The Electronic Lab Notebooks (ELN) subgroup draws on and connects diverse stakeholders interested in digital record-keeping methods. This subgroup collects information about the tools available and the Harvard-affiliated institutions using them and makes that information accessible and usable to inform researchers’ decision-making and tool selection.
 

2023 Goals

  1. Improve connections to the research community, inviting input from a wider audience, to better understand ELN requirements, and the reasons for the slow uptake of ELNs
  2. Encourage researcher uptake and utility of digital record-keeping tools by disseminating information about the tools, resources, and practices supported by Harvard University and Harvard Medical School
  3. Re-establish and grow a community of practice among Harvard-affiliated institutions by developing a network of relevant experts and stakeholders, to share information and practices related to ELN deployments and use cases
  4. Improve connections with the broader Harvard University community and Harvard University Information Technology (HUIT) to share ELN related information and practices

Accomplishments

  • 2022

    1. Archive the existing ELN matrix and related pages (completed)
    2. Develop and disseminate updated information about digital record-keeping tools, resources, and practices supported by Harvard University, Harvard Medical School, and Harvard-affiliated institutions (completed)
    3. Encourage researcher uptake and utility of digital record-keeping tools supported by Harvard University and Harvard Medical School (completed)
    4. Establish a community of practice among Harvard-affiliated institutions by developing a network of relevant experts and stakeholders, to share information and practices related to ELN deployments and use case (completed)
  • 2021

    1. Establish a partnership with an external organization to ensure regular maintenance of the ELN matrix and related pages (completed)
    2. Encourage researcher uptake and utility of digital record-keeping tools by disseminating information about the tools, resources, and practices supported by Harvard University and Harvard Medical School (completed)
    3. Establish a community of practice among Harvard-affiliated institutions by developing a network of relevant experts and stakeholders, to share information and practices related to ELN deployments and use cases (completed)
    4. Explore and evaluate new opportunities for the adoption and/or technical support of specific digital record-keeping tools, to support institutional decision-making (completed)
  • 2020

    1. ELN Matrix operations: clarification of ELN definition and ELN Matrix purpose (completed)
    2. Track and present information about Harvard affiliates ELN pilots and rollouts (completed)
    3. Identify primary ELN contacts at each institution within our community to enhance communication and referrals (completed)
    4. Collect information on community institutional ELN experiences to support and advise Research Workflow Infrastructure (RWI) identification of relevant tools and pilots for the HMS Quad (completed)
    5. Disseminate information about HMS Quad pilots and rollouts to ensure researcher uptake and utility
  • 2019

    1. ELN Matrix operations: support and updates; ELN consultation (completed)
    2. Support university initiative: Harvard University RSpace (completed)
    3. Explore Harvard Library Open Science Framework (OSF) (completed)
    4. Pursue Evernote License to improve Security for existing Evernote ELN users
    5. Support for local ELN initiatives (completed)
    6. Exploration of computational notebooks (completed)