scholarly journals Towards Coordinated International Support of Core Data Resources for the Life Sciences

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Anderson ◽  
R. Apweiler ◽  
A. Bateman ◽  
G.A. Bauer ◽  
H. Berman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life Sciences ◽  
Science Program ◽  
Senior Managers ◽  
Scientific Impact ◽  
International Support ◽  
Core Data ◽  
Funding Model ◽  
International Funding ◽  
Strong Consensus

On November 18-19, 2016, the Human Frontier Science Program Organization (HFSPO) hosted a meeting of senior managers of key data resources and leaders of several major funding organizations to discuss the challenges associated with sustaining biological and biomedical (i.e., life sciences) data resources and associated infrastructure. A strong consensus emerged from the group that core data resources for the life sciences should be supported through a coordinated international effort(s) that better ensure long-term sustainability and that appropriately align funding with scientific impact. Ideally, funding for such data resources should allow for access at no charge, as is presently the usual (and preferred) mechanism. Below, the rationale for this vision is described, and some important considerations for developing a new international funding model to support core data resources for the life sciences are presented.

scholarly journals Identifying ELIXIR Core Data Resources

F1000Research ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 2422 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Durinx ◽  
Jo McEntyre ◽  
Ron Appel ◽  
Rolf Apweiler ◽  
Mary Barlow ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life Science ◽  
Life Sciences ◽  
Life Cycles ◽  
Biological Data ◽  
Biological Information ◽  
Biological Research ◽  
Scientific Quality ◽  
Data Resource ◽  
Core Data

The core mission of ELIXIR is to build a stable and sustainable infrastructure for biological information across Europe. At the heart of this are the data resources, tools and services that ELIXIR offers to the life-sciences community, providing stable and sustainable access to biological data. ELIXIR aims to ensure that these resources are available long-term and that the life-cycles of these resources are managed such that they support the scientific needs of the life-sciences, including biological research. ELIXIR Core Data Resources are defined as a set of European data resources that are of fundamental importance to the wider life-science community and the long-term preservation of biological data. They are complete collections of generic value to life-science, are considered an authority in their field with respect to one or more characteristics, and show high levels of scientific quality and service. Thus, ELIXIR Core Data Resources are of wide applicability and usage. This paper describes the structures, governance and processes that support the identification and evaluation of ELIXIR Core Data Resources. It identifies key indicators which reflect the essence of the definition of an ELIXIR Core Data Resource and support the promotion of excellence in resource development and operation. It describes the specific indicators in more detail and explains their application within ELIXIR’s sustainability strategy and science policy actions, and in capacity building, life-cycle management and technical actions. The identification process is currently being implemented and tested for the first time. The findings and outcome will be evaluated by the ELIXIR Scientific Advisory Board in March 2017. Establishing the portfolio of ELIXIR Core Data Resources and ELIXIR Services is a key priority for ELIXIR and publicly marks the transition towards a cohesive infrastructure.

scholarly journals Funding knowledgebases: Towards a sustainable funding model for the UniProt use case

F1000Research ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 2051 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chiara Gabella ◽  
Christine Durinx ◽  
Ron Appel
Keyword(s):  
Scientific Information ◽  
Life Sciences ◽  
Planning Horizon ◽  
Open Science ◽  
Added Value ◽  
Research Projects ◽  
Income Source ◽  
Core Data ◽  
Global Science ◽  
Funding Model

Millions of life scientists across the world rely on bioinformatics data resources for their research projects. Data resources can be very expensive, especially those with a high added value as the expert-curated knowledgebases. Despite the increasing need for such highly accurate and reliable sources of scientific information, most of them do not have secured funding over the near future and often depend on short-term grants that are much shorter than their planning horizon. Additionally, they are often evaluated as research projects rather than as research infrastructure components. In this work, twelve funding models for data resources are described and applied on the case study of the Universal Protein Resource (UniProt), a key resource for protein sequences and functional information knowledge. We show that most of the models present inconsistencies with open access or equity policies, and that while some models do not allow to cover the total costs, they could potentially be used as a complementary income source. We propose the Infrastructure Model as a sustainable and equitable model for all core data resources in the life sciences. With this model, funding agencies would set aside a fixed percentage of their research grant volumes, which would subsequently be redistributed to core data resources according to well-defined selection criteria. This model, compatible with the principles of open science, is in agreement with several international initiatives such as the Human Frontiers Science Program Organisation (HFSPO) and the OECD Global Science Forum (GSF) project. Here, we have estimated that less than 1% of the total amount dedicated to research grants in the life sciences would be sufficient to cover the costs of the core data resources worldwide, including both knowledgebases and deposition databases.

scholarly journals Funding knowledgebases: Towards a sustainable funding model for the UniProt use case

F1000Research ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 2051 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chiara Gabella ◽  
Christine Durinx ◽  
Ron Appel
Keyword(s):  
Scientific Information ◽  
Life Sciences ◽  
Planning Horizon ◽  
Open Science ◽  
Added Value ◽  
Research Projects ◽  
Income Source ◽  
Core Data ◽  
Global Science ◽  
Funding Model

Millions of life scientists across the world rely on bioinformatics data resources for their research projects. Data resources can be very expensive, especially those with a high added value as the expert-curated knowledgebases. Despite the increasing need for such highly accurate and reliable sources of scientific information, most of them do not have secured funding over the near future and often depend on short-term grants that are much shorter than their planning horizon. Additionally, they are often evaluated as research projects rather than as research infrastructure components. In this work, twelve funding models for data resources are described and applied on the case study of the Universal Protein Resource (UniProt), a key resource for protein sequences and functional information knowledge. We show that most of the models present inconsistencies with open access or equity policies, and that while some models do not allow to cover the total costs, they could potentially be used as a complementary income source. We propose the Infrastructure Model as a sustainable and equitable model for all core data resources in the life sciences. With this model, funding agencies would set aside a fixed percentage of their research grant volumes, which would subsequently be redistributed to core data resources according to well-defined selection criteria. This model, compatible with the principles of open science, is in agreement with several international initiatives such as the Human Frontiers Science Program Organisation (HFSPO) and the OECD Global Science Forum (GSF) project. Here, we have estimated that less than 1% of the total amount dedicated to research grants in the life sciences would be sufficient to cover the costs of the core data resources worldwide, including both knowledgebases and deposition databases.

scholarly journals Identifying ELIXIR Core Data Resources

F1000Research ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 2422 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Durinx ◽  
Jo McEntyre ◽  
Ron Appel ◽  
Rolf Apweiler ◽  
Mary Barlow ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life Science ◽  
Life Sciences ◽  
Life Cycles ◽  
Biological Data ◽  
Biological Information ◽  
Biological Research ◽  
Scientific Quality ◽  
Data Resource ◽  
Core Data

The core mission of ELIXIR is to build a stable and sustainable infrastructure for biological information across Europe. At the heart of this are the data resources, tools and services that ELIXIR offers to the life-sciences community, providing stable and sustainable access to biological data. ELIXIR aims to ensure that these resources are available long-term and that the life-cycles of these resources are managed such that they support the scientific needs of the life-sciences, including biological research. ELIXIR Core Data Resources are defined as a set of European data resources that are of fundamental importance to the wider life-science community and the long-term preservation of biological data. They are complete collections of generic value to life-science, are considered an authority in their field with respect to one or more characteristics, and show high levels of scientific quality and service. Thus, ELIXIR Core Data Resources are of wide applicability and usage. This paper describes the structures, governance and processes that support the identification and evaluation of ELIXIR Core Data Resources. It identifies key indicators which reflect the essence of the definition of an ELIXIR Core Data Resource and support the promotion of excellence in resource development and operation. It describes the specific indicators in more detail and explains their application within ELIXIR’s sustainability strategy and science policy actions, and in capacity building, life-cycle management and technical actions. Establishing the portfolio of ELIXIR Core Data Resources and ELIXIR Services is a key priority for ELIXIR and publicly marks the transition towards a cohesive infrastructure.

Impact of long-term trials on crop production research and education

2010 ◽  
Vol 58 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Jolánkai ◽  
F. Nyárai ◽  
K. Kassai
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
Life Sciences ◽  
Ecological Models ◽  
Dynamic Databases ◽  
Production Research ◽  
Research And Education

Long-term trials have a twofold role in life sciences, acting as both live laboratories and public collections. Long-term trials are not simply scientific curios or the honoured relics of a museum, but highly valuable live ecological models that can never be replaced or restarted if once terminated or suspended. These trials provide valuable and dynamic databases for solving scientific problems. The present paper is intended to give a brief summary of the crop production aspects of long-term trials.

scholarly journals Transference of Citizen Science Program Impacts: A Theory Grounded in Public Participation in Scientific Research

Diversity ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 339
Author(s):  
Louise I. Lynch-O’Brien ◽  
Wayne A. Babchuk ◽  
Jenny M. Dauer ◽  
Tiffany Heng-Moss ◽  
Doug Golick
Keyword(s):  
Citizen Science ◽  
Social Process ◽  
Informal Science Education ◽  
Constructivist Grounded Theory ◽  
Science Program ◽  
Program Leaders ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Social ◽  
Added Benefit

Citizen science is known for increasing the geographic, spatial, and temporal scale from which scientists can gather data. It is championed for its potential to provide experiential learning opportunities to the public. Documentation of educational outcomes and benefits for citizen scientists continues to grow. This study proposes an added benefit of these collaborations: the transference of program impacts to individuals outside of the program. The experiences of fifteen citizen scientists in entomology citizen science programs were analyzed using a constructivist grounded theory methodology. We propose the substantive-level theory of transference to describe the social process by which the educational and attitudinal impacts intended by program leaders for the program participants are filtered by citizen scientists and transferred to others. This process involves individual and external phases, each with associated actions. Transference occurred in participants who had maintained a long-term interest in nature, joined a citizen science program, shared science knowledge and experiences, acquired an expert role to others, and influenced change in others. Transference has implications for how citizen scientists are perceived by professional communities, understanding of the broader impacts and contributions of citizen science to wicked problems, program evaluation, and the design of these programs as informal science education opportunities.

scholarly journals ESA’s X-Ray Astronomy Mission, XMM

1990 ◽  
Vol 123 ◽  
pp. 129-140
Author(s):  
B.G. Taylor ◽  
A. Peacock
Keyword(s):  
Resolving Power ◽  
Science Program ◽  
Eccentric Orbit ◽  
Ccd Cameras ◽  
Optical Telescope ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Medium Resolution ◽  
Reflection Gratings ◽  
Better Than

AbstractESA’s X-ray Astronomy Mission, XMM, scheduled for launch in 1998, is the second of four cornerstones of ESA’s long term science program Horizon 2000. Covering the range from about 0.1 to 10 keV, it will provide a high throughput of 5000 cm2 at 7 keV with three independant telescopes, and have a spatial resolution better than 30 arcsec. Broadband spectrophotometry is provided by CCD cameras while reflection gratings provide medium resolution spectroscopy (resolving power of about 400) in the range 0.3–3 keV. Long uninterrupted observations will be made from the 24 hr period, highly eccentric orbit, reaching a sensitivity approaching 10−15 erg cm−2 s−1 in one orbit. A 30 cm UV/optical telescope is bore-sighted with the x-ray telescopes to provide simultaneous optical counterparts to the numerous serendipitous X-ray sources which will be detected during every observation.

A Theory of Partial Property Rights and the Illusion of State-Owned Enterprises

2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheng Hong
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Property Rights ◽  
Great Risk ◽  
Driving Force ◽  
Private Enterprise ◽  
The State ◽  
Senior Managers ◽  
Partial Property ◽  
Turn Over

Abstract China’s State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) enjoy many special benefits. They do not turn over profits and rents to the state, they pay much less interests than other enterprises in their use of capital, they enjoy monopolistic power in the marketplace, incomes of SOE employees, including managers, are free of policy restrictions. Because these substantial interests are not transferrable to individuals, competition exists for them. Compared with executives of private enterprise, senior managers of SOEs are 94 times more likely of being convicted of a crime. High benefits enjoyed by senior managers of SOEs come with a great risk. Once the illusion of SOEs is punctured, SOE leaders with higher education and long-term visions may become the driving force of SOE reform.

scholarly journals Online and in-Person Delivery of Upper Division Lecture Courses in Undergraduate Life Sciences Degree Programs Leads to Equivalent Post-Graduate Degree Outcomes

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 403-412
Author(s):  
Alexandria N. Ardissone ◽  
Jennifer C. Drew ◽  
Eric W. Triplett
Keyword(s):  
Academic Success ◽  
Online Education ◽  
Life Sciences ◽  
Doctoral Degree ◽  
Graduate Degree ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Lecture Courses ◽  
Degree Outcomes ◽  
Near Term

AbstractAlthough many studies demonstrate that online education is as good as face-to-face education with regard to learning gains, course grades, and other near-term metrics, there is a major gap in exploring the long-term outcomes of online vs. face-to-face education, particularly in STEM programs. In this study, the effect of course delivery method on the long-term academic success of B.S. graduates was tested by comparing two similar life sciences undergraduate programs at the University of Florida. The Microbiology and Cell Science program teaches all upper division lecture courses online while the Biology program teaches nearly all of its upper division courses face-to-face. Graduate degree outcomes of 4978 students who completed their B.S. degree from either program (2011–2018) were determined using StudentTracker from the National Student Clearinghouse. The percentage of graduates with any doctoral degree (M.D., D.O., Ph.D., or other) did not differ. However, a significantly higher percentage of Microbiology and Cell Science graduates completed a Ph.D. or master’s degree compared to Biology graduates. Thus, online delivery of upper division undergraduate courses had no adverse effect on the future academic success of these students.

scholarly journals Accuracy of long-term volunteer water monitoring data: A multiscale analysis from a statewide citizen science program

PLoS ONE ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. e0227540
Author(s):  
Kelly Hibbeler Albus ◽  
Ruthanne Thompson ◽  
Forrest Mitchell ◽  
James Kennedy ◽  
Alexandra G. Ponette-González
Keyword(s):  
Citizen Science ◽  
Multiscale Analysis ◽  
Water Monitoring ◽  
Monitoring Data ◽  
Science Program
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document