Make the most of your research data: FAIR data for marine biologists
Learn how to make your research data go further
In this EMBRC course on FAIR data for the marine sciences, you will learn what it means to make your data FAIR: how to make your data Findable to specialists and non-specialists, how make those data Accessible, how to ensure your data are Interoperable so they can be opened, read, and understood, and what to do to make your data Reusable.
FAIR is not only becoming a requirement set by European and national funding agencies, but by making your data FAIR, you are making it easier for others to find, use, and cite your data; and as an added benefit, data that are FAIR to others are much easier for you to manage yourself! With practical exercises, this course will kick-start you on your FAIR data journey!
This will be a 3-day online taught course.
All materials will be provided online / open access for future trainers to be able to use "back home"
Learning objectives
Designed by VLIZ and UGent, in this 3 day course you will:
- Gain a practical understanding of how to make different types of data FAIR by making them Findable online
- Learn about different ways data can be made Accessible
- How to make data and metadata Interoperable, so that everyone can read and understand them
- Understand how provenance provides Reusability of your data
- Learn how a data management plan can bring that all together
Complemented by interactive sessions, quizzes, and practical exercises for each lesson.
Target audience
Marine biologists, MSc students (+), future data managers and lab technicians, anyone who has experience collecting and managing data
Date
- May 27-28-29, 2026
Location of trainers
- InnovOcean Campus, Oostende, Belgium
Registration
Registration can be done via MarineTraining. Registration will close on March 18, 2026.
The fee is 150 EUR* The course requires a minimum of 10 participants; there is no upper limit.
About VLIZ
The Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) has a mission to strengthen science-based knowledge about our coasts, seas, and the ocean and to share it as widely as possible. Research and development and a wide range of observations are carried out at the Marine Observations Centre, the Marine Robotics Centre, and the Research Division; at the Data Centre, which is running this course, we manage databases (EurOBIS), data systems, data portals (LifeWatch Belgium’s eLab), marine-related standards (WoRMS, Marine Regions), and work towards open and FAIR data. VLIZ is a partner in EMBRC’s EMO BON project, and in the Open Science team we are doing its data management.
More information
- Have a look at the FAIR course flyer
- Download the preliminary syllabus
- For any questions, please contact katrina.exter@vliz.be
* As the online course is taught live from Belgium, Belgian VAT applies. For events, there is no VAT reserve charge.