Seekest thou the road to, all that’s digital and FAIR – the Ballad of the ELN Journey
On 14th August 2025, the Physical Sciences Data Infrastructure (PSDI) hosted a webinar titled “Seekest thou the road to, all that’s digital and FAIR – the Ballad of the ELN Journey”, presented by Dr. Samantha Pearman-Kanza. The session explores the sociotechnical challenges of implementing Electronic Lab Notebooks (ELNs) to achieve FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) data in research labs. Through PSDI, she has evaluated diverse ELN solutions, uncovering key barriers and strategies for success.
For those who missed the live session or wish to revisit the discussion, the full webinar is available on our YouTube channel.
The slides are available on zenodo: https://zenodo.org/records/17351706
Stay tuned for future PSDI webinars by subscribing to our YouTube playlist: PSDI Webinar Series.
Abstract: This webinar addresses the persistent challenge that much of today’s published scientific research remains insufficiently FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable), highlighting the growing imperative to adopt digital research tools such as Electronic Lab Notebooks (ELNs). It examines the complex sociotechnical factors that influence successful ELN implementation, emphasizing the need for both organisational and cultural adaptation alongside technical integration. Drawing on PSDI case studies across diverse teaching and research contexts, the webinar presents critical insights into overcoming barriers and advancing the FAIRness of digital research practices.
