Our goal
In the context of POLARIN, “Virtual Access” (VA) refers to the provision of user-friendly, free, and open online access to scientific data, metadata, and data services from select polar research infrastructures.
Virtual Access is designed to support researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders by providing evidence-based information for sustainable management of polar environments, particularly in response to climate change and human activity impacts.
What we do
Work carried out as part of Virtual Access in POLARIN includes:
- Establishing the POLARIN metadata catalogue that aggregates data from all participating RIs and serves that data in a standardized and unified manner.
- Making currently non-public data available to a broader audience by publishing it in open access repositories
- Activities that improve the FAIR-compliance of existing data. This includes improving on interoperability, quality control, standardization, and harmonization to ensure high-quality and accessible data.
- Continuous monitoring and assessment of virtual access usage, supported by web-analytics tools and periodic expert reviews.
How to use
This access is provided publicly through the POLARIN Data Hub (accessible via www.s4polarin.eu), without the need for user selection or prior approval. When using POLARIN data offered for VA, please provide the dataset PID (e.g. DOI), acknowledge the research infrastructure that owns the data and acknowledge POLARIN Virtual Access under EU Horizon Europe Grant Agreement No. 101130949.