Workforce Capacity Development and the Digital Extended Specimen

As we look to the future of natural history collections and a global integration biodiversity data, are reliant on diverse workforce with skills necessary build, grow, support tools, resources Digital Extended Specimen (DES; Webster 2019, Lendemer et al. 2020, Hardisty 2020). Future “DES Data Curators” – those who will be charged maintaining created through DES require beyond what is currently available most staff. In training have an opportunity broaden our community ensure that, expansion landscape itself diverse, equitable, inclusive, accessible. A fully-implemented provide that encapsulates capacity building, development, unifying protocols best practices guidance, cutting-edge technology also creates accessible systems, workflows, communities. members current workforce, can leverage knowledge develop innovative models that: include range educational settings modalities; address needs new communities not engaged digital data; from their onset, attribution for past work do perpetuate legacy colonial historic inequalities found in many physical collections. Recent reports Biodiversity Collections Network (BCoN 2019) National Academies Science, Engineering Medicine (National Sciences, Engineering, 2020) specifically DES. To inclusivity within context data integration, Alliance Knowledge included topic Workforce development Phase 2 consultation Converging Specimens - Towards specification integration. Across these efforts, several common themes emerged relative call assessment: community, unknowns related needs. We would benefit baseline assessment professionals define job responsibilities, demographics, education training, incentives, compensation, benefits. This includes evaluation employment prospects opportunities. Defined 21st century professional: need proactive implementation When content create appropriate opportunities scalable materials relevant skills, across network, guidance professionals. Training end-users: train end-users science at all levels formal informal primary secondary existing workforce. developing materials, creating portals, building analyses accessible, engage educators, scientists, researchers. Foster professional workforce: develops tools emerge, intentional commitment assuring access equitable. establishing providing accessing inclusive representative potential providers users. Upfront, must acknowledge issues while ensuring legal regulatory compliance. Efforts transparent linkages among humans drives this presentation, highlight recommendations equitable take into account requirements flexible meet evolving field.