On 15–17 January, the Centre for Biological and Chemical Sciences of the University of Warsaw hosted the “Biodiversity Data Mobilization” training, dedicated to the issues of preparing, managing and depositing data in the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) database. The workshops were led by experienced trainers from the European GBIF nodes: Jeroen Creuwels from the Natural History Museum in Leiden and Dag Endresen from the University of Oslo, supported by Piotr Tykarski from the University of Warsaw. During the course, participants had the opportunity to familiarize themselves with data cleaning and standardization methods, as well as to learn about programs and platforms that improve their processing before publication. Our team was represented by Gabriela Karlik, who gained valuable knowledge that helps us better use the potential of biological data collected over decades in our department. The Biodiversity Data Mobilization course is extremely useful for the Polish Barcode of Life, because both initiatives (GBIF and PolBOL) focus on biodiversity data and their use in research.
The course and GBIF initiatives will make it easier to:
- Manage and publish biodiversity data
- Standardize data
- Mobilize local data for species
- Facilitate cooperation and visibility in the international arena
- Application of practical tools and skills
- Protect species and analyze their distribution data
The Biodiversity Data Mobilization course provided knowledge and tools that can significantly strengthen the effectiveness and reach of the Polish Barcode of Life project. Integration of PolBOL results with GBIF can contribute to a better understanding of biodiversity of Polish fauna at a global level and increase the potential for international cooperation.
This event was the first in a series of planned trainings as part of the "Polish GBIF Node" project in the "Support for the participation of Polish research teams in international research infrastructure projects" program, in which we are a partner. In the coming months, further trainings will be held: "GBIF support for molecular data in biodiversity research" and "Biodiversity Data Use".