Download the Member Node FACT sheet (pdf)
Download the Member Node Partnership Guidelines (pdf)
What is a Member Node?
There are three major components in the DataONE infrastructure
- Coordinating Nodes, which maintain a complete catalog of all data and provide the core DataONE services, including search and discovery;
- Member Nodes, which expose their data and metadata through a common set of interfaces and services; and
- The Investigator Toolkit, which consists of software tools that have either been written or modified to use the services provided by DataONE Coordinating and Member Nodes.
Member Nodes store, manage, and provide access to their digital scientific data holdings. Member Nodes provide metadata describing their data to Coordinating Nodes through the DataONE service interfaces to facilitate discovery and retrieval of the data and metadata within the DataONE Network. Member Nodes provide access to their own data, and may partner with other data holders to provide access to partner's data and metadata. Multiple tiers exist for Member Node participation, starting with implementing the read-only data access methods, allowing organizations to evolve their participation and fulful sponsor requirements. Member Nodes may have direct connection with user communities and encompass a diversity of organizations, institutions, and capabilities.
Benefits of participating as a DataONE Member Node
DataONE Member Node organisations are leaders in environmental science knowledge creation and data stewardship, leveraging domain expertise through networked data services. Member Nodes help to shape the evolution, services, and tools available to the Community from the DataONE network. Significant benefits of participating as a DataONE Member Node are:
- Common methods of access to your data, as well as wider access to and exposure of those data;
- Leverage of existing investment in cyberinfrastructure and related data management practices;
- Cost-effective preservation of data and metadata through the DataONE cyberinfrastructure;
- Access to a larger community with expertise and best practice adoption in data life cycle management;
- Respond to increasing demands by funding agencies for long-term data management planning;
- Provide visibility as a community leader in supporting open and rapid access to scientific data;
- Facilitate recognition and credit for data and services through data citations in published literature;
- Provide opportunities for collaborative research;
- Enhance public understanding of the value of a common model for sharing science data across organizations.
Characteristics of a potential DataONE Member Node organization
- Existing Data Centers within the earth science domain;
- Long-term projects and research activities wishing to share, access, and preserve data;
- Organizations/Institutions establishing data infrastructures to manage research data;
- Organizations with computing and storage capabilities to augment the DataONE cyberinfrastructure;
- Organizations/Institutions with expertise in eco- informatics research and applications.