Experiments in Data Mining: Using Digitized Natural History Collections to Introduce Biology Students to Data Science

This chapter identifies the need for integrating training in data discovery and data science into the undergraduate biology curriculum. Publicly available digitized natural history collections data are proposed as a medium-sized gateway that can be used to introduce students to working with big data and core data science skills. Strategies for integrating data mining, data discovery and digitized data exercises using emerging biodiversity data portals are reviewed and educational resources to help instructors implement these strategies are identified.