Building an Integrated, Open, Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable Data Network
The Biodiversity Collections Network (BCoN), in collaboration with the American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS), held a series of domain-focused virtual listening sessions and a subsequent interdisciplinary workshop purposefully designed to engage an expansive set of stakeholders toward Building an Integrated, Open, Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable (BIOFAIR) Data Network.
The project convened stakeholders from across the spectrum of biodiversity, ecological, and environmental data providers, curators, and users with the goal of initiating a collaborative and accessible partnership towards an integrative and expanded data network. Virtual discussions focused on advancing data culture and infrastructure that meets emerging needs in research, education, conservation, biosecurity, and the bioeconomy. In partnership with representatives from various data domains, the steering committee held a series of stakeholder listening sessions in the summer of 2024 aimed at building collaboration among disparate data communities—highlighting an iterative process of building a larger, interdisciplinary community from within. Listening session discussions will build on and bridge the Extended Specimen Network (ESN) vision with other existing conceptual frameworks for data integration and application. Representatives from a wide range of stakeholder groups were subsequently invited to participate in a more expansive, interdisciplinary online workshop in 2025.
Our goal is to catalyze cross-domain discussions to identify a set of shared biodiversity data needs and goals and to define the next steps and collaborative plan to enhance integration of digital data and scientific research. This project will inform the next steps of data integration with attention to supporting formal and informal education, including engagement through outreach and community science, and providing new opportunities and access for individuals from historically underrepresented groups to engage in biodiversity research and education.
Read our guiding principles, which state the values by which our steering committee will operate.
Stakeholder Listening Sessions
During the summer of 2024, the steering committee in collaboration with key domain representatives convened a wide range of stakeholders from six data domains to explore the initiation of a comprehensive biological and environmental data network through the creation of a collaborative and accessible partnership. Learn more about each session below.
- Federal agencies (June 14)
- Genetic and genomic data (June 26)
- One Health (July 2)
- Ecological data (July 12)
- Climate and environmental data (July 26)
- Biodiversity informatics (August 26)
Read the final summary report and watch a recording of the webinar summarizing discussions from the six sessions.
Final Workshop
The final interdisciplinary virtual workshop took place on February 13, 2025 (10:00 am–5:00 pm EST / 9:00 am–4:00 pm CDT / 8:00 am–3:00 pm MST / 7:00 am–2:00 pm PST). The workshop brought together an expansive configuration of stakeholders, including a subset of attendees from the listening sessions, to develop recommendations and create a roadmap towards a FAIR, open, integrated data network.
Project Outcomes
A Special Report in BioScience summarizes the outcomes of the project, including the community-informed roadmap towards a BIOFAIR Data Network. In addition, the project is featured in a BioScience Talks podcast episode with members of the project steering committee.
Partners
This project is supported by the National Science Foundation (Award No. 2303588).