From Ice Cores to Dinosaurs: Physical Collections Managers' Research Data Curation Perceptions and Behaviors

Abstract

Physical collections provide the tangible objects that when analyzed become data informing all sciences. Physical collection managers aim to make physical objects discoverable, accessible, and reusable. The volume and variety of physical collections acquired, described, and stored across decades, and in some cases centuries, results from large public and private investments. The purpose of this study is to understand the curation perceptions and behaviors of physical collection managers across domains to inform cross-disciplinary research data management. Ten focus groups were conducted with thirty-two participants across several physical collection communities. Participants responded to open-ended questions about the data lifecycle of their physical objects. Results indicated that physical collections attempt to use universal metadata and data storage standards to increase discoverability, but interdisciplinary physical collections and derived data reuse require more investments to increase reusability of these invaluable items. This study concludes with a domain-agnostic discussion of the results to inform investment in cyberinfrastructure tools and services. Author summaryPhysical collections across the life and geosciences provide the tangible objects used to analyze and gain knowledge. There are collection managers in many museums and other information agencies working hard to curate these items in a way to keep them secure for long-term use. This study conducted focus groups with collection managers across several physical collection communities, including anthropology, archaeology, paleontology, ichthyology, herbaria, entomology, herpetology, and geology. Participants discussed their collection management approaches using the stages of the data lifecycle to frame how they make their items discoverable and reusable. Results indicated metadata and data storage standards help increase discoverability, but more work could be done to ensure better interdisciplinary reuse through increased investment and user-informed design of the cyberinfrastructure that preserves and makes available these invaluable items.