2016 GBIF Ebbe Nielsen Challenge now open, seeking innovations for data gaps and biases
The 2016 GBIF Ebbe Nielsen Challenge, which will focus on on understanding, examining and addressing gaps and biases in open-access biodiversity data from the GBIF network, is officially open for submissions.
Individuals and teams now have two months to develop innovative submissions and vie for more than €30,000 in prizes from this incentive competition. Closing date for submissions is 29 September 2016. GBIF will announce first- and second-prize winners—who will receive €20,000 and €5,000, respectively—at its annual Governing Board meeting in Brasília on 26 October 2016.
Targeting geographic, taxonomic, temporal, environmental and other gaps and biases in the available data is one of five priorities outlined in the GBIF 2017-2021 strategic plan, so any entry has the potential to help improve data 'fitness for use' in scientific research and policy. The emphasis on gaps and biases also builds on a growing body of scientific research that explores the topic.
▪ Read the announcement on GBIF.org
▪ Visit the 2016 Ebbe Nielsen Challenge site
About the GBIF Ebbe Nielsen Challenge
Originally created as an annual prize recognizing achievements in biodiversity informatics, this annual innovation prize honours the legacy of Ebbe Nielsen, a principal founder of GBIF who died unexpectedly while en route to the inaugural governing board session in 2001.