This document summarizes the goals of the "Structuring the biodiversity informatics community at the European level and beyond" conference. The conference aimed to (1) organize and better coordinate the biodiversity informatics community through interactions between top-down and bottom-up efforts, (2) explore opportunities for international cooperation to build a sustainable global e-infrastructure for biodiversity data, and (3) provide networking and demonstrations of new technologies to help deliver the shared vision of an infrastructure that serves both science and society. The outcomes hoped for included increased coordination, knowledge sharing, and commitments to work together to pursue Horizon 2020 funding.

1. Structuring the biodiversity informatics community at the European level and beyond
Biodiversity Informatics Horizons 2013
Welcome, Introduction & Scope
Why are we here? The vision. The outcomes we hope for.
Co-chairs:
Alex Hardisty Dave Roberts Alberto Basset

2. Welcome from the
Sponsoring projects Supporting projects
Italia

3. Eva Alonso
Christos Arvanitidis
Rosa M Badia
Alberto Basset
Palma Blonda
Donatella Castelli
Alastair Culham
Frank Oliver Glöckner
Gregor Hagedorn
Alex Hardisty
Jörg Holetschek
Yde de Jong
Jacco Konijn
Wouter Los
Nikos Manouselis
Matthias Obst
Dave Roberts
Soraya Sierra
Aaike De Wever
Anna-Maria Wremp
Thanks to the Programme Committee
for practically organising
everything for the event

4. Thanks also to
Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, CNR
and
Sapienza Università di Roma
for offering their premises and supporting this event

5. Social media during the conference
h2020.myspecies.info – for coordinating consortia.
Add your organisation. Put your project ideas there.
#BIH13

6. Rules
For speakers For all
Timekeeping! The bell

7. • To organise
ourselves and
coordinate better
– Another step in
the process
– It’s a journey
Why are we here?

8. Decadal View
Whitepaper
March – Oct. 2012
80
Global Biodiversity
Informatics Conf.
July 2012
78
Brussels Roadmap
Workshop, March
2013
57
160+
20
1237

9. • Decadal View
– Getting the basics right
– The next steps
– New tools
– Human interface
• Global Biodiversity Informatics Outlook
– The right culture
– The data we need
– Make data fit for purpose
– From data to science and policy
The vision
An infrastructure to allow the available data to be
brought into a coordinated coupled modelling
environment able to address questions relating to our
use of the natural environment that captures the ‘variety,
distinctiveness and complexity of all life on Earth’.
Outstanding: Organisation, coordination and a step-by-step
roadmap for getting there

10. Structuring bottom-up and top-down interactions and
cooperating across the community is now a critical activity
– Biodiversity and ecosystem services are crucial for a sustainable
planet, and thus for mankind.
– Research Infrastructures based on informatics are fundamental
to understanding ecosystem complexity.
• Bottom-up actions
– Cooperation & commitment of projects (internationally)
– Define infrastructure development with realistic business plans
– Specify what is required and lobby from policy support
• Top-down actions
– Concerted action of RI management and GEO BON orchestration
– G8+5 priority for e-Infrastructures and Environmental
Infrastructures
– Facilitation by the European Commission
Promote
interaction
Based on a slide from W.Los

11. A commonly-shared, sustainable e-Infrastructure that
reliably serves science and society alike
• Invited speakers will:
– Review challenging areas and promising technologies
– Consider pathways to sustainable implementation
– Propose how to change the community culture
• Discussions will focus on:
– Exploring opportunities for international cooperation that lead
towards a sustainable global infrastructure
– Working together towards building a more sustainable future
• Demonstration and training activities
– Provided by some of the FP7 projects associated with the conference
– Delegates will see first-hand some of the new and exciting building
blocks that will come together to deliver the infrastructure vision
• Networking opportunities throughout the conference
Structuring the biodiversity informatics community at the European level and beyond

12. Outcomes from BIH2013
• One-to-one networking across the community
• Up-to-date knowledge of challenges we face
• Strong ideas and consensus on how to sustain the
work we are doing
• Greater commitment to coordinate
• A springboard to form and coordinate consortia to
bid for Horizon 2020 funding.