More than 90 Implementation Network representatives gathered in the Netherlands to find out about ways to sync their FAIR endeavours.

The GO FAIR International Support and Coordination Office hosted the first annual meeting of GO FAIR Implementation Networks (INs) on January 15-16, 2019 in Leiden, The Netherlands. This meeting aimed at bringing together the communities behind the GO FAIR INs to get to know each other and discover possible ways to sync their FAIR endeavours. The participants came from all across Europe and beyond, and were members of 22 GO FAIR INs in different stages of development and ranging from science to the humanities to industry.

Day 1

Introduction to GO FAIR

The meeting started off with a presentation by the staff of the GFISCO in which they delivered a general overview of the GO FAIR initiative including:

• relation of GO FAIR, GFISCO and EOSC
• relation to other initiatives
• FAIR principles
• GO FAIR pillar structure
• Implementation Networks
• Country involvement

See below for the presentation slides (link to pdf file):

It was then followed by short presentations by selected community representatives to demonstrate their involvement in GO FAIR. Natasha Simons presented the the American Geophysical Union’s Enabling FAIR Data project, Inga Tharun and Oya Deniz Beyan the Personal Health Train IN and Simon Coles the Chemistry IN.

Flash presentations by IN representatives

The introductory session was followed by flash presentations (link to pdf file) by the IN representatives in which they provided a high level overview of the topics and main objectives of the respective INs:

Now hands-on!

The focus of the afternoon working session on Day 1 was to seek synergies, overlaps and patterns amongst the different INs. Aiming to accelerate convergence on resources and best practices used by the GO FAIR community, the staff of the GFISCO, in collaboration with the Center for Digital Scholarship at the Leiden University Library, have developed an interactive matrix of IN Profiles. This matrix approach makes explicit the implementation choices and challenges faced by community striving to go FAIR. The IN representatives were asked to provide input and discuss in smaller groups, as needed and as practical. After a lively discussion the groups reconvened, shared their results. It was concluded that the matrix results would become a FAIR and open resource, shared to with the larger community. Participants then signed up for one of four break-out sessions to attend the next day.

Day 2

Active Implementation Networks recognition ceremony

The second day of the meeting began with a ceremony recognizing the active INs with signed manifestos, namely BiodiFAIRse, C2Camp, Chemistry, CO-OPERAS, EcoSoc, GeRDI, NOMAD, OPEDAS, and Rare Diseases. Special recognition went to George Strawn who played a major role in the development of the internet and who brings a lot of inspiration to the GFISCO staff and IN Community.

Let’s get to work!

Following the ceremony participants split into breakout sessions of their choosing: Implementation Choices and Challenges, IN profiling, The Role of Industry, GO TRAIN Pillar. The groups reconvened after the session and shared key outcomes and follow-up plans with the rest of the audience.

Organizing for maximum impact

Before concluding the first IN meeting the staff of GFISCO presented the GO FAIR governance and representatives from the USA and Brazil explained their country’s involvement in GO FAIR. See slides of this presentation (link to pdf file) are available below:

The presentations were followed by discussion on approach towards ‘speaking with one GO FAIR voice’ and several action points were noted by GFISCO.

Vision of the future

George Strawn concluded the first IN meting by sharing his vision of the developing Internet of FAIR Data and Services, as it comes together in upcoming years. His lecture was followed by ample time for Q&As.

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For more GO FAIR material including the GO FAIR flyer click here.

Visit the photo gallery for photos taken during the IN meeting:

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