A new grant from the Research Council of Norway will support a network dedicated to improving how ecological data are shared, used and reused.
The project, Nettverk for åpne økologiske data (Network for Open Ecological Data), brings together research groups at the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), the University of Bergen, the NTNU University Museum, Nord University and the Natural History Museum at the University of Oslo. The project runs during 2026–2027 and is coordinated by NINA.
Making more of open ecological data
Sharing data is only part of the challenge. Researchers also need the skills, documentation and infrastructure to find relevant data, understand their strengths and limitations, and reuse them appropriately.
The network will connect expertise across institutions and strengthen the use of existing infrastructure, particularly the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). Its aim is to support open, transparent and reproducible ecological research and build connections between fundamental research and applied uses of ecological data.
Learning together and developing practical guidance
Through network meetings and open workshops, partners will exchange experience and develop practical guidance on the use and sharing of open ecological data. A key output will be a guide, planned for publication in the NINA Report series and online as a "living" resource, informed by input from researchers and other participants.
The project includes workshops at the Nordic and Norwegian Oikos conferences, alongside an expanded network meeting in Trondheim in 2027 involving researchers, rights holders and environmental management representatives.
An open and inclusive network
Although the project brings together five partner institutions, its activities are intended to benefit the wider ecological research community. Living Norway will be one of the channels used to share news, resources and opportunities to take part.
Further information about activities and opportunities to contribute will be shared on this website.