2. Metadata = data about the data

3. 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 …

4. 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
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)!

5. Institute of data provider Telephone number / email address / …
Contact information
Name of data provider
Institute of data provider
Telephone number / 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 …

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

7. 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 …

8. 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.
Fish trawl survey: Irish ground fish survey. ICES Database of trawl surveys (DATRAS). The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, Copenhagen Online source:
Campana, S., Joyce, W. OTN/DFO Maritimes Spiny Dogfish Tagging. In: OTN digital collections.

9. 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) …

10. 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
“Bad”: benthos
“Ugly”: benthos_EEZ_Kenya_
Assign relevant keywords
General keywords (benthos, plankton, biodiversity …)
Geographical keywords or placenames
Taxonomical keywords
Temporal boundaries

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