Advanced technologies and data management practices in environmental science: lessons from academia

Environmental scientists stand uniquely poised to capitalize on recent advancements in technology, computation, and data management, however, it is unknown the degree to which this is occurring. We analyzed survey responses of 445 graduate students in California to evaluate understanding and use of such advances in the environmental sciences. Of students who had completed their degree, 64.3% had completed the data life cycle, 30.5% had archived research data so that it is available online, and 61.4% had no plans to create metadata for research data sets. Roughly one-third of students used an environmental sensor and collaborated with someone outside their expertise. Results varied by students’ research status and by university type. Doing excellent science in this data-intensive age may necessitate greater emphasis by university programs on data management best practices borrowed from information technology, and skills supplemented by unique training opportunities, courses, counsel fro...环境科学研究者具备得天独厚的条件，可充分利用近年来技术、计算与数据管理领域的最新进展，但目前尚不清楚这一优势的实际发挥程度。本研究针对加州445名研究生的调研反馈展开分析，以评估环境科学领域从业者对上述技术进展的认知与应用情况。在已完成学业的研究生中，64.3%的受访者已完整完成数据生命周期流程，30.5%的受访者将研究数据存档并实现线上公开，另有61.4%的受访者未计划为研究数据集创建元数据(metadata)。约三分之一的受访者使用过环境传感器，并与跨专业领域的人员开展过合作。调研结果因受访者的科研阶段与所在院校类型而异。在这个数据密集型的时代开展高质量科研工作，或许需要大学培养方案更加重视借鉴信息技术领域的最佳数据管理实践，并通过特色培训项目、课程与咨询服务等补充相关技能...