AbstractDuring discussions on data curation, data management, and other related concepts, a common refrain from those who work with physical Samples, is ‘and samples!’. Curators and repository managers must deal with the various aspects of data curation, making data FAIR, etc. while also maintaining the same principles for samples too. This conversation occurs in many areas, but would benefit from a centralized space.
The co-chairs will use this session to present the proposed Physical Samples Cluster to the ESIP community. The purpose of the cluster is to bring together relevant stakeholders to discuss streamlining workflows across repositories for physical samples. This community space would support discussions on shared or common frameworks for infrastructure or management systems, the development of community agreed upon metadata standards, and a home for discussions on the challenges and best practices related to managing physical samples and their digital surrogates. Before the sessions, participants will be asked to review the proposed Cluster statement and come prepared to discuss.
The session will begin with brief presentations to introduce the cluster, and a review of the Cluster objectives and goals. The session will then be open to the attendees to discuss modifications to the Cluster statement. This may include additional areas to include, or modifications of the current document.
After the session, revisions to the Cluster statement will be made based on gathered feedback. The final version will be circulated for community approval before submission to ESIP for review.
Agenda- Introductions (5 minutes)
- Background and motivation for the cluster (20 minutes)
- Presentation by Val and Kelly
- Discussion on purpose/rationale for cluster
- Breakout groups (10 minutes)
- One minute/sentence synopsis from each group (5 minutes)
- Discussion on community issues/needs related to physical Samples
- Breakout groups (10 minutes)
- One minute/sentence synopsis from each group (5 minutes)
- Review of current cluster statement
- Breakout groups (10 minutes)
- One minute/sentence synopsis from each group (5 minutes)
- Closing conversation
- Did the 3 breakout sessions demonstrate a need to support creating a cluster?
- Next steps
Resources
Notes document
Breakout TemplateCluster StatementView Recording
View Presentations: See attached
Takeaways- There is enough community support to propose a physical samples cluster in ESIP.
- The draft cluster statement needs to be broadened to encompass the wider range of earth/environmental science sample communities.
- We need to coordinate with the broader/global physical samples communities (TDWG, RDA, SPNHC, ICOM).
