Nanoinformatics workshop report: Current resources, community needs, and the proposal of a collaborative framework for data sharing and information integration.
The quantity of information on nanomaterial properties and behavior continues to grow rapidly. Without a concerted effort to collect, organize and mine disparate information coming out of current research efforts, the value and effective use of this information will be limited at best. Data will not be translated to knowledge. At worst, erroneous conclusions will be drawn and future research may be misdirected. Nanoinformatics can be a powerful approach to enhance the value of global information in nanoscience and nanotechnology. Much progress has been made through grassroots efforts in nanoinformatics resulting in a multitude of resources and tools for nanoscience researchers. In 2012, the nanoinformatics community believed it was important to critically evaluate and refine currently available nanoinformatics approaches in order to best inform the science and support the future of predictive nanotechnology. The Greener Nano 2012: Nanoinformatics Tools and Resources Workshop brought together informatics groups with materials scientists active in nanoscience research to evaluate and reflect on the tools and resources that have recently emerged in support of predictive nanotechnology. The workshop goals were to establish a better understanding of current nanoinformatics approaches and to clearly define immediate and projected informatics infrastructure needs of the nanotechnology community. The theme of nanotechnology environmental health and safety (nanoEHS) was used to provide real-world, concrete examples on how informatics can be utilized to advance our knowledge and guide nanoscience. The benefit here is that the same properties that impact the performance of products could also be the properties that inform EHS. From a decision management standpoint, the dual use of such data should be considered a priority. Key outcomes include a proposed collaborative framework for data collection, data sharing and information integration.
Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA. ; School of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA.
Stacey L
SL
Harper
Department of Chemistry, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA.
James E
JE
Hutchison
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, USA.
Nathan
N
Baker
RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
Michele
M
Ostraat
Science and Technology Policy Institute, Washington, DC, USA.
Sally
S
Tinkle
US Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Vicksburg, Mississippi, USA.
Jeffrey
J
Steevens
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, WV, USA.
Mark D
MD
Hoover
University Libraries, University of Michigan, Amherst, MA, USA.
Jessica
J
Adamick
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA.
Krishna
K
Rajan
SAIC Frederick, Frederick, MD, USA.
Sharon
S
Gaheen
Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Yoram
Y
Cohen
Center for Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology, University of California Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Andre
A
Nel
SAIC Frederick, Inc. Advanced Biomedical Computer Center, Information Systems Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, USA.
Raul E
RE
Cachau
Physics Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA.
Mark
M
Tuominen