Table_1_A conceptual approach to developing biodiversity informatics as a field of science in South Africa.pdf

In South Africa, as in other parts of the world, Biodiversity Informatics (BDI) has been identified as a young field of science that lies at the nexus of several disciplines, including informatics, biology and mathematics/statistics. Being such a new and dynamic field, there are challenges in the recruitment, training and retention of personnel that can support inter alia the mobilisation, management, coordination, and utilisation of biodiversity information for key conservation and biodiversity outcomes. The lack of human capital also place at risk the implementation of (e.g.) the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), and hinders attainment of the Convention on Biological Diversity post-2020 framework targets. There is a clear demand for broad efforts to build human capital in the field. Using our experiences in South Africa, we provide a framework for establishing BDI as a field of science in developing countries and look at the potential building blocks towards this broad objective, including the need and requirements for the establishment of a Centre for BDI. We explore this concept against a backdrop of the South African government’s 2019 White Paper on Science, Technology and Innovation, and the associated Decadal Plan, both developed under the auspices of the Department of Science and Innovation. We also reflect on efforts in the broader landscape to look at the establishment of BDI curricula.

与全球其他地区一样，南非的生物多样性信息学（Biodiversity Informatics，BDI）已被认定为一门新兴交叉科学领域，横跨信息学、生物学以及数学/统计学等多个学科。作为一门新兴且蓬勃发展的领域，该学科在人员招聘、培训与留存方面存在诸多挑战——相关从业人员需能够支撑生物多样性信息的动员、管理、协调与利用等工作，以助力关键保护与生物多样性目标的实现。人力资本的匮乏还会危及《生物多样性和生态系统服务政府间科学政策平台（Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services，IPBES）》等相关项目的落地实施，并阻碍《生物多样性公约》2020年后框架目标的达成。当前，该领域亟需通过系统性举措加强人力资本建设。结合南非的实践经验，本文提出了一套适用于发展中国家的生物多样性信息学学科建设框架，并探讨了实现这一宏观目标的潜在基础要件，其中包括设立生物多样性信息学研究中心的必要性与具体要求。本文以南非科学与创新部主导制定的《2019年南非科学、技术与创新白皮书》及配套的十年规划为背景，对上述构想展开探讨。此外，本文还回顾了全球范围内推动生物多样性信息学课程体系建设的相关实践。