A Semantics for FAIR Data Interoperability Course

Provided by Phortos Consultants

In collaboration with the GO FAIR Foundation

IMPORTANT NOTE: Per request of potential participants we now offer the possibility of attending only part of the course: Day 1 - 3 for Ontology Modeling or day 4 - 5 for Semantic modeling and FAIR Data. (Press Tickets button to see details).

Introduction

FAIR Data is data that is Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable by computers. In order to achieve this, data should go through a FAIRification process. This course provides an introduction to the first course about FAIRification of (research) data as part of FAIR good practice in Data Stewardship. The course is aimed at information technology and data experts currently employed at research institutions and data intensive organisations and companies. The FAIR data approach has already impacted both academic and industrial research practices, and has been endorsed by the European Commission, the World Economic Forum, the G7 as well numerous national organizations, as well as the World Economic Forum and the G7 largest economies in the world.

What this course delivers

This course provides a solid introduction to the subjects related to semantics in FAIR. It starts with the basics of ontology-driven conceptual modeling providing the foundational knowledge for creating good conceptual models/ontologies. Once the ontologies are created and validated using a foundational ontology language the participants will learn how to make them computer-actionable using Semantic Web technologies such as OWL/RDF. Then the participants will learn how to semantically enrich and make data linkable by applying the ontologies to data. In addition, defining validation rules for the datasets are taught allowing for the data to be validated against both the syntax and semantics. Lastly the course will introduce the FAIR metadata approach so the FAIR/RDF data will be well described with their metadata.

Who should take the course

This course aims at data scientists in interdisciplinary teams within large organisation who are dealing with an ever growing complexity of data integration. Currently data technicians/ICTers spend between 70 and 80 percent of their time on data wrangling such as, dealing with format issues, identifiers, ontologies, etc. massaging the data so that it is ready for big data analysis. For larger organisations choosing to GO FAIR, Integration and re-use of datasets becomes less labor intensive, leaving more time to dive into more complex data analysis. However, the FAIR data approach requires tight collaboration between domain experts, computer scientists and FAIR data experts.

This course is intended for members of such teams in data intensive organisations or consultants who work in the field of change management or big-data trajectories, for example domain experts, ICT specialist / programmer, statistician, data scientist, data Modeler, Data Architect, Systems Architect, IT Executives, Project Managers, A.I. specialists, database Architects.

Background and context

FAIR Data aims at improving findability, accessibility, interoperability and Re-use of data. Due to the increase of volume and complexity of data, researchers and data analysts rely on automated support to be able to integrate and analyse these data in order to answer complex (research) questions.

A key aspect in this whole process is automated data interoperability, even when data were created in very different format, in different languages, and (as is more often the case) in different research domains. During the data integration activity, we need to identify the integration points, i.e., the parts of one dataset that can be related to other datasets so the end result will be a combined dataset where information has been contributed from different datasets and present more comprehensive understanding of a given subject. To achieve general, automated, interoperability of data, we make explicit the intended meaning for data elements, relations and constraints using semantic approaches fortified with GO FAIR community-based standards.

Prerequisite skills and prepping materials

It is helpful if the participants have ICT skills and basic programming skills.

• The original FAIR data paper, published in Nature’s Scientific Data, March 2016

• Information on the FAIR metrics

• Metrics Group

• The paper

• GO FAIR Initiative

• The EOSC HLEG report, published by the European Commission, 11 October 2016

• Cloudy, increasingly FAIR, published in Information Services & Use, March 2017

• The EOSC declaration, published by the Commission 26 October 2017 and strongly endorsed by GO FAIR

• FAIR Data Stewardship

• Data stewardship Wizard

The course schedule

Cost and logistics

• Cost $4,250 (which is approximately €3.500) per participant which includes:

• 5 days in class (32 hrs)

• Coffee, tea, refreshments and lunch (5 days)

• Access to course materials

• Certificate of Attendance

• NOT INCLUDED: travel costs, lodging, breakfast and dinner (see FAQ for more info)

• Venue: The GO FAIR International Office

• Poortgebouw

• Rijnsburgerweg 10

• 2333 AA Leiden

• The Netherlands

Frequently asked questions:

1. Can I transfer my ticket to some one else when I cannot attend?

Yes as long as you let us know no later than two days before the event starts.

2. Are lodging and breakfast included in the price?

No but we have a special deal with the Leiden City Resort hotel for €116 per night including breakfast: use the following code when you book: GOFAIR18. The hotel is next door to the venue (a 2 minute walk only).

Booking instructions:

1. Go to the website www.cityresorthotelleiden.nl

2. Click in the upper right corner on ‘Book now’

3. Select ‘Book a room’

4. If necessary adjust ‘Number of Persons’

5. Click on ‘Add code’

6. Select Rate Access/Corporate Code (GOFAIR18)

7. Enter the ‘Unique Company Code’ in the line below’ Rate Access/ Corporate Code’ and click on ‘Update

guests & rooms’

8. Select arrival and departure date and click on ‘Book’

9. Please fill out the ‘Company E-mail address’. As soon as the booking has been completed the

confirmation will be send by e-mail.