WiNoDa: Knowledge Laboratory for Scientific Collections and Object-Centred Data

Scientific collections are inexhaustible sources of knowledge and can help answer fundamental questions about the history of the earth and humanity. Networking such heterogeneous sources of information makes it possible to address the challenges of the 21st century on the basis of knowledge about the past. This requires innovative and multi-perspective approaches, most of which have not yet been realised.

The joint project Knowledge Laboratory for Natural Science Collections and Object-Centred Data (WiNoDa) aims to remedy this and establish a data competence centre for data-driven research on natural science collections. It pools the expertise of object-based research at the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin (MfN) and the German Archaeological Institute (DAI). In cooperation with the MfN and the DAI, the Gesellschaft für Biologische Daten e.V., the Networking and Competence Centre Open Access Brandenburg (VuK) at the FHP, the Zuse Institute Berlin and the GBV's Network Centre, WiNoDa aims to strengthen the acquisition and expansion of skills for the entire field of work and research (data collection, analysis, publication and long-term availability).

Together with researchers and with the advice of a user representative, specialised learning content and formats are created and made available in the long term through a learning environment. In addition to the acquisition of skills, the aim is to create opportunities for interdisciplinary research using a resilient computing infrastructure. WiNoDa promotes the networking of researchers from different disciplines, small and medium-sized enterprises and better integration of society into the aforementioned processes by communicating formats of public engagement and open science.

The VuK sub-project at the FHP will realise the connection to the requirements and potential of open science and open research.