Support and training in the use of natural history collection data management systems

Benefit description

Technological support and training in biodiversity informatics: Data management of natural history collections, in terms of installation of information systems and databases and management of scientific collections for Centers and Institutes that are implementing new information model. Technological support is provided in: (1) installation of databases for collections on web servers, including those available in CSIC's OpenNebula; (2) training and training for database administrators in the configuration of the Specify system, which can be adapted to the computing needs of the collections of each center or institute. Support for conversion to the Specify 7 model is applicable to any type of natural history collection. It is expressly intended for those Institutes and Centers within the scope of DiSSCo that plan to adopt the Specify7 system or are beginning the process of converting their current databases to this management system. The adoption and use of the Specify collection management system does not in itself have any cost for CSIC or associated centers, as the CSIC is a founding member of the Specify Collections Consortium. We are ¿certified¿ by the Specify Collections Consortium to provide these services to centers that adopt Specify or are considering migrating their databases to Specify. We also act as interlocutors between SpecifyCC and the staff responsible for the collections and for those tasks and services that require direct intervention from the development staff from SpecifyCC. This service is complementary to that offered by the National Museum of Natural Sciences (MNCN) under this same title, within the service of the Computer Management and Collections Digitization Unit (UGID). The units that provide this service act in tandem and cover the needs of data model conversion, installation and management support in a complementary way, so to carry out any activity of this type it is recommended to use them in a coordinated manner. through both benefits. Training workshops and technological support can be adapted to the explicit needs of the center based on their level of adoption of the system: from exploratory, if they are thinking about it, to advanced (e.g. tool optimization) if they are in full production. The training may be entirely online but if desired it can also be offered in part in person at the center's own facilities.