A conceptual approach to developing biodiversity informatics as a field of science in South Africa

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution

Ecology and Evolution

Mark J. Gibbons¹  Douglas M. Harebottle²  Fatima Parker-Allie³ 

[1] Biodiversity and Conservation Biology Department, Faculty of Natural Science, University of Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa;Risk and Vulnerability Science Centre, School of Natural and Applied Sciences, Sol Plaatje University, Kimberley, South Africa;South African National Biodiversity Institute, Foundational Biodiversity Science, Cape Town, South Africa;Biodiversity and Conservation Biology Department, Faculty of Natural Science, University of Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa;

关键词: biodiversity informatics;    framework;    science–policy interface;    science technology & innovation (STI) policy;    universities & higher education institutions;    capacity development;    training & development;    elearning;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fevo.2023.1107212

 received in 2022-11-24, accepted in 2023-06-14,  发布年份 2023

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

In South Africa, as in other parts of the world, Biodiversity Informatics (BDI) has been identified as a young field of science that lies at the nexus of several disciplines, including informatics, biology and mathematics/statistics. Being such a new and dynamic field, there are challenges in the recruitment, training and retention of personnel that can support inter alia the mobilisation, management, coordination, and utilisation of biodiversity information for key conservation and biodiversity outcomes. The lack of human capital also place at risk the implementation of (e.g.) the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), and hinders attainment of the Convention on Biological Diversity post-2020 framework targets. There is a clear demand for broad efforts to build human capital in the field. Using our experiences in South Africa, we provide a framework for establishing BDI as a field of science in developing countries and look at the potential building blocks towards this broad objective, including the need and requirements for the establishment of a Centre for BDI. We explore this concept against a backdrop of the South African government’s 2019 White Paper on Science, Technology and Innovation, and the associated Decadal Plan, both developed under the auspices of the Department of Science and Innovation. We also reflect on efforts in the broader landscape to look at the establishment of BDI curricula.

【 授权许可】

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Copyright © 2023 Parker-Allie, Gibbons and Harebottle