From Field to Database: Scientists’ Information Practices for Discovery and Management of Scientific Samples

ABSTRACT Scientific research frequently relies upon material samples (e.g. rocks, fossils, tissue samples, etc.) as a primary element for reference and study. Across disciplines, particularly in the natural sciences, observations made on samples collected in the field or synthesized in the laboratory constitute a critical data resource. Nevertheless, the management of information about and derived from samples (e.g. handwritten field notes, photos, sub‐sampled products, digital data products) remains a significant challenge. Proper curation and archival of this information is crucial to ensuring the reusability of samples, but little is known about what information is most important to researchers seeking to find and reuse samples. In this poster, we present preliminary results of an on‐going study examining the “sample‐seeking behavior” of researchers. Our work directly informs the improvement of sample database architecture and search user interfaces to support scientists in more efficiently discovering useful and usable samples and sample metadata.