A quick introduction to DiSSCo TransitionWHAT'S NEXT FOR DISSCO?Entering the Transition Phase of DiSSCo RI
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Few among us would disagree that the Preparatory Phase of DiSSCo has been one hell of a ride, but life goes on and so must we. It’s time to cross the gate and step into the new thing, our new baby: DiSSCo Transition!
Wait... DiSSCo Transition? Aren't we done yet?
Well, no. DiSSCo still needs a few more years to be operative. After the Preparatory phase, we have entered a new stretch of the road where some important developments will (hopefully!) get us ready to start the Construction phase of DiSSCo. So you could say that DiSSCo Transtition is the thing in between. The middle child. The second movement. The hinge. The green stuff in the sandwich. The... well, you get it!
Well, no. DiSSCo still needs a few more years to be operative. After the Preparatory phase, we have entered a new stretch of the road where some important developments will (hopefully!) get us ready to start the Construction phase of DiSSCo. So you could say that DiSSCo Transtition is the thing in between. The middle child. The second movement. The hinge. The green stuff in the sandwich. The... well, you get it!
Before we start, let's give honour where honour is due. If you take a look back at the almost five years of DiSSCo's Preparatory phase, you will see that we have achieved a lot in the technical, data, financial, organisational and legal aspects of DiSSCo. None of these would have been possible without 3 amazing projects linked to DiSSCo - DiSSCo Prepare, SYNTHESYS+ and Mobilise.
A celebration of DiSSCo: DiSSCo Futures
If you are reading this, chances are that you know these three projects' merits better than you know your Netflix menu, but if you want to go deep into what DiSSCo Prepare, SYNTHESYS+ and Mobilise have meant for DiSSCo, you should revisit DiSSCo Futures.
DF was, first and foremost, a celebration of these projects but also a joint exercise to look ahead at DiSSCo Transition's challenges and opportunities. Don't miss the event's programme and the recordings of all sessions.
DF was, first and foremost, a celebration of these projects but also a joint exercise to look ahead at DiSSCo Transition's challenges and opportunities. Don't miss the event's programme and the recordings of all sessions.
Let it go, let it go...!
Just in case you are wondering, nope, the three DiSSCo-linked projects are not the only thing we will miss in the new phase. In fact, a whole lot of things are meant to change during DiSSCo Transition, from the way we govern ourselves to how we interact with other RIs and organisations in our same space, and even the priorities of our technical efforts. Let's take a look at all this.
In a way, DiSSCo Transition is about refining DiSSCo. During the 1.5 years that the new phase is expected to last, we will fine tune some of our operations and create new ones to achieve four main goals:
- Advance the DiSSCo ERIC process
- Engage and support DiSSCo National Nodes
- Advance the development of core e-services
- Foster international collaboration in data standards and best practices
1. THE LEGAL STUFF: GETTING THE ERIC
It is very simple, actually: There will never be a Construction phase for DiSSCo unless there is a RI legal entity in place and a bunch of member states committed to funding it. Making sure that this happens is, therefore, one of the top priorities of DiSSCo Transition. And what legal form, you may ask. An ERIC (European Research Infrastructure Consortium). We weighed it against other options during recent iGAs and the ERIc won.
Ok. So you don't know what an ERIC is... Gosh... here!
Ok. So you don't know what an ERIC is... Gosh... here!
The application process for an ERIC requires two things: a ton of documents (statutes, financial provisions, etc.) and a solid agreement among the founding member states.
The good news is that all the hard work that we did during the Preparatory phase in consultations with stakeholders, the National Nodes, the iGA, our TAB and SAB and the Funders Forum got us the consensus to fully develop the corpus of documents for the submission of the ERIC application, so now we have 18 months for completing the documents and facilitate negotiations among member states.
The good news is that all the hard work that we did during the Preparatory phase in consultations with stakeholders, the National Nodes, the iGA, our TAB and SAB and the Funders Forum got us the consensus to fully develop the corpus of documents for the submission of the ERIC application, so now we have 18 months for completing the documents and facilitate negotiations among member states.
2. THE CLUB: ENGAGING NATIONAL NODES
Wait a minute... "Facilitate negotiations among member states". Sounds good, but which member states, exactly?
Well, the best answer to that is "the more the merrier". Securing consistent commitment from a large number of member states is the best way to have a strong DiSSCo for a long, long time, so little wonder that this is also a top priority of DiSSCo Transition!
Well, the best answer to that is "the more the merrier". Securing consistent commitment from a large number of member states is the best way to have a strong DiSSCo for a long, long time, so little wonder that this is also a top priority of DiSSCo Transition!
We have already taken some steps on this too. For example, thanks to our regular National Nodes meetings, we have gathered crucial information about what member states need in areas such as costing, training, research priorities, etc..
DiSSCo Transition will approach NN engagement from a double perspective: 1) working with the national representatives of each node to secure their country's participation in DiSSCo and 2) working with our own community -yes, we are looking at you!- in data provision, assessment, training and more, to foster participation and commitment to the future RI.
DiSSCo Transition will approach NN engagement from a double perspective: 1) working with the national representatives of each node to secure their country's participation in DiSSCo and 2) working with our own community -yes, we are looking at you!- in data provision, assessment, training and more, to foster participation and commitment to the future RI.
3. THE TECH: GOING TO THE CORE
Arguably, one of the most crucial advancements during the Preparatory phase of DiSSCo came via our concerted efforts with international partners to develop the concept of Digital Extended Specimen or DES (surely, you must know about the DES, right?... Right??... Lucky you, there is a binnacle about it).
The DES system of digital twins will become the absolute technical heart of DiSSCo and the platform to further develop a set of core e-services during DiSSCo Transition. Not all services, mind you, but a selection of the ones you know.
The DES system of digital twins will become the absolute technical heart of DiSSCo and the platform to further develop a set of core e-services during DiSSCo Transition. Not all services, mind you, but a selection of the ones you know.
The selection includes our good ol' friend ELViS plus the Unified Curation and Annotation system (renamed DiSSCover), the Collection Digitisation Dashboard (CDD) and the Specimen Data Refinery (SDR).
We have chosen these ones because they are either fundamental for the core data architecture of DiSSCo or at a Technical Readiness Level (TRL) that demands continuous development to avoid accumulating technical debt.
Wait. Technical what?
We have chosen these ones because they are either fundamental for the core data architecture of DiSSCo or at a Technical Readiness Level (TRL) that demands continuous development to avoid accumulating technical debt.
Wait. Technical what?
Technical debt. Put simply, it means that if the development of DiSSCo's core technical infrastructure stops or slows down during DiSSCo Transition, we'll have trouble. The reason is that technological concepts such as the FAIR Digital Object (FDO). which lies at the very basis of DiSSCo, are changing fast and there is a risk that we lose our role as a major driver for the specification process of these concepts.
We must continue work on our pilots and tests before other solutions enter the "market". They might bring their own specifications, resulting in interoperability issues.
We must continue work on our pilots and tests before other solutions enter the "market". They might bring their own specifications, resulting in interoperability issues.
4. MAKING FRIENDS: DATA STANDARDS
Speaking of interoperability. We know that you know that data standards such as Darwin Core, ABCD(EFG), IIIF... are fundamental to ensure interoperability among systems and biodiversity data.
If you read our previous binnacle about DiSSCo architecture, you also know that DiSSCo demanded its own standards, such as MIDS and Latimer Core. The reason for that is that we identified a number of gaps in the existing catalogue of standards that we needed to bridge in order to develop the open Digital Specimen specification (openDS).
If you read our previous binnacle about DiSSCo architecture, you also know that DiSSCo demanded its own standards, such as MIDS and Latimer Core. The reason for that is that we identified a number of gaps in the existing catalogue of standards that we needed to bridge in order to develop the open Digital Specimen specification (openDS).
If you know all this, then you'll understand why continuing the work to develop these standards with our international colleagues and deliver best practices on their implementation in DiSSCo is also a priority area -the fourth one- of DiSSCo Transition.
Among other things, you may expect a number of workshops aiming to increase adoption and address the potential barriers that may exist to adopt and use standards. If you are up to the challenge, we'll invite you!
Among other things, you may expect a number of workshops aiming to increase adoption and address the potential barriers that may exist to adopt and use standards. If you are up to the challenge, we'll invite you!
On a final note, will you give us some feedback?
Also: Enjoy the ride!
Also: Enjoy the ride!
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WHAT'S NEXT FOR DISSCO?
