[apologies for cross posting]

GBIF has announced a call for proposals to draft a position paper on the publishing and discovery of, and access to, primary biodiversity data in the form of genomic level observations.

Despite the ubiquity and importance of microbes, they are under-represented in the data published through the GBIF network. The sequencing of microbes directly from environmental samples (known as metagenomics, environmental genomics, ecogenomics, or community genomics) is revolutionising our understanding of microbial diversity in the natural environment and is set to take biodiversity informatics into the data-intensive eScience paradigm characterised by huge volumes of data delivered, in the main, as sensor-generated data streams. In addition, genetic barcoding will be a significant contributor to the genomic “data deluge”, including both observations that can be linked to named specimens as well as “operational taxonomic units” that are not. The focus of this call is on such metagenomic and barcoding data, identifying key activities that will enable GBIF and related communities of practice to participate fully in enabling the sharing and use of such data. Drawing on the needs of the relevant communities, the position paper will provide recommendations and an action plan on how to engage all players in creating a global infrastructure for the publishing and discovery of, and access to, genomic data and, in particular, address issues of interoperability and data integration.

Further information on the call is available on the GBIF news site (http://www.gbif.org/communications/news-and-events/showsingle/article/gbif-position-paper-on-genomic-level-observations/) including instructions for submitting an application.

Please circulate the call to anyone you think may be interested in applying.

With regards,

Éamonn Ó Tuama

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Éamonn Ó Tuama, M.Sc., Ph.D. (eotuama@gbif.org),

Senior Programme Officer, Inventory, Discovery, Access (IDA),

Global Biodiversity Information Facility Secretariat,

Universitetsparken 15, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, DENMARK
Phone:  +45 3532 1494; Fax:  +45 3532 1480