Training events on the I-ADOPT Framework for FAIR variables and metadata description

What is inside your RI’s data? Hopefully you know – but how easy is it for your end users to find out? To make good scientific use of data, it is necessary to be absolutely clear on what has been measured or calculated. Just labeling table columns with “SWC_1_1” or “P_sal” is in many cases not precise enough, even for people familiar with your subdomain.

The RDA I-ADOPT framework offers a way to compile clear and unambiguous definitions of variables in a standardised way. It helps you to describe concepts at different levels, ranging from overarching classes (“soil composition”) down to the very detailed (“soil water content, measured in a mineral soil matrix below root depth”). You can create and register your own definitions, or reuse those of others, and once in place use them to tag your RI’s datasets.
The formalized descriptions empower FAIR in many ways, for example by facilitating searches across data portals (F+A) and enabling machine-driven interpretation and use of data and metadata (I+R).

To learn more about the I-ADOPT framework and how your RI can benefit, please join the upcoming ENVRI-FAIR WP6 training events.