Astromat Workshop at MetSoc 2026

Astromat Data Workshop

Data Management Bootcamp for Astromaterials Researchers

This workshop aims to help researchers navigate the landscape of astromaterials sample data, from finding and accessing lab analytical data, to generating Open Science Data Management Plans (OSDMPs) for funding proposals, to documenting their own lab analytical data following community best practices, to depositing and archiving data in compliance with funders’ and journals’ policies. We specifically aim at early-career researchers to help them develop skills in digital cosmochemistry and make them aware of the resources available to support their data management. The workshop is organized by the Astromaterials Data System (Astromat), NASA’s designated archive for laboratory analytical data of returned samples.

The Workshop Can Be Booked During Your Registration Process

Presenter

  • Kerstin Lehnert

Details

  • Sunday, 9. August 2026
  • 13:00 – 17:00 (1 pm – 5 pm)
  • 30 Persons

Location

  • Senckenberg Natural History Museum
  • Jügel House (Jügelhaus)1
  • Mertonstraße 17
  • 60325 Frankfurt am Main
1 This is the same place where the Icebreaker will start at 17:00/5 pm.
Two-Part Workshop

The workshop will consist of two parts

No prior knowledge is required; this workshop will be structured to appeal to a wide range of users, building from introductory material with a focus on basic functionality for new users to more advanced applications for statistical or machine-learning approaches. Participants will have the opportunity to provide suggestions and feedback for the development of new features to help continually improve Astromat’s services for the community.

01. Data Management 101 for astromaterials samples (1PM – 3PM):

  • Overview of the lifecycle of laboratory analytical data.
  • Documenting analytical methods and lab protocols, documenting samples. 
  • Publishing, archiving, and citing astromaterials sample data in compliance with funder and journal policies.
  • Accessing and reusing astromaterials sample data, using web-interfaces and code-based data harvesting for more advanced applications. 

02. Method-specific documentation of analytical protocols (3:30PM – 5PM)

  • Participants will review and discuss a first set of Method Metadata Profiles developed by Astromat in collaboration with the OneGeochemistry initiative to advance community best practices for describing lab analytical methods, analytical protocols including sample processing and instrument configuration, as well as data reduction and data quality reporting. Astromat will present the prototype of its online tool for documenting and publishing analytical methods and protocols.

Program at a glance

12:30

Registration & Lunch

13:00 – 15:00

Part #1 – Intro, how to submit, synthesis, OSDMPs, intro to Method Metadata Profiles (MMPs)

15:00 – 15:30

Coffee break

15:30 – 17:00

Part #2 – MMPs, review 3 different methods to provide feedback, evaluate process (EPMA, ICP-MS, XCT)

17:00

Icebreaker starts in the same building