This webinar series is hosted by the Marine Environmental Data and Information Network (MEDIN), a UK initiative dedicated to improving access to high-quality marine data. MEDIN works with organisations across sectors to promote best practices in marine data management, ensuring data is discoverable, accessible, and reusable for the long term.
Throughout the year, once per month, this series will feature one-hour online sessions led by expert guest speakers, each focusing on specialised topics not typically covered in MEDIN’s regular free online workshops. These webinars are designed to support better data stewardship and highlight emerging tools, standards, and approaches in marine data.
Sessions will be recorded and made available on the MEDIN YouTube channel, creating a lasting resource for the marine data community.
Whether you are new to marine data management or have years of experience, and no matter which sector you work in, these sessions are designed to be inclusive, informative, and accessible to all who are interested in improving the way marine data is managed and shared.
Webinar 1 - Navigating Marine Data: Planning, Stewardship, and the value of MEDIN
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An Introduction to Marine Data Stewardship and the MEDIN Framework - tbc (MEDIN)
This presentation provides an overview of marine data stewardship and introduces the MEDIN Framework as a foundation for best practice in marine data management. It outlines the principles of effective stewardship, the importance of standardisation, and how MEDIN supports the marine community in making data more discoverable, accessible, and reusable.
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Data Planning and Stewardship - Monica Hanley (BODC – NOC)
Data management planning is integral to the lifecycle of data and should be done early for every project. There are a variety of ways to plan data, but important things to capture are datasets, storage size, data access restrictions, data originator, if the data should be archived; if so, where, and when. Data Management Plans (DMPs) are a tool used to document and track datasets throughout the data life cycle.
Once a DMP is drafted, it should be amended or reviewed throughout the lifetime of the project. Identifying ownership of a DMP is important to encourage accountability for the data and supporting (re)use of data beyond the initial collection or scope of the project. The DMP should address if data are expected to be submitted to an appropriate archive/repository. A DMP will also document the expectations around metadata and formats i.e. non-proprietary. Without storing the data with appropriate metadata or suitable formats there is a risk reuse of the data may be reduced if at all. Any target repository might be constrained by funder, journal or organisational requirements. Data depositors should consider and be aware of best practices for data management. Data stewards have a role in guiding best practices, but not all repositories have data stewards. Data management best practices depositors might consider are: suitable metadata, controlled vocabularies, using data access policies and licences, archive processes and applying quality control measures. These best practices aim to support reuse of data in the future.
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The Marine Data Exchange: How we use MEDIN to enhance the value of our database - Harry Richardson (The Crown Estate)
This presentation introduces the Marine Data Exchange (MDE), outlining its origins, current role, and future direction. It then explores MDE’s collaboration with MEDIN, focusing on how MEDIN’s guidelines are integrated into MDE’s quality assurance processes. By aligning with these standards, MDE ensures adherence to industry best practices and defines robust data requirements. The session highlights how this partnership enhances the quality, consistency, and value of marine data shared through the platform..