A Unified Data Infrastructure for Biological and Environmental Research: Report from the BER Advisory Committee

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In October 2022, the U. S. Department of Energy (DOE) Biological and Environmental Research (BER) program’s Advisory Committee (BERAC) received a charge letter from the DOE Office of Science director requesting a review of existing capabilities in data management and infrastructure relevant to BER science. The charge also requested a recommended strategy for next-generation data management and analysis within a unified framework. Further goals included identifying new science opportunities that could be enabled by increased integration of BER’s facilities while considering advances in artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML). The charge asked BERAC to examine synergistic investments within DOE and at other agencies and the impact of a more unified data infrastructure on the scientific workforce. To address these goals, the appointed subcommittee established five working groups focusing on (1) environmental science; (2) biological science; (3) diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility; (4) BER data services; and (5) unified data infrastructure and artificial intelligence. The subcommittee organized a two-day virtual community workshop that included discussions on new unified data infrastructure–enabled science opportunities, barriers to broader inclusion of minorities, support for early career scientists, and potential unified data infrastructure solutions for BER. This report details the findings of the BERAC subcommittee.

Suggested Citation: BERAC. 2024. A Unified Data Infrastructure for Biological and Environmental Research: Report from the BER Advisory Committee, DOE/SC-0214. Biological and Environmental Research Advisory Committee. https://doi.org/10.2172/2331276.