1. Data Management for IMBER
The IMBER DMC has focused on
• Education
• User guide – the IMBER cookbook
• Data Portal (developed by IPO)
• Metadata Portal at GCMD (under development)
I have written a few notes like this on each slide, in case they are helpful. I am sure you want to develop your own comments, Julie. I have left in some notes made by Sophie.

2. Education Data management is an essential part of a researcher’s job
Data management is time consuming
Data management is tedious/boring
Data management needs attention to detail
Data sets are a legacy of your research potentially more objective than your publications, and available for re-interpretation
Is DM any different? It can be argued that a good data set is MORE valuable than your publications. Your interpretation may be shown, after further research, to be wrong. New methods may allow samples to be reanalysed (like DNA in criminal cases), but that would be useless without knowing all the metadata that described the samples.

3. BEER – a half day Data Management workshop at the Miami IMBIZO
 benefits of adding a Data Integration Scientist to any project, and will introduce the various data integration and handling techniques illustrated in the IMBER Data Integration Cookbook.
We used the IMBIZO as an opportunity to educate researchers about the importance of good DM. In particular we emphasize the importance of designating somebody as the Data Scientist on every cruise. Part of our intention is to make junior researchers think about DM, not follow (most of) their seniors in ignoring it!
The IMBER DMC provided an opportunity for junior and senior scientists to participate in a half-day interactive workshop entitled "BEER: The secret to a successful project". This workshop and discussion presented the benefits of adding a Data Integration Scientist to any project, and introduced the various data integration and handling techniques illustrated in the IMBER Data Integration Cookbook. The workshop was co-chaired by Raymond Pollard (UK) and Todd O’Brien (USA) with organizing committee members Gwen Moncoiffé (UK) and Sophie Beauvais (France).
Organizing Committee
Raymond Pollard (co-chair)
Todd O’Brien (co-chair)
Gwen Moncoiffé
Sophie Beauvais

4. and a plenary lecture midweek
Programme
A plenary presentation during the main sessions was an opportunity to get the message to all attendees, not just the few who attended the DM workshop.

5. The cookbook is now online (http://planktondata
The cookbook is now online ( please use it and send us your comments:
A lot of the problem is that scientists do not know where to start on DM, and are put off by DM jargon. We have created this cookbook to help, both by skimming to get the gist of what is needed, and by dipping into recipes. Easily printed off or copied to take to sea. Usefulness NOT restricted to IMBER.
Please urge SCOR attendees to visit the website, use and comment.
2) Project Guide to Good Data Practices The IMBER DMC developed a cookbook aiming at fostering good data practices.
While the idea for this compendium of recipes to make data management digestible came from the IMBER community, the recipes are in no way restricted to IMBER, but should be suitable for any project that gathers data and wishes them to be available and useful in the long-term. This guide (under development as of Oct. 2008) is visible under for discussion at the BEER workshop.

6. IMBER Data Portal http://www.imber.info/DM_home.html
IPO (Sophie) has worked hard to give data visibility on the IMBER website.
IMBER Data Portal (including GCMD Portal)
The IMBER Data Portal is now available through the IMBER web site at:
Sections developed are: What’s new? Committee; Data Policy; Benefits; Cookbook; Meetings & Trainings and Useful links.

7. IMBER Data Portal http://www.imber.info/DM_home.html
Data Portal will be made as useful as possible, like this list of national data centres.
Could skip this one.

8. GCMD Metadata Portal (under development)
Furthermore the IMBER data portal includes a direct link to the IMBER GCMD Portal (centralizing IMBER Metadata).
This is very much in its infancy, but we shall now be pressurizing IMBER endorsed projects to create DIFs, with the intention that GCMD will provide a valuable and hopefully comprehensive summary of IMBER plans and outputs.