This part of the course aims to contribute to enhancing the capacity to plan and implement biodiversity data digitization efforts effectively and according to GBIF Standards. It will have a strong focus on the technical aspects of data mobilization — in particular everything related to the data lifecycle: planning, collation/collection digitization, management and online publishing in order to increase the amount, richness and quality of the data published through the GBIF network to enable biodiversity data holders to publish data in freely accessible formats for effective use of biodiversity data in conservation and socio-economic decision making. The event will have online and onsite components and both will have a strong practical approach including a significant component of group work.

• Learn key concepts of biodiversity informatics, particular to biodiversity digital data management
• Introduction to the Darwin Core Standard and its components
• Learn to understand the different stages for planning a digitization project and how to adapt them to a specific project
• Learn to identify the type of data and how to best digitize relevant information using best practices and existing tools and techniques
• Learn the basic tools and concepts used for data validation and cleaning
• Learn the process of making biodiversity data freely available online, also known as data publishing, utilizing GBIF’s Integrated Publishing Toolkit (IPT)
• Learning outcomes
• At the end of the workshop participants will be able to:
• Develop a data mobilization strategy customized to a given institutional framework
• Apply a model to build a data mobilization strategy and the associated digitization protocols
• Evaluate a data mobilization strategy to identify potential gaps, inefficiencies and pitfalls
• Apply a digitization protocol to produce digital biodiversity data from analogue sources
• Use software tools designed to facilitate biodiversity data digitization
• Apply data cleaning protocols to evaluate and increase the fitness for use of a biodiversity dataset
• Use software tools to evaluate the fitness-for-use of a biodiversity dataset
• Use software tools designed for (biodiversity) data cleaning
• Apply a biodiversity data publishing mechanism
• Define the publishable data types and subtypes (if any) for a biodiversity dataset
• Use the GBIF IPT to publish biodiversity datasets using the appropriate extensions
• Capacitate others in the digitization, management and publishing of biodiversity data

Prerequisites
To make best use of the activities around this workshop, the participants should possess the following skills and knowledge:

• Basic skills in computer and Internet use, and in particular in the use of spreadsheets, databases, and tools for geographical data representation (e.g. Google maps, GIS software)
• Basic knowledge about geography and biodiversity informatics: geography and mapping concepts, basic taxonomy and nomenclature rules, and basic knowledge about GBIF and other relevant initiatives working in biodiversity informatics
• Willingness to disseminate the knowledge learned in the workshop with other partners by adapting the biodiversity data mobilization training materials to specific contexts and languages maintaining their instructional value

Participants 
A maximum of 15 (fifteen) Participants will be admitted 

Costs
The project will cover mid day tea/coffee, lunch and refreshments during sessions ONLY

Workshop Dates
30th January – 1st February 2019

Mode of Application
Interested candidate are required to send motivation letter to indicate their relevancy and potentiality to undertake this course. Please send your application to munishi@sua.ac.tz with a copy to paulo.lyimo@sua.ac.tz
Postgraduate students in Ecosystems and Natural Resources Management are highly encouraged to apply

Application Deadline
27th January, 2019

For more information please contact
Prof. PKT Munishi - Project coordinator 
Email: pmunishi2001@yahoo.com or munishi@sua.ac.tz, 
Mobile phone: +2557 54 591 849

Mr. Paulo Lyimo:  email: paulo.lyimo@sua.ac.tz. 
Mobile phone+255 754 216031