the Dutch Data Prize will be awarded for the fifth time, to a researcher or research group that has made a special contribution to science by making research data accessible for new or additional research. For more information about the Dutch Data Prize 2018 and the nomination criteria visit the website of Research Data Netherlands (RDNL), a national coalition of data archives consisting of 4TU.ResearchData, SURFsara, and DANS.
The Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF, in which DTL Partner Naturalis participates) is inviting proposals for the 2018 Young Researchers Award, with the focus on the use of data available in the GBIF facility. At the moment, more than 900 million records are available for research opportunities. Read more.
The CORBEL partners are launching a 2nd Open Call for research projects to meet the prevailing need for combined service provision from multiple research infrastructures across Europe. Taking on board lessons learned from the 1st CORBEL Open Call launched in 2016 and the services running since then, this will continue to provide all academic and industrial scientists in Europe with the opportunity to accelerate their research. The submission round will close on 30 June 2018. Read more.
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If your organisation is a DTL Partner, you can announce your news, events, courses, and job vacancies on the DTL website. Please send these items to communication@dtls.nl
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