The Ocean Biodiversity Information System (OBIS) is the most comprehensive gateway to the world’s ocean biodiversity and biogeographic data and information. OBIS provides open access to this quality-controlled data that adhere to biodiversity standards (Darwin Core, EML). This course will teach you step by step the basics for how to format and publish datasets according to these standards so that you may contribute to OBIS, and adopt best practices in the management of marine life data. This training course is self-guided and designed to teach learners how to structure datasets to contribute to OBIS. The course will guide users step-by-step through the OBIS data life cycle, including: identifying an appropriate data structure, applying Darwin Core Archive formatting, conducting quality control steps, publishing data, and accessing data from OBIS. 

Learning goals

• Describe the OBIS data life cycle
• Restructure a flat dataset into a Darwin Core-Archive format, following OBIS best practices
• Identify appropriate Biodiversity Information Standards (TDWG) vocabulary for your dataset
• Interpret and resolve quality control flags
• Publish data and metadata on an IPT
• Obtain OBIS data from the Mapper tool, R, API

Target audience

OBIS nodes

Learner assessment

This is a self-taught course that includes quizzes designed to help learners assess their own learning at regular intervals. In order to successfully complete the course and award a Certificate at the end, the following is mandatory:

• complete all lessons in each Module of the course;
• complete all quizzes (80% minimum score for each quiz, unlimited attempts for each quiz, 30-minute time limit for each attempt);
• submit the assignments and receive a minimum grade of 80% or 'satisfactory' according to the exercise type.

Note: filling in the course feedback survey is mandatory to obtain the course certificate.

Pre-requisites:

• a working knowledge of English
• background knowledge in biological and marine sciences
• basic computer skills (either Windows or Mac systems)
• the ability to be self-directed in learning new technology skills (e.g. following a step-by-step tutorial, online video help, or access to support to learn necessary skills)

Technology requirements

To complete this course, participants should have access to:

• Latest version of either Chrome, Edge, Firefox, or Safari web browsers
• Access to internet
• Familiarity with manipulating data in Excel
• Familiarity with R an asset 
• Finding resources through search engines
• Downloading and installing software

Course duration and format

The course is an ongoing capacity development activity of OBIS. It is available on a continuos basis for OBIS nodes and related community under invitation, since 17 February 2024. Note the end-date as 31 December 2025 is only for reporting, to be reopened every year.

The estimated time to complete the self-paced course is approximately 32 hours.

How to enrol

If you are a member of an OBIS node, please contact OBIS secretariat (helpdesk@obis.org) for instructions on how to enroll.

There are no tuition fees. 

UNESCO is committed to promote equal access principles.

Feedback survey

At the end of the course, you will be asked to fill out a feedback survey. This information will be used to improve future courses.