EarthCube Workshop: Implementing the Sparrow data management system in Geochronology and Geochemistry labs

Prior to GSA 2021: October 9, 9-4pm, Multnomah Room, Hyatt Regency Hotel (Portland, OR), or remotely by Zoom (link on request).

The NSF Earthcube-supported Sparrow laboratory information management software (https://sparrow-data.org, https://github.com/EarthCubeGeochron/Sparrow) is the centerpiece of an effort to support geochronology and geochemistry labs with software to manage analytical data products, curate metadata (e.g. sample geological context and publication information), and disseminate results to archival data facilities (e.g., Geochron.org, Macrostrat, and Neotoma) and end users throughout the wider geoscience community.

The Sparrow data system is designed to be maintained within an individual lab to assist with stewardship of its data archive. Sparrow provides visibility into archived data, a standard interface for data access, and robust compliance with dissemination and reporting requirements (e.g., NSF data management requirements and “FAIR” practices). It is designed to sit atop and augment existing lab analytical pipelines (see graphic). Currently, ten implementations of Sparrow are being constructed across domains of geochronology and geochemistry, including U-Pb, cosmogenic nuclide, 40Ar/39Ar, (U+Th)/He, SIMS, EPMA, AMS, and optically-stimulated luminescence facilities.

We are hosting a one-day workshop before GSA 2021 (Portland) to help labs that are implementing, or seeking to implement, Sparrow in their workflows. This workshop will be focused on bringing together users to discuss technical aspects of working with Sparrow, such as installing the software, building import pipelines, and creating plugins for lab-specific functionality. We will also solicit feedback on the structure, design, and usability of the Sparrow system.

The workshop will consist of informal discussions and troubleshooting around several topics:

  1. Troubleshooting in-development Sparrow instances
  1. Installing the software in a lab
  2. Building data import pipelines
  3. Plugins for data management and visualization
  1. Soliciting feedback on Sparrow’s structure
  1. Data schema, unique identifiers, and output formats
  2. Design and usability of the web management interface
  1. Discuss and prioritize next steps
  1. Development and integration with other systems (e.g., SESAR/IGSN, StraboSpot, Macrostrat, Neotoma)
  2. Sustainability and ongoing support

The workshop will take place at the Hyatt Regency Hotel associated with GSA in Portland, OR, in the Multnomah Room. We will also support remote participation, with videoconferencing by Zoom and active Slack channels for questions and feedback. Attendance will be open to all interested parties; please contact Daven Quinn (daven.quinn@wisc.edu) if you plan to attend.

Support: NSF EAR-1740694

Principal Investigators:

Brad S. Singer        bsinger@wisc.edu         UW-Madison

Shanan Peters        peters@wisc.edu         UW-Madison

Shaun Marcott        smarcott@wisc.edu         UW-Madison

Jack Williams        jwwilliams1@wisc.edu         UW-Madison

Stephen Meyers         smeyers@geology.wisc.edu         UW-Madison

Simon Goring        goring@wisc.edu         UW-Madison

George Gehrels        ggehrels@email.arizona.edu        U. Arizona

Jake Ross        jake.ross@nmt.edu        NM Tech

Mark Schmitz        markschmitz@boisestate.edu         Boise State