About the lab

The DataLab is a product of ZMT’s strategic digitalization initiative DigiZ, and is conceptualized and managed by the Data Science and Technology and Research Data Service groups. See Contact the lab for details.

The DataLab is a digital platform where ZMT staff and their tropical partners can host and collaborate on their data analysis projects. The lab provides a collaboration platform through access to project management tools, topic-based chat streams, a high-throughput compute cluster with modern hardware backed by a responsive and competent support team. Access to the lab’s facilities and support services can be arranged through the invitation by one of ZMT’s workgroup leaders, through the process described on the lab’s webpage.

Development of the lab began in 2020, coincidentally aligned with the broader pressures of remote working due to the pandemic, with the major aim to reduce the barriers to scientific collaboration — especially with ZMT’s tropical partners.

A strategic goal at the DataLab is to operationalize ZMT’s “Open Science, Open Data” policy. A meaningful implementation involves an exchange of responsibilities between the lab and the user groups, as outlined in our Guiding Principles.

While the lab managers follow an open development model for the strategic and operational aspects, a high degree of user autonomy is enabled through a community-driven model for establishing shared workflows.