RESEARCH DATA COMPETENCIES FOR ESCIENCE USE OF GIS AND IMAGERY DATA IN THE GEOSCIENCES

Assessment of research data competencies are the focus of recent data information literacy related initiatives by major funding agencies, professional societies, and university-led science data portals. The National Science Foundation has also emphasized a need for data and computing savvy scientists, particularly to take advantage of technological investments in cyberinfrastructure initiatives. This paper examines research data competencies for the geosciences relevant to these needs beyond core-level data literacy. A sample of data sets from three areas of the geosciences are examined to determine bottlenecks in their appropriate use: USGS web GIS geological resources, NASA satellite imagery resources, and georeferenced natural history data. The parameters of scale, resolution, depth of metadata, lack of cartographic knowledge, misunderstandings of uncertainty, and selection of covarying variables are found to be areas for potential bottlenecks for novice and moderately experienced users. These issues represent areas that could be included in more effective data information literacy trainings and support materials.