Open Science Data Repository Analysis Working Groups
How does life that’s evolved here on Earth react to the radiation-rich, gravity-poor environment of space? It’s an important question to ask before we send people to Mars or anywhere else in the solar system. The Open Science Data Repository Analysis Working Groups (OSDR AWGs) are teams of people - scientists, students, and members of the public - working together to answer this question.
The nine Analysis Working Groups examine data from NASA missions and space experiments collected in the Open Science Data Repository (OSDR). These teams use the data to answer questions in basic science, applied science, and health outcomes for space exploration. Dozens of project groups are active at any time.
The OSDR provides free and open data analysis/visualization tools for anyone to use, and free, open, on-demand trainings for youth, students, and the public to learn bioinformatics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning for space biology. Your ideas and collaborative research may enable the next breakthrough to help life thrive in deep space!
ages
18 and up
division
Biological and Physical Sciences
where
Online
launched
2018
What you’ll do
The Analysis Working Groups (AWG) have two main activities:
- Provide feedback on scientific standards that support reuse of data related to life in space.
- Mine and reuse OSDR data to conduct scientific analysis to learn more from the valuable datasets in it.
Requirements
- Time: Varies. All AWGs have monthly calls. There are sub-group project meetings as well. Depending on interest and expertise, members likely do ~5 hours of activity (writing, coding, analyzing data) between meetings.
- Equipment: Internet-connected computer.
- Knowledge: None required. Familiarity with data engineering, statistics, coding, space biology literature is very helpful. There are tutorials here: https://osdr-tutorials.readthedocs.io/en/latest/, and various open trainings available to AWG members (see below).
Get started!
Not sure you’re ready? Check out the training resources below.
Learn More
There is a ‘Forum-Space’ for OSDR AWG members to collaborate, find projects, chat with one another, ask questions, and post/find opportunities. Here is the Forum-Space Homepage and pinned top post is the maintained list of all current projects. The About page on this site has lots of information and links to resources.
In addition to the OSDR tutorials that cover the basics of accessing and navigating the repository, there are some special resources for learners. GeneLab for High Schools is a summer intensive internship for high school students that introduces space biology and bioinformatics analysis methods. Visit the link for information on this year’s offerings.
Past teachers who have participated as interns in this course alongside students have created curricular materials — units, worksheets, and supporting activities — to support classroom participation in space biology using OSDR. Click here for the teacher-created lessons. GeneLab for Colleges and Universities and Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML) in Space Biology trainings are also available as free, open-access, on-demand courses designed to support skill development.
Get to know the people of the Open Science Data Repository Analysis Working Group
