Workshop organized in the aftermath of the Empowering Biodiversity Research Conference.

Workshop organized in the aftermath of the Empowering Biodiversity Research Conference.

In the aftermath of the Empowering Biodiversity Research Conference, the Belgian Biodiversity Platform (BBPf), the Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO), the Royal Belgian Institute for Natural Sciences (RBINS) and the Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA) organized a LifeWatch Data Cleaning and Data Publication Workshop. Participants were trained in the use of OpenRefine to clean data as well as the IPT to standardize and publish biodiversity data and metadata to the GBIF network.

In the aftermath of the Empowering Biodiversity Research Conference, the Belgian Biodiversity Platform (BBPf) and the Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO) organized the LifeWatch Data Paper Workshop. Participants learned how to extend the metadata of a dataset to a data paper and how to submit this as a peer-reviewed article in a scholarly journal.

In the aftermath of the Empowering Biodiversity Research Conference (May 21st 2015, Brussels), a series of workshops were organized. During these workshops the tools presented and described during the conference were demonstrated into more detail during hands-on training sessions. In this framework, the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) organized the LifeWatch Data Analysis Workshop on November 26th-27th 2015 in Ostend.

Documents: 

Agenda Data Analysis Workshop.docx

This workshop was the first ever meeting of Ascidiacea editors. The workshop provided an invaluable opportunity for discussing more efficient ways to coordinate the work of the editors, as well as between the editors and the WoRMS Data Management Team (DMT) based at the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ). A key aspect of this workshop was the presence of the world-renowned ascidian taxonomist Françoise Monniot, who shared her extensive knowledge and a database that compiles decades of taxonomic research by Claude and Françoise Monniot.

Documents: 

Workshop program_final.docx

Ascidiacea_Workshop_Report_Final.pdf

Eight experts on marine and anchialine cave faunas gathered at the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ), for the first editor workshop of the World Register of marine Cave Species (WoRCS). the WoRCS editorial team took this opportunity to make editorial agreements and discuss future plans and options in person. The general aim is to create a comprehensive taxonomic and ecological database of species known from marine and anchialine cave environments worldwide.

Documents: 

WoRCS_program_final.pdf

WoRCS_Report_final.pdf

On March 31st 2016, a third LifeWatch.be project meeting was organized at VLIZ in Ostend. During this meeting, all Belgian LifeWatch partners (VLIZ, INBO, UcL, ULg, KBIN) convened to discuss the status and progress of the individual LifeWatch.be projects. Also recent and planned initiatives for the LifeWatch communication were discussed. The report of this meeting is available upon request.

Documents: 

Agenda LifeWatch project meeting 31 March 2016.docx

22 of the 32 Amphipoda editors met in Oostende, to further complete the World Amphipoda Database (WAD). During their 2-day workshop, the focus was largely on hands-on, providing the editors with the tools and experience to actively complete their World Register. Several available tools and functionalities were demonstrated, helping editors to more easily edit using the online interface. The group took time to discuss editing guidelines and ongoing Amphipoda initiatives. A list of priorities was put forward and agreed upon, aligned with the priorities put forward by the WoRMS SC.

Documents: 

Amphipoda_workshop program_final.docx

Amphipod Editing Workshop Report Final.pdf

7 Ostracoda editors joined forces during their first workshop in Oostende. Ten goals were put forward, among which to decide on the higher level taxonomy to be used within the WoRMS Ostracoda and to plan the integration of several existing databases (e.g. fossil Myodocope Database) and good quality SEM and optical microscope photos.

Documents: 

WOD_workshop program_final.docx

Ostracoda_Workshop_Report_Final.pdf