The Natural History Museum Data Portal

Area of Science:

• Biodiversity informatics
• Geoscience data management
• Museum data accessibility

Background:

• The Natural History Museum (NHM) possesses extensive global biological and geological data.
• Prior to 2015, NHM data were largely inaccessible, difficult to find, poorly documented, and not interoperable.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a dedicated data portal for surfacing and sharing NHM datasets.
• To provide a sustainable platform encouraging data citation and reuse.
• To inform new digital project management methodologies at NHM.

Main Methods:

• Technical development of a data portal from inception to beta launch.
• Analysis of the portal's first two years of operation.
• Planning for future project development.

Main Results:

• Successful beta launch of the NHM data portal in December 2015.
• The portal development process drove the implementation of data sharing policies.
• The project served as a model for new digital project management at NHM.

Conclusions:

• The NHM data portal enhances the accessibility and usability of critical biodiversity and geological data.
• The project fostered a culture of data sharing within the institution.
• The portal facilitates scientific discovery and promotes data reuse.