Metadata = data about the data

Why do we need metadata? = data about the data Helps you understand the data better Store metadata together with the data 6 W’s of information: Who What When Where Why How Need to be thorough, as none of these can be answered by yes/no… Includes e.g. objectives of the field research or experiment Limitations of the data Citation & publications coming forth from the data Contains important information that cannot be captured in the data itself: e.g. contact person, responsible researcher/institute, citation …

Metadata guidelines for OBIS Dataset title A good, descriptive title is indispensable. Provides users with valuable information, making e.g. data screening easier Originally received Recommended title, to be checked with provider Biomôr Benthic data from the Southern Irish Sea from 1989-1991 Kyklades Zoobenthos of the Kyklades (Aegean Sea) from a survey in 2009 Benthos_NS The macrobenthos of the North Sea Dataset_1 Meiofauna of Madagascar Dataset_for_OBIS Fish collected during a 3-month survey in the national waters of South Africa in 1975 … If the dataset has already been published (made publicly available) elsewhere, then the same title should be kept (even if it would not meet the proposed standards)! Changing the title of an already published dataset cannot be done, as this will generate confusion and possible duplicates in databases in a later stage. Do not just change the title, but consult with the data provider to check if the change is OK! If the dataset has already been published elsewhere, the title CANNOT be changed (even if it does not meet the proposed standards)!

Institute of data provider Telephone number / email address / … Contact information Name of data provider Institute of data provider Telephone number / email address / … In case of questions on the data, they can be contacted Interpretation of the data Check for more data Broader research => collaboration with data provider …

Abstract / description Basic information on the content of the dataset Should be short & clear and related to the dataset content

THE most important thing for each dataset! Citation THE most important thing for each dataset! Comparable to a publication reference Should contain: Dataset title Authors (e.g. data managers, data collectors, responsible researchers …) Name of the data holding institute Use standard format (when possible): Place of initials Consistent use of commas and periods Use full name or acronym (or both) of institute …

Citation examples Gambi, C. & Danovaro, R. (1992). Meiofauna of the Ligurian Sea. Polytechnic University of Marche, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Marine Sciences, Italy. Lampadariou, N. (2001). Thermaikos Gulf: impact of trawling and resuspension on meiobenthos. Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), Greece. MarBEF (2005). Macroben, an integrated database on benthic invertebrates of European continental shelves. http://www.vliz.be/imis/imis.php?module=dataset&dasid=631 Fish trawl survey: Irish ground fish survey. ICES Database of trawl surveys (DATRAS). The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, Copenhagen. 2010. Online source: http://ecosystemdata.ices.dk. Campana, S., Joyce, W. OTN/DFO Maritimes Spiny Dogfish Tagging. In: OTN digital collections.

Facilitate the discovery of a dataset Can relate to: Keywords & co. Facilitate the discovery of a dataset Can relate to: Taxonomy Geography Temporal boundaries Usage of the dataset Document how (under which conditions) the dataset can be used CC-by License (Creative Commons) Freely available (if cited) Restricted use (define) …

In summary: metadata best practises Check if relevant metadata information is completed Title, contact, citation, abstract … If not: contact provider 6 W’s Check if the dataset title is understandable and descriptive “Good”: benthos of the Kenyan EEZ in the period 2000-2010 “Bad”: benthos “Ugly”: benthos_EEZ_Kenya_2000-2010 Assign relevant keywords General keywords (benthos, plankton, biodiversity …) Geographical keywords or placenames Taxonomical keywords Temporal boundaries

Questions? Relevance & importance of metadata: Session Thursday Hands-on dataset publication on IPT