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

生物科学的研究人员越来越需要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，技术已经不再是共享现成数据的障碍，而是科学界根深蒂固的习惯。改变这些习惯需要发展技术手段、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。如果专业协会和融资机构共同努力，而不是单独行动，这样的系统性变革更有可能取得成功。为了实现这些目标，成立了数据共享和存档联合工作组，该工作组代表出版生态学、进化论和生物生物学期刊的主要专业协会。本项目的目标是落实工作组第一次讲习班提出的建议，其中包括：(1)通过专门的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交流，(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)制定创建数据登记册的战略，描述数据集并提供如何获取它们的信息，(B)确定和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)为生态方面的数据中心制定一套要求和建议，进化论和生物生物学。

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.