1. Towards a LifeWatch network in Spain Madrid, 14 July 2009 e-science and technology infrastructure for biodiversity research Wouter Los Coodinator of LifeWatch (University of Amsterdam)

2. Why How Benefits Process Spain

3. Why? some considerations Understanding the complexity of the biodiversity system requires new methods. Novel technologies open up opportunities for developing such methods. Many national and European projects in the last two decades paved the way for major breakthroughs. Researchers are now asking to integrate these developments in a supporting large-scale infrastructure. The time is right to act now.

4. The big questions in biodiversity research Scale Ecosystems Species DNA, proteins and genes Time and evolution

5. But also Biodiversity loss, added to climate change, requires entirely new approaches and mitigation strategies. A scientific challenge.

6. ? What are the impacts of changes in climate, pollution and land/sea-use on biodiversity How do changes affect the provision of ecosystem services Can we adapt to environmental change Where are the thresholds in ecosystem structures and functions How to manage multi-functional land/sea-scapes Which actions to ensure long-term sustainability

7. Experimentation on a few parameters is not enough: Limitations to scaling up results for understanding system properties The biodiversity system is complex and cannot be described by the simple sum of its components and relations LifeWatch adds a new technology to support the generation and analysis of large-scale data-sets on biodiversity. Find patterns and learn processes.

8. This defines an infrastructure with distributed observatories/sensors, interoperable databases, computational capability, and computational capacity. A single portal for researchers, policy makers, industries and public at large Find data and model to analyse statistical relationships Accelerate data capture with new technologies Structure the scientific community with new opportunities for large-scale projects

9. Genes Species Ecosystems Observatories Interoperability Analysis & modelling Applications datafunctions Building blocks of the research infrastructure

10. Architecture Resources Composition E-Infrastructure Users Collaboration Common Exploratory Environment Collaborative Virtual Organisations Data measurements, observations & sensors other infrastructures Statistical software Distributed computing power Analysis and processing Integration of resources Documented, shared workflows Grid computation Semantic annotation

11. Benefits and user groups Basic research Molecular biology Population biology Systematics Ecosystem research Systems biology Computation Economy Basic research Molecular biology Population biology Systematics Ecosystem research Systems biology Computation Economy Applied sciences Nature conservation & management Agriculture Fisheries Epidemiology Pharmacy Biotechnology Applied sciences Nature conservation & management Agriculture Fisheries Epidemiology Pharmacy Biotechnology Other communities EEA and national agencies Engineering comp. Oil & mining industry Insurance Military Information Tech Other communities EEA and national agencies Engineering comp. Oil & mining industry Insurance Military Information Tech

12. A prototype example

13. Year 2012 A Spanish researcher has the innovative idea to combine distributional, genetic, ecological, phylogenetic, earth, and climatic data together in an statistical analysis to “predict” not native species invasions, with special attention to the horizontal transfer of health related parasites to new host species. Year 2013 Our researcher builds a LifeWatch infrastructure work space and attracts dozens of collaborators inventing additional functions. Data providers also jump in. Year 2014 The WHO starts a campaign with a funding programme to sustain the project as a main health service

14. Structuring the scientific community Opportunities for joint large-scale projects and services Feed-back mechanisms with respect to data requirements Prioritising data capture plans Attract new funding LifeWatch is on the ESFRI Roadmap

15. 200820092010 initial decision final decision logistics construction The Life Watch life cycle Earlier projectsConceptionPreparationsConstruction Operation & Evolution 1995 2005200820112014 Political commitment Construction ‘blue print’

16. Coord. Management Coord. Management Publicity & PR Publicity & PR Strategy Legal organisation Legal organisation Financial plan Financial plan Construction policy Construction policy Service plan Service plan Risk & Quality Control Involvement in Construction Involvement in Construction EC funding National funding The Life Watch Preparatory Phase A Policy & Science Board oversees the project Countries Networks of Excellence + National networks

17. Countries Data and National networks User sectors Scientific networks Executive participants Industry International infrastructures Contracting participants Other partners Partnership

18. Countries Data networks User sectors Partnership in the preparatory project Scientific networks Executive participants Industry International infrastructures Contracted participants Other partners Status as per June 2009 19 countries: letter of support for the preparations Up to now, 9 countries selected LifeWatch for their national Road Map 6 of these will start consultations and negotiations

19. Countries Data networks User sectors Scientific networks Executive participants Industry International infrastructures Contracting participants Other partners Partnership Terrestrial LTER sites Marine stationsCollections And a growing number of additional research networks (32 as per June 2009)

20. Distributed research infrastructure The data networks are an important component of the infrastructure. The same holds for related facilities and projects (i.e. GBIF). Financial agreements of countries with LifeWatch should include arrangements for sustained funding of the data networks. Such arrangements are being discussed with governmental authorities and research councils. LifeWatch Applications Analysis/ Modelling Data integration Data management Data generation (digitizing; sampling; sensoring Collection and observation networks Collection and observation networks LTER network and marine stations

21. Legal arrangements for e-Infrastructures Country Legal ERI Distributed site Council regulation Operational relation Subsidiary legal framework

22. Present involvement of Spanish partners CSIC represents Spain in the Policy & Science Board and the Management Committee of the LifeWatch project. Contribution to work packages in the preparatory project Lead of the legal preparations CSIC Universidad Castilla - La Mancha Universidad Rey Juan Carlos Involvement through European networks (AlterNet, LTER-Europe, MARS, CETAF) Spanish GBIF node coordinates European GBIF relations and interfaces with LifeWatch Regional authorities for local investments Interest from the private sector (i.e. MAAT-G company)

23. Opportunities for Spain Scientific community –Expand the national LifeWatch network (with research and industry partners) –Contribute to the LifeWatch development (LifeWatch label), see website –Regional technology centres are in need of “content” Political authorities –Benefit from the economic spin-offs from LifeWatch –Prioritize LifeWatch in the national Roadmap –Become a “founding parent” for the legal establishment –Be prepared to invest (nationally and for the joint European infrastructure)

25. Opportunities for Spain Scientific community –Expand the national LifeWatch network (with research and industry partners) –Contribute to the LifeWatch development (LifeWatch label), see website –Regional technology centres are in need of “content” Political authorities –Benefit from the economic spin-offs from LifeWatch –Prioritize LifeWatch in the national Roadmap –Become a “founding parent” for the legal establishment –Be prepared to invest (nationally and for the joint European infrastructure)

26. Considerations for Spain to take lead Spain is a large country with strong expertise and interest from many stakeholders in LifeWatch. The private sector and the Structural Funds provide opportunities to leverage investments. An example Total LifeWatch investment costs: almost € 400 mln. (including in-kind contributions for data generation). Leadership by Spain might be possible by hosting the headquarters, offering computational capacity and a south-western European LifeWatch Service Centre. Investment contributions of € 60 mln. over 3 years by: (national, regional, local) governments: 3 years x € 7 mln = 21 mln Structural Funds in two priority regions: 3 years x € 10 mln = 30 mln Industry partnering in developments: 3 years x € 3 mln = 9 mln Total = 60 mln

27. Opportunities for Spain Scientific community –Expand the national LifeWatch network (with research and industry partners) –Contribute to the LifeWatch development (LifeWatch label), see website –Regional technology centres are in need of “content” Political authorities –Benefit from the economic spin-offs from LifeWatch –Prioritize LifeWatch in the national Roadmap –Become a “founding parent” for the legal establishment –Be prepared to invest (nationally and for the joint European infrastructure) Administrative authorities –Contribute to the legal counseling group –Get involved in the high-level Stakeholders Committee –Liaise with interested industry –Prepare proposals with regional authorities for investments from the Structural Funds i.e. LifeWatch centres or headquarters in specific regions (initial contact established)

28. Meet the demands of the scientific community - 1 Discovery of biodiversity –Understand biological relations, functional properties, evolutionary and ecological history –New approaches to information integration and knowledge development Biodiversity patterns - mapping hot spots –Compare hotspots by spatial levels, representative taxa and local dynamics –Ecological niche modelling –Phylogenetic weighting in biodiversity mapping Biodiversity processes - monitoring changes –Provide long-term time series of biodiversity changes –Simulate fractal processes –Uncertainty and decision support Linking to remote Earth observation data –Validation of EO data with ground level observations –Inclusion of EO data in models of biodiversity change Discovery of biodiversity –Understand biological relations, functional properties, evolutionary and ecological history –New approaches to information integration and knowledge development Biodiversity patterns - mapping hot spots –Compare hotspots by spatial levels, representative taxa and local dynamics –Ecological niche modelling –Phylogenetic weighting in biodiversity mapping Biodiversity processes - monitoring changes –Provide long-term time series of biodiversity changes –Simulate fractal processes –Uncertainty and decision support Linking to remote Earth observation data –Validation of EO data with ground level observations –Inclusion of EO data in models of biodiversity change

29. Meet the demands of the scientific community - 2 Systems biology –Mine genetic, population, species and ecosystem data –Multi-state dynamics of relations and interactions on spatial and temporal scales –Genetic basis of morphology and functional development Nature conservation and management –Underpin the scientific basis –Solid basis for decisions and monitoring of effects Biodiversity e-Science –Data processing, - integration and interoperability –Semantic web –Workflow management –Distributed computing Systems biology –Mine genetic, population, species and ecosystem data –Multi-state dynamics of relations and interactions on spatial and temporal scales –Genetic basis of morphology and functional development Nature conservation and management –Underpin the scientific basis –Solid basis for decisions and monitoring of effects Biodiversity e-Science –Data processing, - integration and interoperability –Semantic web –Workflow management –Distributed computing

30. In summary LifeWatch is a cost effective tool for research It incorporates mechanisms to improve and speed up research Development of new tools for generic and specific purposes on a scale exceeding the current level of individual (European) projects or networks LifeWatch builds on top of existing networks and initiatives like GBIF, to create added value to the data through interoperability Provision of support for biodiversity observatory networks Digital laboratories offering services with analytical and modelling tools Strengths in Spain Strong biodiversity research communities Major relevant databases Original modelling developments Interest from industry Opportunities to leverage regional investments Potential position to lead LifeWatch Other suggestions?

31. Announce that Spain supports LifeWatch. Opportunity for the Spanish EU presidency 2010. Thank you w.los@uva.nl