The Information Environment for Neuroscientists David R Newman

Overview Introduction What is NeuroHub about? Some related projects How does this fit together? What we WON’T Do Questions

Introduction JISC funded project Project between Oxford, Southampton and Reading Universities 3 FTEs Oxford ◦ Nigel Emptage’s Lab Southampton ◦ Vincent O’Connor’s Lab ◦ Phil Newland’s Lab

What is NeuroHub All About? Making Neuroscientists’ Lives Easier!!!

More Specifically......Help Managing Your Data Initial Experimental Idea Experimental Design Data Collection AnalysisPublication

How? Conversion of File Formats Consistent Annotation Method Web-based Repository for Data Search Interfaces ◦ For Images ◦ For Videos ◦ For Data Blog Interface Collaborative Document Editing Literature Sharing File Space

Jam Today, Jam Tomorrow Thursday’s JamFriday’s Jam

Related Projects

Making better use of computing technology ◦ SmartTea investigated how chemists experiment ◦ Electronic Lab Notebooks (ELNs)  Useful in some scenarios  Chemists involved still use their logbook s Manages outputs from experiment devices Automatically from electronic devices Otherwise manually (scanned / typed in) Creates a visual and easily readable record of experiments

“Social networking site for scientists” Users can: ◦ Make “friends” and join groups ◦ Upload and describe experiment-related files ◦ Use the social network to share ◦ Allow other users to annotate these files ◦ Collate items into “Packs” and in the future “Research Objects”

e-Laboratories Technical Architecure Group (eLab TAG)

Research Information Centre (RIC) Extends Microsoft SharePoint ◦ Integrates Microsoft tools ◦ Provides Web-based interface ◦ Business focused RIC more research focussed ◦ Manage research projects ◦ Enables scientific collaboration ◦ Supports the research lifecycle

Focussed around Neurophysiology Virtual Laboratory Environment through a Portal for Sharing Data and Programs ◦ Annotate uploaded files ◦ Search across archived datasets ◦ Run analysis over datasets using programs on CARMEN as well as their computing resources Promotes Standards ◦ MINI: Minimum Information about a Neuroscience Investigation ◦ NDTF: Neurophysiology Data Translation Format

My Background Worked as part of the myExperiment team Involved in the eLab TAG Have worked with Neuroscientists from the SWAN project Interested in: ◦ Consistent Data Annotation ◦ Organization of Experimental Data ◦ Knowledge Representation ◦ Resource Description Framework (RDF)

What is RDF? Subject Predicate Object Come Animals House Are Is A Cows Home

How does this impact on NeuroHub? CombeChem gives insight into what a scientist might find useful Blog3 / RIC / Research Objects may provide a basis to help manage data as it moves around the lab myExperiment provides facility for social curation of data CARMEN provides standards for consistent data annotation

Environment Architecture Data Capture Device PC Data Capture Device PC Analysis Server SouthamptonOxford Community ORA Soton EPrints

What We Won’t Do Will not be some large monolithic system based on a strict inflexible set of user requirements Will not adversely affect how neuroscientists currently conduct their research Should not take excessive training to learn how to use Must not create extra unwanted work for the neuroscientist

What’s Next? Continue to gain insight into what Neuroscientists do Look closer at the data you are producing Prototype some tools to help elucidate existing requirements Investigate further related projects to determine if they can be applied Get feedback from you now

Questions ?