This month, DTL partner Naturalis started a project on research data management. The project should formulate an integrated open data and science policy and a strategy for its implementation at Naturalis. Data should be FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable) and in the future form the basis for a virtual digital museum that will complement the physical collections and museum exhibitions at Naturalis.
With a unique combination of knowledge, talents and skills, Naturalis realises its functions as a national museum, academic research institute, and cultural heritage institution. Like in other research fields, large data volumes are generated and crucial. This offers lots of opportunities, but also challenges.
3D data
An example of a challenge is 3D data. In recent years, the use of photogrammetry, laser scanning, Micro-CT, and even Synchrotron scanning for 3D imaging of biological structures has added an enormous amount of information to the scientific database. 3D models can be used for teaching, exhibitions, and 3D printing. However, necessary standards for sharing these data are currently lacking. Recently, an initiative of 45 authors led by scientists at Bristol University proposed policies and standards for 3D data. This group also included researcher Martin Rücklin of Naturalis.
Data management rules
This 3D data sharing initiative responds to the worldwide demand for guidelines on how to store and share the rapidly increasing amounts of data with the scientific community and the public. Recently, Rutger Vos from Naturalis suggested ten simple rules on how to manage these data: http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2016/04/19/049338
Read more about research at Naturalis.