DiSSCo RIsing – the Digital Transformation of Natural Science Collections

Helsinki (Finland), 26-28 February 2020

SAVE THE DATE!

In the biodiversity and geodiversity realm we are facing a very exciting time. Science and technology need to come together and collaborate hand-in-hand for the development of new tools and mechanisms that enable the research community to effectively and successfully build a robust knowledge base to support decision makers and society at large in addressing the urgent challenges we currently face and advance solutions to mitigate the effects of the environmental crisis we suffer. To that end, open access to FAIR data is crucial in the development of adequate strategies and therefore, the immense and priceless asset that our natural science collections constitute worldwide require to be available and accessible. Only then can they be exploited to their full capacity for the benefit of science and society. DiSSCo, the Research Infrastructure for scientific collections, will pave the path to the digital transformation of our unique and, in many cases, already irreplaceable heritage.

The DiSSCo community is proud to announce DiSSCo RIsing, a series of exciting events that will take place in Helsinki, Finland in February 2020, hosted by the Finnish Museum of Natural History LUOMUS. Three full days devoted to DiSSCo-linked activities that will bring together scientists from the taxonomic research and bio and geo-diversity data domains, collection managers, policy makers, businesses and other important stakeholders. 

DiSSCo RIsing will start with the ICEDIG project’s final conference. Subsequently, the DiSSCo Prepare consortium will meet for their kick-off meeting and, finally, DiSSCo will celebrate its inaugural General Assembly:

  • February 26th – ICEDIG FInal Conference (open to the public)
  • February 27th – DiSSCo Prepare Kick-off meeting (DiSSCo Prepare Consortium members and invited guests only)
  • February 28th – DiSSCo General Assembly (representatives of the DiSSCo consortium only – By invitation only).

The ICEDIG Final Conference will open DiSSCo RIsing and will bring together a number of high-level key-note speakers, as to embed this successful research project within the broader landscape and to lay out the path going forward. The conference is open to the public and will additionally be streamed live, for all those interested that will be unable to make it to Helsinki. Registration is now open and will remain so until 12 February 2020, so please fill in this registration form to confirm your participation!   

ICEDIG Final Conference Venues and timing (both venues are within 1 min walking distance)

At the DiSSCo Prepare Kick-off meeting, the community will take the results from the ICEDIG project, and hand them over to the follow-up project DiSSCo Prepare. Within the following years, DiSSCo Prepare partners will work to raise the readiness level of DiSSCo towards actually constructing the Research Infrastructure and ensuring it becomes fully operational in the near future. This being a project meeting, participation is limited to members of the consortium and invited guests. 

Following the deployment of projects, DiSSCo will be ready for its inaugural General Assembly where the entire DiSSCo community will come together for a celebratory event. Members, associate members and observers of the Research Infrastructure will take a big step forward, effectively creating a transparent and democratic governance structure. 

The natural science collections community will be active in Helsinki from 26 to 28 February and we would like you to be part of the DiSSCo RIsing events. You may follow us on social media, on our Twitter accounts @DiSSCoEU, @ICEDIG_eu, and @eurotaxonomy.

We look forward to welcoming you all, be it in person in Helsinki or digitally via live-stream, to our DiSSCo-RIsing event series.

“The project ICEDIG – “Innovation and consolidation for large scale digitisation of natural heritage” has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 777483.”

DiSSCo RIsing Logistics

HOW TO GET FROM HELSINKI AIRPORT TO THE CITY CENTER

The Helsinki city center is about 20 km from Helsinki-Vantaa airport. It is easy to reach and it takes 40–50 minutes by public transportation or 30 min by taxi.

By train:

The fastest way to get to the Helsinki Central Railway station (Helsingin Päärautatieasema) is to take commuter train I or P. The Helsinki Airport Railway station is located at the end of Terminal 2, you can notice the signboard “Railway Station”.

At the airport you can buy a train ticket from the following spots:

  • HSL ticket automates (by the entrance of the terminals and train station). Please note that some ticket machine only accepts bank card or credit card and no cash especially on the airport train platform. If you want to pay by cash you have to look for the ticket machine which accepts it at Terminal 2.
  • Alepa Grocery Store (T2 Arrivals Hall 2B)
  • WH Smith (T1 Departure Hall)
  • WH Smith (T2 Departure Hall)
  • R-kioski (T2 Arrivals Hall 2A)
  • Tourist information (T2 Arrivals Hall 2A)
  • HSL Mobile Ticket app

NB! Please note that it is not possible to buy a ticket on the train.

The single ticket costs 4.6 EUR. Remember that your ticket is valid for 1,5 hours from purchasing time and you can use it in any public transport in Helsinki.

ABC ticket is required for journeys from Helsinki city centre to the airport and vice versa.

More information about public transportation to Helsinki Airport.

By bus:

The Finnair City Bus operates between the airport and city centre (Elielinaukio). A single ticket costs 6.80 euros when purchased online in advance or 6.90 euros from the driver. More information about the Finnair City Bus, including timetables.

Bus 615 (“Lentoasema-Rautatientori”) is operated by Helsinki Region Transport (HSL). A single ticket (zones ABC) costs 4.60 euros when purchased beforehand from Helsinki Region Transport (HSL) ticket machines or HSL app or 6.50 from the driver with cash. At night you can also take the 415N night bus. Timetable for the Bus 615.

By taxi:

You can also travel conveniently between the airport and the city centre by taxi, which will cost around 45 euros. Credit cards are accepted.

More information on connections to Helsinki Airport.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT IN HELSINKI

Helsinki region has an integrated public transport ticket system. The same tickets can be used for traveling on buses, trams, the Metro, commuter trains and the ferry to Suomenlinna. You can also transfer from one vehicle to another with the same ticket.

Single tickets are available from bus drivers or ticket machines as well as in advance from R-kioski or several other sales points. The most convenient way to buy tickets is by HSL mobile app.

Tickets are not sold on commuter trains; you need to buy your ticket in advance. As drivers do not carry much change, please pay with small change when buying a ticket from the driver. Please note that drivers do not have to accept bills larger than EUR20. Debit and credit cards are not accepted on buses and trams.

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