DATA ECOSYSTEM
A multitude of data related initiatives and services are available to the UNIGE community. Working together, these initiatives make up the UNIGE data ecosystem.
communities of researchers
DataFORUM
Open to the entire community of Geneva’s universities, DataForum is a space for exchange and mutual aid on the challenges encountered at the different stages of the life cycle of research data (management and processing).
More information on the DataFORUM >>
Data Science Competence Center (CCSD)
Built around a network of researchers, the Centre de Compétences en Science des Données (CCSD) of the University of Geneva has the mission of federating UNIGE's competences and initiatives in the field of data science, with the aim, through transversality, of encouraging the emergence of innovative research and supporting a critical and informed transformation of scientific culture in the era of massive data. To this end, it organizes numerous scientific meeting activities such as seminars, clinics, study days, etc.
More information on the CCSD >>
Rdf-linked-data group
The rdf-linked-data group aims to connect people and teams at the UNIGE who are interested in Semantic Web techniques: data and knowledge graphs (RDF); ontologies; query and inference languages; storage and publication of linked data; software architectures. The exchange of ideas and experiences takes place during presentations on a specific topic or directly through the mailing list.
More information on the rdf-linked-data group >>
Subscribe to the mailing list >>
Swiss reproducibility network
The Swiss Reproducibility Network (SwissRN) is a peer-led consortium that aims to promote and ensure rigorous research practices in Switzerland through the development of training activities, the design and evaluation of research improvement efforts, and the dissemination of best practices, while working with stakeholders to ensure coordination of efforts across the sector (e.g., the Swiss National Science Foundation, Swiss Academies of Sciences).
More information on the SwissRN >>
WeData
WeData is an association of the University of Geneva that aims to share its passion for data science and computer science. We have a strong interest in statistics and computational methods. Initially, the association's target audience was people in the social sciences. WeData quickly expanded to other areas of research. More concretely, the association aims to achieve its objectives by creating freely accessible educational content on its platforms in various forms: YouTube videos, blog articles, exercises, etc. The association co-organises the R-Lunches, a series of R-related events in which various speakers present topics related to the R language. The association strives to keep abreast of and participate in the University of Geneva's digital initiatives as often as possible.
Infrastructures and tools
HPC - Baobab and Yggdrasil
UNIGE's high performance computing service (HPC) consists of two clusters, each consisting of approximately 4,000 interconnected computing cores. It is an extremely powerful configuration, particularly suitable for massively parallel computing. The Baobab and Yggdrasil clusters are respectively installed on the Uni Dufour and Sauverny sites (soon available) of UNIGE. In addition to those already provided, other suitable scientific software can be easily installed. Our HPC engineers make them available to researchers to install the software they need. Researchers may also purchase additional compute nodes.
Yareta
Yareta is UNIGE's digital solution for archiving and preserving research data in the long term. It has been developed to facilitate the work of researchers, including the management and sharing of research data. Designed in strict accordance with the FAIR principles that govern research data management best practices, Yareta fulfills the Data Repository requirements of funders. The Yareta solution comes from the national project swissuniversities DLCM and the Geneva cantonal bill "Digital Infrastructure for Research". The first 50 gigabytes (GB) are free of charge.
Resources and services
Bioinformatics Support Platform for data analysis
The Bioinformatics Platform for Data Analysis at the Faculty of Medicine offers to support researchers in the analysis of their data. The focus is on training users in numerical analysis, modeling and data representation techniques. In concrete terms, the platform organizes twice-weekly free access sessions to assist users in these tasks. In addition, for more demanding projects in data analysis, it carries out embedded bioinformatics support directly in the research laboratories.
More information on the Bioinformatics support platform >>
Consulting Platform in Applied Mathematics and Statistics (CAMAS)
The Research group in Applied Mathematics offers the research consulting platform CAMAS in areas of applied mathematics such as optimization, statistics, probability, numerical analysis and scientific computing. Our service is open to scientists not only from the University of Geneva (faculty members, Ph.D. and Master students), but also from companies with challenging mathematical and statistical problems.
More information on the CAMAS >>
Digital Law Center (DLC)
The mission of the DLC is to serve as a center of competence in digital law at the University of Geneva. The DLC thus develops training, research and service activities in digital law for the benefit of the academic community and society. It aims to position the University of Geneva and its Faculty of Law as a center of excellence in the field of digital law at the national and international level.
More information on the DLC >>
eResearch
The eResearch identity was created within the framework of the "Digital Infrastructures and Services for Research" Program, which aims to support the evolution of research by developing its digital infrastructure. Resulting from a draft cantonal law (PL 12146), the resulting services are available to all researchers in the Canton of Geneva (UNIGE, HES-SO, The Graduate Institute). The eResearch website aims, on the one hand, to give visibility to the various activities carried out within the framework of the Program (events, projects, communities), and on the other hand, to promote and facilitate the use of digital services for research within our community.
More information on eResearch >>
National project "Data Life-Cycle Management"
The national project "Data Life-Cycle Management" (DLCM) began in 2015 in the context of swissuniversities' "Scientific Information" program (SWU P2/P5). DLCM is led by the UNIGE and involved about ten institutions between phases 1 and 2. Phase 2 began in January 2019 to move from prototypes to national services. In particular, two services will be available by December 2020: a long-term archiving solution for research data, called "OLOS", and a national helpdesk that answers researchers' requests/questions. As P5 projects must be self-financed, they require a business model, as well as the creation of a legal entity. It is for this reason that an "OLOS" Association is being created in order to be able to offer the OLOS service to the entire research community in Switzerland (and beyond).
Research Data
Maintained by the Research Data team at the University of Geneva, the Research Data site offers resources specific to research data management (RDM) at each stage of its life cycle. Its objective is to provide researchers with the resources and information they need to understand the main concepts involved in managing research data, and to provide an overview of the services offered by the University to support them throughout the management of their data. The site thus offers informative pages, summary sheets on certain subjects, links to useful external resources, a regularly updated agenda of the University of Geneva's training offers on this subject, and as much content aimed at encouraging and supporting efficient research data management. The site also offers a form to ask questions to contact persons in the various departments concerned, or to have one's Data Management Plan reviewed.
More information on Research Data >>
Scientifig Computing Support
The SciCoS (Scientific Computing Support) group was created to strengthen the scientific computing and HPC skills of researchers at the University and the HES of Geneva. Composed of experts in computational sciences and software engineering and financed by the bill 12146, SciCoS is hosted at the Centre Universitaire Informatique, within the Pôle d'Innovation Numérique. The services offered are multiple: development of customized scientific applications, adaptation of existing software to university infrastructures, advice and expertise in scientific computing, practical training, etc.