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NFDI4Earth 2nd funding phase

Building on the achievements of its first funding phase, NFDI4Earth is entering its second phase with a focus on integrating its services more deeply into Earth System research and education, strengthening community engagement, advancing AI-enabled solutions, and securing long-term impact. Five Task Areas (TAs) will drive these efforts.

Task Area 1: 2LINKIN


Task Area 1 aims to foster the exchange of data, tools, and services in the NFDI4Earth and NFDI context. Its objective is to engage the Earth System Sciences community in Germany via Lighthouse Use Cases and RDM Pilots. Key Information Products will be jointly devised addressing interdisciplinary needs and act as best practice examples for sustainable reseach data management.

Leads: DWD, KIT, MPIBGC
Contributors: LMU, TUM, UNIFR, UNIHOH

Measure 1.1: Lighthouse Use Cases 

Contact: Jan Cermak, ​Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

Mail: jan.cermak[at]kit[.]edu

Measure 1.1 focuses on applying and further developing Research Data Management practices in interdisciplinary Earth System research. Lighthouse Use Cases will address different stages of the data lifecycle, including data quality and machine actionability, while connecting research projects with the NFDI4Earth Service Portfolio. Key Information Products developed from these activities will support the interoperability and reuse of research data within the ESS community.

Measure 1.2: ESS Projects RDM Onboarding

Contact: Mélanie Weynants, ​Max-Planck-Institute for Biogeochemistry

Mail: mweynants[@]bgc-jena[.]mpg.de

Further engagement of the ESS community will happen through proactive interaction with ESS research projects at all stages, starting from the proposal writing to results publication to promote existing NFDI4Earth services and identify ESS RDM gaps to ensure FAIRness along the whole research data lifecycle.

Measure 1.3: Key Information Products

Contact: Peter Braesicke, ​DWD

Mail: peter.braesicke[@]dwd[.]de

Measure 1.3 focuses on developing Key Information Products (KIPs) for Earth System Sciences based on existing Essential Variables, data products, community datasets, data models and ontologies. It supports their interoperability and integration into the NFDI4Earth Knowledge Hub and brings together quality assurance measures and best practices to facilitate their reuse.

Task Area 2: 2TRAIN


Task Area 2 brings together NFDI4Earth’s training and educational activities under the NFDI4Earth Academy. It focuses on research data management, data literacy and Data Science in the Earth System Sciences, with learning materials and formats for different career stages. The programme includes university teaching and study credentials, networking and training events, and a PhD Graduate School, supported by a network of NFDI4Earth partner institutions.

Leads: HSBO, LUH, UNIF, UNIL
Contributors: DAM, RUB, TUD, TUM, UNIHB, UNIHH, UNIMS 

Measure 2.1: Education Platform

Contact: Carsten Keßler, ​Bochum University of Applied Sciences

Mail: carsten.kessler[@]hs-bochum[.]de

Measure 2.1 develops the technical and organisational foundations for publishing, discovering and reusing NFDI4Earth Open Educational Resources. It provides an accessible learning environment and learning pathways while supporting the integration of educational materials into NFDI4Earth and wider NFDI structures.

Measure 2.2: Curriculum Development

Contact: Miguel Mahecha, Universität Leipzig

Mail: miguel_dario.mahecha_ordonez[@]uni-leipzig[.]de

Measure 2.2 develops modular curricula on Research Data Management in the Earth System Sciences for Master’s and doctoral education. The materials will be co-developed with educators and learners and designed for reuse and integration into university teaching.

Measure 2.3: Graduate School

Contact: ​Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Monika Sester, ​Leibniz University Hannover

Mail: monika.sester[@]ikg[.]uni-hannover.de

Measure 2.3 establishes a PhD Graduate School for the next generation of Earth System Data Scientists. It combines doctoral research with interdisciplinary training and collaboration in ESS Data Science and Research Data Management.

Measure 2.4: Training Schools

Contact: ​Dominik Hezel, Goethe University Frankfurt

Mail: dominik.hezel[@]em[.]uni-frankfurt[.]de

Measure 2.4 provides training events for the ESS community covering Research Data Management and Data Science. The programme includes different formats, both online and in person, and will be continuously developed in response to emerging topics and community needs.

Task Area 3: 2PROVIDE4ALL


Task rea 3 focuses on expanding and further developing the NFDI4Earth Service Portfolio. It strengthens the integration of services and infrastructures, improves access and usability for researchers, and establishes the technical foundations for sustainable operation. New technologies, including AI and HPC, will also be explored and integrated where appropriate.

Leads: DKRZ, GEOMAR, GFZ
Contributors: AWI, BKG, DAM, DLR, GFZ, Hereon, IOW, LRZ, MPIBGC, SGN, TUD, UFZ, UNIF, UNIHH, UNIMS

Measure 3.1: Service Portfolio Management

Contact: Sören Lorenz, GEOMAR

Mail: slorenz[@]geomar.de

Measure 3.1 coordinates the design, integration and operation of the NFDI4Earth Service Portfolio. It develops requirements and guidelines for integrating existing and new services and supports decisions on their inclusion in the portfolio. The measure also coordinates the integration of services with relevant infrastructures and partners.

Measure 3.2: User Support Network

Contact: Andrea Lammert, DKRZ

Mail: lammert[@]dkrz[.]de

Measure 3.2 expands the NFDI4Earth User Support Network to connect researchers with relevant expertise, tools and data sources. It strengthens the network of support agents, develops AI-supported assistance in OneStop4All and establishes processes for collecting and incorporating user feedback into service development.

Measure 3.3: Technical Design

Contact: Lars Bernard, ​ TUD Dresden University of Technology

Mail: lars.bernard[@]tu-dresden[.]de

Measure 3.3 develops and maintains the technical architecture of the NFDI4Earth Service Portfolio. It establishes standards and processes for service integration and sustainable operation, monitors service performance, and further develops the core services to connect with ESS data infrastructures and new service offerings.

Measure 3.4: Experimental Tech Lab

Contact: ​Wolfgang Castell, ​ ​ GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences

Mail: wolfgang.castell[@]gfz[.]de

Measure 3.4 brings together developers to implement service requirements and explore new technologies for NFDI4Earth services. Its activities include AI-based information discovery, the integration of geospatial foundation models, and the development of workflows for HPC processing and direct access to data.

Task Area 4: 2SUSTAIN


Task rea 4 focusses on the long-term sustainability of NFDI4Earth. It strengthens the integration of NFDI4Earth into the wider NFDI, further develops its infrastructure and approaches to FAIR and Open RDM, and establishes organisational and governance structures for long-term operation.

Lead: AWI, SGN
Contributors: FUB, LRZ, UFZ

Measure 4.1: ​OneNFDI – Basic Services and embedding NFDI4Earth services

Contact:​ Stephan Frickenhaus, ​Alfred Wegener Institute

Mail: stephan.frickenhaus[@]awi[.]de

Measure 4.1 coordinates NFDI4Earth’s collaboration with the wider NFDI, including Base4NFDI and the NFDI sections. It supports the adoption of shared NFDI services and standards within NFDI4Earth and contributes NFDI4Earth services and approaches to cross-domain developments.

Measure 4.2: Label and FAIR ecosystem of ESS repositories

Contact: Claus Weiland, ​Senckenberg Society for Nature Research

Mail: claus.weiland[@]senckenberg[.]de

Measure 4.2 further develops the NFDI4Earth Label as an instrument for assessing FAIRness and interoperability. The label will be expanded to additional service types and domain-specific profiles and its potential use in wider NFDI structures will be explored.

Measure 4.3: Community commitment on cooperative FAIR and Open RDM in ESS

Contact: Lars Bernard, ​TUD Dresden University of Technology

Mail: lars.bernard[@]tu-dresden[.]de

Measure 4.3 addresses the organisational and cultural aspects of FAIR and Open Research Data Management in the Earth System Sciences. It engages communities and stakeholders, monitors current practices and supports commitments to sustainable infrastructures, services and RDM practices.

Measure 4.4: Long-Term Operations and Governance

Contact: Lars Bernard, ​TUD Dresden University of Technology

Mail: lars.bernard[@]tu-dresden[.]de

Measure 4.4 develops governance, operational and collaboration models for the long-term operation of NFDI4Earth. It considers the distributed structure of the consortium, institutional commitments and cooperation with related organisations and projects.

Task Area 5: 2COORDINATE


Task Area 5 coordinates the organisational, financial and scientific management of NFDI4Earth and supports its integration within the NFDI. It strengthens national and international networking and supports communication and engagement with the NFDI4Earth community and relevant stakeholders.

Lead: TUD
Contributors: GFZ

Measure 5.1: Coordination Office

Contact: Jörg Seegert, ​TUD Dresden University of Technology

Mail: joerg.seegert[@]tu-dresden[.]de

Measure 5.1 provides the organisational and operational coordination of NFDI4Earth. The Coordination Office supports the consortium’s bodies and community in their activities and serves as a central point of contact for members, partner organisations, funding bodies and other stakeholders.

Measure 5.2: National and International Networking

Contact: ​Jörg Seegert, ​TUD Dresden University of Technology

Mail: joerg.seegert[@]tu-dresden[.]de

Complementary to the LUCs, small-scale ESS RDM pilot projects with a maximum duration of 12 months will be selected to further develop RDM solutions tailored to the needs of ESS subdisciplines. The calls will be specific to the jointly identified ESS RDM gaps to ensure FAIRness along the whole research data lifecycle. The pilots’ results will be managed with the aim to inform the development of KIPs and support their integration in the NFDI4Earth Service Portfolio

Measure 5.3: Communication, Dissemination and Outreach

Contact: Jörg Seegert, ​ TUD Dresden University of Technology

Mail: joerg.seegert[@]tu-dresden[.]de

Measure 5.3 supports the communication and dissemination of NFDI4Earth activities and results at national and international level. It connects NFDI4Earth with the scientific community, relevant initiatives, decision-makers and the wider public.