[Terrapreta] Charcoal Specification

[Sean K. Barry]

Hi Christelle,

In principle, I like this idea of having an "open-source" online databases of experimental results with biochar.  I think there are a few others in this group, perhaps, who would agree.  Still others might agree and contribute data, consultation, or management services for the database.

I think there are some issues regarding "pride of authorship", where someone might submit data, and force the issue of posting it in the public database, even though other participants in the "data-sharing" arrangement might not want this.  The problem is not for the other reviewers who also have knowledge and maybe have made contributions.  They can discern "good experimental data" versus "bad experimental data" for themselves.  Or, this could be monitored by a database content editor, maybe?  It could be a concern for the public lay persons interpretation of the data, though.

Otherwise, there is the issue of "proprietary" information.  Sometimes, if the experimental data is very compelling, there is an economic advantage to not sharing that information, but rather retaining that "nugget" and developing it yourself.  This really then can effect the content and the quality of the data, which is being put in such a database.  It can end up lacking any real "leading edge" information.

I don't know the solution to this kind of uncooperativeness.  When we are all operating independently, collaboration and cooperation, peer reviews, data sharing, and critical acceptance all become hard topics between us at times.

I think I would suggest that this be a "closed list", at least at first.  Member/contributors only for a time.  Any contributions should be put for review by the group before it is allowed to be contributed.  When there are concerns over proprietary information being disclosed, then the contributor can decide to disclose all or part of the information, or not, themselves.  They can request NON-DISCLOSURE documents be signed, if they wish, to protect any information they disclose to anyone.

I think this sort of thing has been tried before, even for 'biochar'.  I'd guess that the lack of contributions is partly to do with these above stated issues.  Although I don't know.  I think you may find this a very interesting exercise, to evoke contributions to a "shared experimental test database" from this disparate group.

Regards,

SKB
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: ch braun<mailto:brauncch at gmail.com> 
  To: terrapreta at bioenergylists.org<mailto:terrapreta at bioenergylists.org> 
  Sent: Monday, September 03, 2007 4:35 AM
  Subject: [Terrapreta] Charcoal Specification


  Hello,

  I have been trying to get an overview on the current stand of the research on biochar in the world and have been following the TP list discussions for a little while now. 

  My feeling is that a lot of work/discussions/questions could be spared if all the various experiments performed by biochar adepts all around the world could be registered in some central repository which could be publicly consulted anytime by people who would like to have quick answers to questions as "easy" as e.g.: has already somebody made charcoal with feedstock X ? Where ? How ? What were the results ? Any publication/project about that ? and so on...

  All these pieces of information should actually not only be collected together, but also in a uniformed format, a kind of "biochar standard" which would, on one hand, simplify the description of the experiments and their results for people who perform them and, on the other hand, improve the efficiency of the search for infos concerning a precise trial. 

  Storing these infos in the form of a "formal specification" has also the advantage of allowing the use of tools for data processing in order, for instance, to retrieve statistical analysis or to find interesting correlations between parameters. 

  I have started a list of the different parameters I could find in the literature or discussions about charcoal, which could be part of such a "charcoal specification". I also tried to classify them, but since my knowledge in chemistry and experience in the field are quite limited, there are probably inconsistencies, errors or redundancies. And a lot is still missing. So I would really appreciate help for developing this specification! 

  I have no idea how many people would be, like me, interested in such a project... I principally see 2 steps before it can be really useful:
  1. Formalization: completion/correction of the draft, to get a proper model (possibly as soon as possible, with maybe additional changes later on) 
  2. Instantiation: registration of experiments according to this model (of course not limited in time!)

  The best method for step 2 is probably to set up a database whose schema corresponds to 1 and that people can easily populate with their data online. 

  So I put the current draft here:
  http://bionecho.org/terrapreta/charcoalspec.txt<http://bionecho.org/terrapreta/charcoalspec.txt>

  Anyone is welcome to contribute! Maybe the easiest way to proceed is to discuss the changes and additions here and I merge them and update the draft gradually? 

  I am really curious to know what you all think of this idea...

  Sincerely yours,
  Christelle 

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