FAIR Tech Registry Developments

In late August, we held an update session regarding the progress of the FAIR Tech Registry since the conclusion of our collabathon on the same subject earlier this year. During that collabathon, we explored the concept of creating a FAIR Tech Registry for developers that is a searchable, curated list of tools and components that comply with FAIR principles, with built-in support structures and requirements for describing what each tool is for, how it interacts with other tools and data, and how it can be utilized or repurposed. 

 

Our most recent session focused on the partnerships and cooperative agreements supporting this work, new developments, community-ready resources for implementing FAIR in practice standards, and next steps for engagement with the FAIR Tech Registry.

 

Watch the recording:

A Closer Look: What are FAIR principles? 

 

The 2016 paper “The FAIR Guiding Principles for scientific data management and stewardship,” defines four principles of good data management to support future data reuse: data must be Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable (FAIR). 

 

Findable: Data must be easy to locate by both people and computers.

 

Accessible: Once data is located, the user must know how to access it. This may include knowing requirements for authentication and authorization of data. 

 

Interoperable: Accessed data should be able to integrate with other data and work with applications for analysis, storage, and processing. 

 

Reusable: This is the ultimate goal of the FAIR principles. Data should be optimized for reuse by being well described in order to be replicated and combined. 

 

If adopted, these principles can increase the capacity of individuals, organizations, and technology systems to collaboratively work with data, and ultimately improve technological innovation. Through the FAIR Tech Registry, we seek to create a curated list of tools and components that comply with these principles. The concept of the FAIR Tech Registry additionally creates a structure for developers to share what they’re doing, illustrate its relevance, and provide avenues for others to build off of individual components in transparent ways. This will make it easier for developers to innovate and develop new projects and technologies that benefit farmers.

 

Read more about FAIR Principles here.