Webinar #2
Improving Biodiversity (meta)data flow: Standards and Strategies.
The second webinar of the MOD Alliance series, hosted by the MARCO-BOLO project, happened on
19 February 2025 at 5.00 pm CET (UTC+1).
Abstract:
The need for open, transparent and trusted data, products, and tools has never been greater. To support policy development and ocean governance at national, regional and global levels, we need foundational data and their descriptions to be standardised, accessible and actionable by various actors, frameworks and partnerships.
In the MARCO-BOLO project, we are developing and implementing global FAIR (Findable Accessible Interoperable and Reusable) data pipelines based on technical standards and protocols that extend beyond the marine domain.
In this presentation, we explored the technology, the challenges of implementation, the broader landscape, and the goal of creating a globally interoperable ocean data ecosystem.
Meet the speakers:
Dan Lear is an expert in marine data management and biodiversity information systems, leading the IT and Data Teams at the Marine Biological Association (MBA). With over 25 years of experience, he coordinates DASSH, the Marine Data and Information Network (MEDIN)-accredited Data Archive Centre for biodiversity data.
Dan plays a pivotal role in advancing global ocean data initiatives as a co-chair of the Ocean Biodiversity Information System (OBIS) Steering Group and leads the UK OBIS Node hosted at the MBA. His expertise informs data standardisation and interoperability through representation in national and international working groups, including chairing the Biodiversity Data and Information Group (BioDIG) and co-chairing the MEDIN Data Archive Centre Working Group.
At Marine Research Plymouth, Dan leads the Digital Science component. His work bridges technology and marine science, ensuring biodiversity data is accessible, standardised, and actionable for sustainable ocean management.
Dr Pier Luigi Buttigieg is a senior data scientist and digital architect at the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research (AWI). He specialises in advancing digital interoperability and biodiversity informatics, bridging science and technology to mobilise ecological data for global sustainability efforts.
Pier Luigi plays a leading role in international ocean data initiatives, serving as the chair of the Ocean Data and Information System (ODIS) Project under the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO and contributing to the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) Biology and Ecosystems Panel. He also co-leads the Data Lakes and Interoperability Working Group in the Digital Twins of the Ocean (DITTO) decade program. Pier Luigi drives the development of ontologies like ENVO (The Environment Ontology) and SDGIO (Sustainable Development Goals Interface Ontology) to standardise and link scientific data with societal goals.
With a strong background in microbial ecology, bioinformatics, and multivariate analysis, Pier Luigi integrates semantics, bioinformatics, and data analysis to make biodiversity data more accessible and actionable. His leadership spans multiple Horizon Europe projects as well as international Actions within the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, shaping strategies to enhance data standardisation and interoperability for sustainable ocean management.