FAIR Digital Object and DiSSCo Research Infrastructure Design

This presentation is about how DiSSCo (Distributed System of Scientific Collections) is using the FAIR Digital Object as the cornerstone of a research infrastructure design. DiSSCo -- a new Research Infrastructure currently in the preparation phase -- will digitally unify European natural science assets under common curation and access and will ensure that data is Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable (FAIR). DiSSCo will integrate a fragmented landscape of natural science collections, transforming it into a unified, robust, quality ensured knowledge base of unprecedented scale for bio- and geodiversity. With a brief historical context of FAIR Digital Object, this presentation introduces the concept of Digital Specimen. Then it highlights the incorporation of outputs from several RDA (Research Data Alliance) interests and working groups in the design decision