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Electronic Laboratory Notebooks
The document discusses electronic lab notebooks (ELNs), emphasizing their importance in managing scientific data, documentation, and collaboration while contrasting them with traditional paper-based systems. It outlines the pros and cons of ELNs based on a pilot study at UW-Madison, where a majority of users preferred transitioning to ELNs despite some functionality shortcomings. The document concludes with considerations for selecting ELN software, including the need for testing and addressing specific research requirements before adoption.
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In this document
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Introduction to ELNs by Kristin A. Briney, highlighting the importance of documentation in research.
Good documentation is crucial for managing research data, covering scientific, technical, and management aspects.
Identifies the limitations of paper-based systems including lack of searchability, backup issues, and legibility.
As research data grows, reliance on paper notebooks becomes challenging; ELNs offer solutions.
ELNs provide benefits such as data integration, search capabilities, and customizable features like audit trails.
Discusses the challenges of ELNs including security, usability, and market instability.
Overview of ELN pilots conducted at UW-Madison, sharing user experiences and feedback on the software.
Discusses ongoing efforts to evaluate and purchase ELN software for broader campus use.
Presentation of eCAT and LabArchives, discussing features of demo software and limitations of free versions.
Key considerations before implementing an ELN based on individual research needs and collaboration requirements.
Highlights the importance of choosing the right ELN based on research discipline and specific needs.
Examines funding, technical resources, and infrastructure necessary for implementing ELNs.
Key features to look for in ELN software including note-taking, searching abilities, and access control.
Importance of audit trails and electronic signatures in establishing provenance for research data.
Advises on file export formats for data longevity and the need to thoroughly test ELN software before adoption.
Forecasts the growth of ELNs and their eventual standard adoption in academic and industry settings.
Advice on assessing needs, testing software options and planning exit strategies in case of ELN transition.
Summarizes the benefits and risks associated with ELNs, emphasizing the need for careful consideration.
List of valuable resources and contacts for further information on Electronic Lab Notebooks.
Thanks to the Ebling Library and others who contributed to the presentation.
Electronic Laboratory Notebooks
- 1.Electronic Lab Notebooks(ELNs)KristinA. Briney, PhDData Services Librarian, UWM3 December 2013
- 2.
- 3.Good documentation isa criticalpart of managing research datawell, now and into the future
- 4.Documentation - Content•Scientific information• Context of the experiment, measurement description, protocols, etc• Technical information• Instrument calibrations, how the files fit together, etc• Data management information• Project information, data collector, data owner, etc
- 5.Documentation - Audience•For you
- 6.Documentation - Audience•For you• For future you• For your boss• For your colleagues• For your collaborators• For your peers• For other researchers• For the public
- 7.Documentation - Provenance•Intellectual property• Accusations of misconduct
- 8.Documentation - Provenance•Intellectual property• Accusations of misconduct Why lab notebook best practices are important
- 9.
- 10.Paper-Based System• Flexible•Easy to use• Rich history and best practices
- 11.Paper-Based System• Dividebetween handwritten notes and digital data• Not easily searchable• Not easy to use by others
- 12.Paper-Based System• Notebooksnot backed up• Damage to paper (spills, fading ink, etc)• Legibility issues
- 13.As data becomelarger and a morevalued research output, it willbecome harder to rely solely on apaper-based notebook
- 14.
- 15.ELNs - Pros•Add data files to ELN• View data files in ELN• Searching• Linking between pages
- 16.ELNs - Pros•Sharing• Different access permissions by role• May be able to share across institutions• Developing workflows• Read data from instruments directly• Built in testing
- 17.ELNs - Pros•Audit trail (provenance)• Revision history• eSignatures• Range of customizability• Plugins• Drawing tools• Mobile versions
- 18.ELNs - Cons•Digital system• Bugs, upgrades, etc• Security and storage concerns• Limited access
- 19.ELNs - Cons•Usability in 10 years• Proprietary files• Unsettled ELN market• Adjusting your workflow• Flexibility• Lack of desired features• User interface matters
- 20.
- 21.UW-Madison ELN Pilot•Tested 2 notebooks, CERF and eCAT• 55 users, majority never used an ELN before• CERF• Pilot organizers liked this software• Did not live up to expectations in the lab• Did basic record keeping but other functionality disappointing• eCAT••••CALS installation supporting >30 peopleUsers found easy to use and liked interfaceUsers liked level of customization, though general template workedMajority felt they kept better records than before
- 22.UW-Madison ELN Pilot•At end of pilot, 91% of respondents wanted to continue using an ELN• 60% of CERF users wanted to try a different ELN• Required <12 hours to learn interface• Users employed training sessions and trial and error to learn• Users liked linking and adding data files• Drawing tools and mobile versions did not live up to expectations• http://academictech.doit.wisc.edu/ideas/electronic-lab-notebooks
- 23.Future of ELNson Campus• Campus looking into purchasing software• Currently in progress• Great place to start• Realize ultimate product won’t work for all
- 24.
- 25.Demonstrations• eCAT•••••CALS-supported installationfrom UW ELN pilotPilot testers liked this ELNNew version is called ‘Research Space’Has limited free version which I will demohttp://www.researchspace.com/• LabArchives• Was not part of pilot but an option that DoIT also looked into• Has limited free version which I will demo• http://www.labarchives.com/
- 26.Demonstrations Caveat• Iam showing free versions of software• Free versions have limited features• Also data security and storage issues• Great for testing• May need to test with fake data• Don’t plan to use free versions in long term
- 27.Where To GoFrom Here?http://www.flickr.com/photos/bulle_de/4672972586/ (CC BY)
- 28.1. What AreYour Needs?• Will you be doing lots of searching, sharing, or reuse?• Do you like the flexibility of a paper notebook?• Do you need a system for collaboration?• Do you need to protect your research notes for privacy reasons?• Will you be making a lot of drawings in your notes?
- 29.1. What AreYour Needs?• Will you be doing lots of searching, sharing, or reuse?• Do you like the flexibility of a paper notebook?• Do you need a system for collaboration?• Do you need to protect your research notes for privacy reasons?• Will you be making a lot of drawings in your notes? Do you even need an ELN?
- 30.2. How MuchDoes Discipline Matter?• Many flavors of ELNs• Different features by disciplineRubacha, M.; Rattan, A. K.; Hosselet, S. C., A Review of Electronic Laboratory Notebooks Available in the Market Today. Journal of the Association for LaboratoryAutomation 2011, 16 (1), 9.
- 31.3. What ResourcesDo You Have?• Funding• Open source ELNs• May require tech ability• Commercial ELNs• Upward of $1000 /person /year• Many ELNs getting into academic market
- 32.3. What ResourcesDo You Have?• Hardware• Server• Cloud storage*• Point person
- 33.
- 34.What to Lookfor in Software• Note taking and searching ability• Adding external files• Adding links between pages• Access permissions• Ability to export
- 35.Provenance• Way tocreate provenance••••Audit trailLock pages once finishedDate stampsElectronic signatures• With provenance, ELNs acceptable for patents• Because of provenance, I don’t recommend• Blogs• Wikis• Note taking software
- 36.Exporting Files• Noguarantee that current ELNs will be here in 5 years• Ideally, write files to an open file format••••PDF commonXMLHTMLWord (.doc/.docx)• At worst, need to be able to print out all pages• Useful to have a batch method to do this
- 37.Test Software• OneELN software package will not work for everyone• Test before purchase• Ideally a week-to-month long test in the lab• Use as a notebook and look at features in depth• Keep both paper and electronic records during test Takes time and effort to test but very important
- 38.
- 39.Future of ELNs•ELNs will become the norm in research in the future• Graduates going into industry may be using ELNs now• May be 5-10 years before market coalesces• Enterprise ahead of academic market• Good product available now• UW-Madison wants to help with this transition
- 40.If You Wantan ELN• Identify needs• Test the software out before converting• If you adopt now, have an exit strategy
- 41.Final Word• Lotsof benefits and some risks in adopting an ELN• Keeping a paper notebook has risks but they’re different• Will be a workflow change to adopt an ELN• If risks too big, wait a few years
- 42.Resources• DoIT AcademicTechnologies• http://academictech.doit.wisc.edu/ideas/electronic-lab-notebooks• Research Data Services• http://researchdata.wisc.edu/• WARF• http://www.warf.org/
- 43.Thanks• Ebling Library•Trisha Adamus• This presentation available under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0license