Joint Working Group on Data Sharing and Archiving: Continuing Steps Toward a Biological Data Systems Confederation

越来越需要生物科学研究人员利用从世界各地收集的数据来解决全球问题。随着计算速度和数据存储能力的提高以及成本的下降，技术已经不再是数据共享的障碍，而是科学界根深蒂固的习惯。改变这些习惯需要开发技术手段、文化诱因和培训机会，使所有潜在用户都能获得生物数据、信息和知识。如果专业协会和资助机构共同努力，而不是单独行动，这种系统性的变革更有可能取得成功。为了实现这些目标，成立了数据共享和数据交换联合工作组，代表出版生态学，进化和有机体生物学期刊的主要专业学会。该项目的目标是执行工作组第一次讲习班提出的建议，包括：（1）通过专门网站和定期电子邮件，促进专业协会之间就数据共享和存档问题进行持续沟通，（2）扩大专业协会和国际组织对这些活动的参与，（3）支持三个讲习班，以（a）制定建立数据登记册的战略，其中说明数据集并提供如何访问数据集的信息，（B）确定并制定减少或消除数据共享的文化和其他障碍的手段，以及（c）在生态学、进化和有机生物学方面为数据中心制定一套要求和建议。

There is an increasing need for researchers in the biological sciences to address global problems, using data collected from around the world. As computing speeds and datastorage capacities have increased and costs have dropped, technology has become less an obstacle to ready data sharing than are the ingrained habits of the scientific community. Changing these habits requires development of technological means, cultural inducements, and training opportunities that make biological data, information, and knowledge available to all potential users. Such systemic change is far more likely to be successful if professional societies and funding agencies work together, rather thanacting alone. To achieve these goals, the Joint Working Group on Data Sharing and Archiving, representing the major professional societies that publish ecology, evolution, and organismal biology journals, was formed. The objectives of this project are to implement recommendations from the initial workshop of the group, including:(1) facilitate continuing communication among professional societies on data sharing and archiving issues via a dedicated web site and periodic e-mails,(2) widen participation in these activities by professional societies and international organizations,(3) support three workshops to (a) develop a strategy for creating data registries, which describe data sets and provide information on how to access them, (b) identify, and develop means to reduce or eliminate, cultural and other barriers to data sharing, and (c) develop a set of requirements and recommendations for data centers in ecology, evolution, and organismal biology.