Finished! Looks like this project is out of data at the moment!
Thanks to the work of more than 1800 of you, we've completed the first stage of the project! We're going through the results now and will have new workflows for you to help with in the coming months.
FAQ
What is the purpose of this project?
The purpose of this project is to reuse environmental and ecological data going back a century. With this data, researchers will be able to better identify locations, species, and topics for future studies and place their work within a long term narrative of ecological changes. Additionally, the reused data can inform policy decisions for environmental management.
What if I get it wrong? Will it mess up the data?
No it will not! We show the image to lots of people, and combine all of those answers. So even if one person isn't quite sure, there is a bunch of people to check the work. We think that overall, people will be pretty good at identifying data types. For images that result in a lot of disagreement, they are sent to and reviewed/identified by an expert.
Isn’t everything data to someone? So shouldn’t I be saying “other” for all the information in the paragraphs?
That is a great point! Yes, all information can be used as data; but for this project, we want you to focus on the forms of data we have defined. Each of the images you classify is part of a larger document, so the data on one page is tied to the data from all the other pages in that document. Even if you mark a page as “no data”, we will still know the species, measurements, and diagrams in the rest of the document. Researchers and policy makers will then be able to read through the correct documents for narrative data (the information in paragraph format) if they need it.
Why can't a machine do this?
Machines and machine learning for image recognition has yet to advance to the point where it can reliably identify images. Additionally, since many of these papers were done before the widespread usage of computers, the text and data are not in standardized formats. That is why we need your help to unearth the data!
What do I do if there are multiple data types on a page?
If there are multiple data types on a page, classify all of them by checking the appropriate boxes. This is the first stage of the process, and the second stage will include separating data types and transcribing.
I found the paper that I wrote when I was at the Bio-Station! How can I get access to the whole thing?
If you are the author of a paper, you can email deepblue@umich.edu and they will help you with this. You can also opt to make the paper fully open access!
What if a page has data, but it doesn't match any of the listed classifications?
In that case, click the “other” option for classification.
Should I err more on the side of "data" or "no data" in my classifications?
When making classifications, err on the side of “it’s data”. We don’t know what will be useful to researchers and policy makers 30 years from now, so better to be safe than sorry.
What is the University of Michigan Biological Station? Where is it?
The University of Michigan Biological Station was founded in 1909 and is located on Douglas Lake, near Pellston, MI and about 20 miles south of Mackinaw City. The purpose of the Station is to educate, advance environmental field research, engage students in scientific discovery, and provide information needed to better understand and sustain natural systems. The Station is run by the University of Michigan.
Can I get more information about the classification types?
Check out the Field Guide by clicking on the white Field Guide tab on the right side of the screen during classification. To learn more about the papers the data comes from, you can reach out to us on the Talk page. We would love to know if you find something interesting and we are happy to answer any questions you might have!
I found a racist term in one of the images. What should I do about it?
Despite goals of objectivity, scientific research is never divorced from the politics and values (good and bad) of its time. On some pages, you may find a racist or culturally offensive/insensitive-named study site (a creek originating near the eastern boundary of the Biological Station). Although the racist name of this creek was changed to "Mullett Creek" in 1969 by the USGS Board on Geographic Names, references to this site's previous names may be present in papers up through 1978. If you find a page that contains this or any other offensive place name or language, please mention it on the Talk page (choose "Done and Talk" at the end of your classification) or email us at UnearthingData@umich.edu and we will remove the page from the project (while also recording any important data the page could contain).
Can I use the images from the project? How do I get more information on specific papers?
If you are interested in using the images from the project or you want access to a specific paper, please get in touch with us through the Talk page! Some of the older papers are only accessible at the Station, while others may be available. We will be happy to help where we can.