Vivo is an open-source research networking system used at the Scripps Research Institute to connect scholars and organize academic data. Key principles include open software, data, and community, with multiple uses such as enhancing faculty reporting and visualizing scholarly activities. Lessons learned emphasize the importance of administrative and technical support, integration challenges, and the need for improved accessibility and evaluation processes.

1. VIVO, an Open-Source
Research Networking System:
A Case Study at
The Scripps Research Institute
Brian Lowe
Ontocale SRL
brian@ontocale.com
Michaeleen Trimarchi
Former Manager, Library
Programs, Kresge Library, TSRI

2. VIVO basics

4. VIVO
• Research Networking System (RNS)
• An open, shared platform for connecting
scholars, research communities, campuses, and
the world using Linked Open Data (LOD)
• Supports recording, editing, searching, browsing
& visualizing scholarly activity

5. Key VIVO principles
• Open software: vivoweb.org
• Open data: RDF & Linked Open Data
• Open ontology: VIVO-ISF
• Open community: VIVO at Duraspace.org
• Local control

6. Multiple Uses for VIVO
VIVO
Reports
Portfolio/
Vitae
Websites
Faculty
Reporting
CRIS
systems
„Self”
Editing
ORCID
Institutional
DBs
Publication
DBs

7. Scripps VIVO: vivo.scripps.edu

8. Scripps VIVO: vivo.scripps.edu

13. VIVO profile: Sharpless

14. Customizing and extending

15. VIVO Publication Links

17. VIVO Publication Links

18. VIVO NIH Biosketch List

19. VIVO PubMed Papers

20. VIVO Publication Links

21. Additional Customizations

22. Additional Customizations

23. Getting the data into VIVO

24. Scripps VIVO: Getting the Data

25. Scripps Data Sources
VIVO
EndNote publication
database
Bib2vivo
Web of
Science,
etc.
NCBI
identifier
services
pictures
Basic profile
data
Library
Curation
appointments
education
and awards

26. EndNote Tags for VIVO Ingest

27. VIVO Education and Awards

28. Harnessing the data

29. VIVO search: Stanford

30. VIVO: Stanford University

31. VIVO Map of Science

32. VIVO Co-author Network

33. VIVO Co-author Network

34. Co-author Visualization

35. Lessons learned

36. Lessons Learned
• Administrative support
• Critical for project launch
• Office of the COO & the Dean of Faculty
• Financial support
• Unexpected costs arise
• Team participation in early stages was limited by
already-approved library budget

37. Lessons Learned
• Technical support
• NIH grant: >100 people across seven institutions
• resources to supplement in-house expertise
• Access to software development resources
proven critical to project’s success
• identification of qualified contract programmers
became a priority

38. Additional considerations

39. Accessibility Issues
• Only library staff can log in to edit VIVO
• Editing forms need further refinement to be usable
by the wider academic community
• not a high priority at this time
• Most data in standard text format
• Raw visualization data available for use in other
environments

40. Evaluation
• Currently no formalized evaluation process
• Have been responsive to faculty needs
• supporting NIH grant application process
• institution relies on NIH grant support for
approximately three-quarters of our operating
budget

41. Integration with Other Library Websites
• Integration of VIVO into faculty biographical
sketches on the main institution website
• explored with (former) director of IT services
• not yet implemented
• Data curated for VIVO allows library staff to be
responsive to requests from administration
• demonstrate faculty collaboration

42. Thank You
Questions?
Brian Lowe
Ontocale SRL
brian@ontocale.com
Michaeleen Trimarchi
Former Manager, Library
Programs, Kresge Library, TSRI