BioDATA Advanced - is an international project for developing skills in biodiversity data management and data publishing, and is a development of the initial BioDATA project (2018-2022).
Undergraduate and postgraduate students from Norway, and South Africa will have an opportunity to take part in the intensive courses to gain practical skills working with international research data infrastructures such as the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), international data standards (Darwin Core), software on data improvement, data use (with an emphasis on data generated from DNA-based methods), and preparation of data papers. In addition, students will have the opportunity to learn the most modern molecular methods for monitoring biodiversity. The skills taught within BioDATA Advanced are important for carrying out the everyday tasks of a modern biologist but are mostly not formally taught in higher education. The project is coordinated by the University of Oslo (Norway) and supported by the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). The project is funded by the Norwegian Agency for International Cooperation and Quality Enhancement in Higher Education (DIKU).
Planned activities
Data-driven courses focusing on biodiversity data skills and using open biodiversity data will each be offered in all partner countries. One DNA wet lab course will be offered in Norway and South Africa. In total 6 student internships will take place between the partner countries.
Partners
- University of Oslo, Natural History Museum, Department of Research and Collections, Oslo, Norway (host for GBIF Norway).
- South African Biodiversity Institute - SANBI, Cape Town, South Africa (host for GBIF South Africa).
- Altai State University South-Siberian Botanical Garden, Barnaul, Russia (Paused).
- The Secretariat of the Global Biodiversity Information Facility - gbif.org - provides additional support to BioDATA Advanced through course preparation and coordination.
Course Curriculum
Accelerating biodiversity research through DNA barcodes, collection, and observation data <https://docs.gbif.org/course-data-mobilization>
Data use for decision making <https://elearning.gbif.es/course/68/about>
Financing
BioDATA Advanced is funded by the Norwegian Agency for International Cooperation and Quality Enhancement in Higher Education (DIKU project UTF-2020/10117).
The Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HKDir) was established on 1 July 2021, under the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research. The Directorate is a result of the merger of various agencies including the Norwegian Agency for International Cooperation and Quality Enhancement in Higher Education (Diku).
