Paris, 6 June 2025
The second DTO-BioFlow Data Grants Holders Workshop successfully concluded at Sorbonne University's Zamansky Tower in Paris, a fitting venue that offered a productive atmosphere and inspiring views over the city. This three-day event brought together representatives from ten projects selected through the Second Open Call, focusing on equipping them with the skills necessary to contribute effectively to the EU Digital Twin Ocean (EU DTO) via EMODnet Biology.
Organised by the partner EMBRC, the workshop emphasized practical training in data transformation, quality control, metadata management, and adherence to international publishing standards. Participants engaged in hands-on sessions utilizing tools such as the Darwin Core Extended Measurement or Fact (eMoF) table, the Integrated Publishing Toolkit (IPT) developed by GBIF, and the Quality Control Tool from LifeWatch and EMODnet Biology.
"Participants in the second DTO-BioFlow Data Grants Holders Workshop were actively engaged, asking thoughtful questions during the hands-on sessions and gaining practical insights into how to better transform and share their data, tailored to the unique challenges of their own datasets.” Lynn Delgat (Biodiversity Data Manager at VLIZ)
Beyond technical training, the workshop fostered collaboration among diverse institutions, each bringing unique expertise and regional insights. Participants shared experiences and challenges, united by the common goal of enhancing marine biodiversity data accessibility and interoperability.
To extend the workshop's impact, interviews with each project team were conducted, offering deeper insights into their research and data-sharing efforts. These interviews will soon be available on the DTO-BioFlow website and YouTube channel, providing valuable perspectives to the broader marine science community.
Looking ahead, DTO-BioFlow is developing comprehensive training materials and an Onboarding Kit aimed at supporting a wider range of data providers. These resources will offer practical guidance for aligning datasets with international standards, ensuring their readiness for integration into the DTO framework.
"We were very happy to have such interesting projects in this second call for Grants Holders. We are hoping that, moving further, all researchers and scientists will be able to use the DTO-BioFlow Onboarding Kit and contribute their datasets to EMODnet Biology and the EU DTO" – Christina Pavloudi (Data Scientist at EMBRC and main organiser of the event)
As the project progresses, further initiatives will be launched to engage additional data providers, fostering a more comprehensive and accessible marine data landscape.
For more information and updates, visit the DTO-BioFlow website and subscribe to our newsletter.
