November 2006 – Mark Fornwall
November 2006 – Mark Fornwall, the Manager for the US Regional OBIS Node, OBIS-USA
Heather Mannix: Mark, tell me about your work with OBIS. What do you do?
Mark Fornwall: I am the Manager for the US Regional OBIS Node. In this role I provide the oversight and direction for the OBIS-USA team. This includes a wide range of tasks like deciding which data sets to pursue, helping data managers prepare their data sets for a broader audience and creating metadata to facilitate data discovery and application. Also, as RON manager I serve on the management committee for the international OBIS team (IOBIS). It is the OBIS MC that works cooperatively to build the global marine biodiversity information system.
HM: I’m not really familiar with the US RON. What is its function?
MF: We are largely facilitators. There is a tremendous amount of useful data collected by scientists at universities and museums as well as state and Federal agencies. We work collaboratively with these individuals to gain access to that data, help them put it in a form useful to the marine biodiversity community. Our first goal is to serve the Census of Marine Life projects, then the marine biodiversity community (scientists and policy makers) and also the public.
HM: As far goals go for the project, what would you like to see accomplished in the next year?
MF: Right now we’re working to establish a permanent long-term operational node for the US. The program began as a pilot 18 months ago and now we have begun to establish a permanent operational node. It is imperative that this be done to meet two very critical national activities. First is bring biodiversity data together with other marine data within the Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) and second is to link these efforts to the marine theme of National Biological Information Infrastructure. A critical element is to secure base funding for its operation.
HM: What are your long-term goals for US RON?
MF: Once a permanent node is established we need to be able to do synthetic science; to use the large collection of data to test hypotheses and further our understanding of the ocean and its biota. We must also be able to make predictions about the future of marine biodiversity to support marine resource managers and policy makers. The ultimate goal is appropriate treatment and use of our precious marine resources.
HM: How did you get started in informatics, especially with OBIS?
MF: I got my PhD in aquatic ecology and then worked for 13 years with the Department of Energy on scientific and technological information policy and management. I wanted to get closer to science again, so I moved to USGS and the Center for Biological Informatics (CBI). It was through my work at CBI that I met Fred Grassle. Fred was well aware of the National Biological Information Infrastructure and its mandate to create a national biodiversity data system. I believe it was Fred’s foresight in wanting to build on the NBII as the primary motivator that caused him to invite me to participate in those early OBIS scoping meetings. Once I saw the vision coupled with the draw of the ocean I was hooked. This is such an important project.
HM: What are your favorite and most challenging parts of your job?
MF: The reward and the challenge of this job is really the same thing; bringing the data from the scientists who created it (research) to others who can use the data to further science or set policy (practice). It’s a real challenge “research to practice”, but rewarding when it happens. I also really enjoy getting out and meeting other scientists and learning about the interesting work that they are doing. I’m really learning a lot.
HM: If someone gave you a million dollars to put towards your work with OBIS, what would use it for?
MF: I’d use it to invest it in the long term sustainability of OBIS-USA. I’d probably fund grants for work on data and information integration and for predictive models. That is really important, to understand and impact the future of our oceans.
