Los Baños, Philippines – The International Rice Research Institute Sustainable Impact through Rice based Systems Department (IRRI SIRS) has taken a significant step toward enhancing data reusability and accessibility with a recent workshop focused on FAIR data principles. The Data Enablement and Stewardship for Knowledge exchange (DESK) committee, headed by Ando Radanielson,  spearheading the initiative, brought together over 20 data managers, curators, and collectors from the department to evaluate and improve the FAIRness of their research datasets.  

"Data is the most valuable asset, that made significant impact in decision making," emphasized by Dr. Val Pede, IRRI's TPI Unit head, in his opening remarks, highlighting the critical role of data in informed decision-making.

The workshop underscored IRRI's vision of creating a "One Stop Shop for Data" across various sectors. Joy Gimena,  IRRI's IT Head, during her Digital and Data Strategic Overview presentation, stressed that achieving this ambitious goal necessitates strategic planning, prioritization, and sustained institutional investment. She outlined IRRI's broader data objectives, including leveraging data for integrated science and global insights, improving internal efficiencies, and establishing an enabling environment with robust data guidelines and management.

A key highlight of the workshop was the hands-on self-assessment and scoring of datasets available on the SIRS data management platform. Participants used a dedicated scoring sheet to evaluate the FAIRness of various datasets, aiming to ensure adherence to data management best practices.  Future steps include training on data ontologies, and policy development for data sharing.

Mike Rayco further elaborated on the IKS Data Program, reinforcing the need for a "One Stop Shop for Data" and an enabling environment with clear data sharing guidelines and storage management.

Dehner de Leon who organized and facilitated the workshop  showcased two web platforms that was released for use by the departmental staff.  The desk.irri.org is more on an internal platform and the updated Farm Household survey database for open access.  

The self-assessment revealed that while the platform was established, most datasets scored low on FAIRness. Notably, there was a recognized need for more data related to agronomy, environmental factors, and gender. Data owners are now committed to diligently supplying comprehensive metadata to achieve higher FAIR scores.

The workshop was deemed a resounding success, effectively bridging the gap in data reusability. Participants are committed to institutionalizing their research data, with SIRS leading the way in data management practices. The insights gained will drive future efforts to enhance data stewardship and knowledge exchange within IRRI.

IRRI SIRS Data Management team (DESK) hosts Google Earth Engine Training for Researchers

January 23, 2025, by: Dehner M. De Leon

The International Rice Research Institute's (IRRI) Sustainable Impact through Rice-based Systems (SIRS) Data Management team held a one-day training program on Google Earth Engine (GEE) on January 23, 2025, at the Drilon Conference Room in IRRI Headquarters, Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines. The training aimed to empower researchers with the knowledge and skills to utilize GEE for advanced geospatial analysis and data visualization.  

Eleven participants from various units within the SIRS department attended the training. The program was led by Arnel B. Rala, a Sr. Associate Scientist specialization in geoinformatics, digital agriculture and precision farming under the Digital Spatial Landscapes unit,  a GEE expert, and covered a comprehensive curriculum including an introduction to GEE, coding activities, and hands-on exercises. Participants learned how to register or create a cloud project, familiarize themselves with the GEE code editor, compile geospatial datasets, extract datasets available from GEE, and aggregate with the primary dataset. The training also included a preview of in-house java scripts such as monthly maximum NDVI and rainfall pentad,  and and how to visualize the dataset. 

The workshop emphasized the importance of data accessibility of massive data catalog, cloud based processing, and javacript API. By providing researchers with GEE skills, IRRI SIRS aims to enhance data analysis, improve decision-making, and support research efforts.  

The IRRI Sustainable Impact through Rice-Based Systems Department (SIRS) Department just concluded its Data Science and R training, equipping more than 20 IRRI SIRS staff members with the essential data skills organized by the DESK committee (Data Enablement and Stewardship for Knowledge exchange at SIRS Department), the training aimed to harness the power of data and R programming for effective analysis and visualization.

The face-to-face training was held last October 1-2, 2024 at IRRI HQ Drilon, featured expert instructors Bert Lenaerts, Data Scientist, Post Doctoral Fellow and Impact Opportunities Portal Lead from IRRI and Hari Sankar Nayak, a Postdoctoral Associate at the Cornell College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, shared their expertise in data management, preprocessing, quantitative analysis, visualizations, and practical hands-on sessions using real data from participants. The training successfully empowered SIRS staff to utilize data effectively, enhancing their ability to make informed decisions and drive research excellence within the department.

The SIRS Data Enablement and Stewardship for Knowledge and exchange (DESK) Committee is chaired by Ando Radanielson, co-chaired by Anton Urfels, and the workshop was organized and facilitated by Dehner De Leon Leon.

IRRI SIRS Department Embraces GIS Skills

October 10-11, 2024, by: Dehner M. De Leon

The IRRI SIRS Department staff recently concluded a successful Basic GIS Training using QGIS last October 10-11, 2024. The training aimed to equip 10 participants with the essential GIS skills to enhance their work and contribute to the department’s goals. Organized by DESK Committee in partnership with the Landscapes unit, the two-day training covered a comprehensive range of topics, starting with an introduction to GIS concepts and the use of QGIS software.

Participants learned about data management techniques, including importing, exporting, manipulating various geospatial data formats, and data visualization and map layout. One of the highlights of the training was the opportunity for participants to practice their skills through hands-on exercises. By using their own data, (e.g. farm household survey data, climate data, and other remote sensed data) participants gained practical experience thus showcasing their map layout skills by presenting the maps they’ve generated using QGIS. The variety of maps demonstrated the diverse applications of GIS within the SIRS Department.

This free training was part of DESK’s ongoing commitment to knowledge sharing and capacity building within the organization. By providing access to valuable GIS skills, DESK is empowering SIRS staff to make informed decisions and contribute more effectively to their work.

The 1st SIRS Data Management Practices Workshop held at the IRRI Headquarters in Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines, on April 12, 2024, was a pivotal event aimed at enhancing data enablement and stewardship within the Sustainable Impact through Rice-based Systems (SIRS) Department in collaboration with RBI and RMQA. The workshop's primary objectives were to delve into the FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) of research data and to unify Research Data Management Guidelines across the department.  Dr. Virender Kumar Deputy head of the SIRS Department. stated that "Data is our currency and it is important! We have to bring modern approaches in Data Management to maximize its full potential."

Sessions on Data Lifecycle Management, Data Management Plans, and sharing best practices from various units within the department provided participants with valuable insights and practical knowledge. Some innovative platforms and systems in place that practiced good data management were showcased from climate farming systems, farm household survey database, breeding analytics, market Intelligence, geo spatial information systems, to agronomy solutions.  The workshop covered a wide array of topics essential for effective data management. 

33 participants had the opportunity to engage in group activities, discussions, and presentations, fostering a collaborative environment conducive to learning and knowledge exchange. The workshop emphasized the importance of utilizing Data Management Plans and adhering to established guidelines to ensure that research data is not only well-managed but also discoverable and reusable.

By the end of the workshop, attendees gained a deeper understanding of the significance of proper data management practices and the value of harmonizing guidelines within the SIRS Department. The event not only facilitated skill development but also promoted a culture of data stewardship and collaboration among participants, setting the stage for enhanced research outcomes and data-driven decision-making within the department.

The SIRS Data Enablement and Stewardship for Knowledge and exchange (DESK) Committee is chaired by Ando Radanielson, co-chaired by Anton Urfels, and the workshop was facilitated by Dehner De Leon Leon together with Arnel Rala, and Olivyn Angeles.  

IRRI’s Sustainable Impact through Rice-based Systems (SIRS) Department training on IRRI Dataverse

Drilon Conference Room, IRRI HQ,Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines

05 June 2024 (1:15-4:15)

The SIRS Risk Management and Quality Assurance (RMQA) Committee recently organized a half-day workshop on using Harvard Dataverse for researchers within the Department, with the aim of applying the Findable Accessible Interoperable Reusable (FAIR) principles in Research Data Management (RDM).  This workshop was facilitated by the IRRI Dataverse administrator, Enrico Francisco ‘Icoy’ Mercado (IRRI RMQA-RDM), 05 June 2024 at HQ's Drilon Conference Room, on both in-person and online platforms for over 50 participants.

The Harvard Dataverse Repository is a free data repository open to all researchers from any discipline, both inside and outside of the Harvard community, where one can share, archive, cite, access, and explore research data (https://dataverse.harvard.edu/). 

Also present in the workshop was the IRRI RMQA Senior Manager Marichu Bernardo, who provided a brief history of Dataverse use in the institute and how it progressed from 2013 up to the present..  The participants were provided with an overview of the IRRI Dataverse, its elements, and how to navigate through the process of creating a Dataverse account, uploading datasets (with different  access and licensing options), and exploring existing datasets relevant to different research disciplines. The importance of comprehensive metadata was emphasized during the workshop and how these are key for proper documentation and data discovery.. The new Farm Household Survey database was also presented as a good use case, where Dataverse can be used for monitoring re-use of uploaded datasets and data migration. Overall, the workshop empowered the researchers in SIRS Department  who are managing highly variable data types in utilizing the IRRI Dataverse and/or the Harvard Dataverse for making their data assets FAIR and backed up offsite.