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The Unified Astronomy Thesaurus as a Platform for LIS Training in Scientific Knowledge Organization Gretchen R. Stahlman Florida State University School of Information
Recap: What is the Unified Astronomy Thesaurus (UAT)? Open, interoperable, community-supported controlled vocabulary Standard linked data format SKOS RDF/XML Consistent set of astronomy keywords to describe resources (publications, data) Owned by American Astronomical Society Advised by Working Group of librarians, astronomers, data experts and publishers (the WGUAT) Hosted by Australian Research Data Commons Managed using PoolParty, GitHub
Recap: UAT Stakeholders Academic journal publishers American Astronomical Society (AAS) journals Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific (PASP) Observatories Hubble Space Telescope and James Webb Space Telescope proposals Data archives IVOA CDS ADS / SciX Promoting UAT as standard for assigning concepts to literature, data, software UAT keywords enabled since 2021 Refine search by keywords to identify relevant literature Using machine learning to automatically assign UAT concepts to prior literature Integrating concepts from other thesauri in other disciplines
How can Library & Information Science (LIS) education be embedded in the ecosystem? The UAT is a data curation challenge and LIS research/learning opportunity! Standardization as a community effort Controlled vocabularies and classification Evolution of knowledge organization systems Semantic drift in space science The role of AI in curation Etcetera … and vice versa?
Background: Integrating iSchool Students Bringing the UAT into the LIS classroom Master’s level courses: Information Organization @Rutgers University Data Organization @Florida State University (FSU) iSchool Useful for teaching: Resource description and taxonomies Representing and publishing controlled vocabularies as linked data Vocabulary management platforms Curation and governance FSU iSchool students have diverse skills and professional backgrounds Master of Science in Information (MSI) Master of Science in Information Technology (MSIT) The WGUAT envisioned an internship program to engage students in curation Posted a broad FSU internship description with options for projects (curation, ingest, outreach, coordination, etc.) Successful pilot internship experience mentored by CfA in Fall 2024
“Training an LIS workforce of the future through curation of the Unified Astronomy Thesaurus” Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian program (Planning Grant) 18-month project based at Florida State University Collaboration with the WGUAT Intellectual merit: Solution for UAT curation needs Vehicle for training LIS workforce (including astronomy and data librarianship) Transferrable model for other iSchools and contexts Project Deliverables: Environmental scan Literature review and evidence mapping will explore similar internship and fellowship programs in LIS, astronomy and related fields Internship structure and curricular plan Incorporating feedback from stakeholders and pilot interns into internship framework Summary report and sustainability framework Project outcomes and recommendations for implementation (governance, partners, funding, etc.)
Work Plan 1. Needs Assessment & Environmental Scan Literature review and online searching to identify and catalog existing models and projects across disciplines 2. Program Scoping Outline objectives and learning outcomes 3. Fieldwork & Stakeholder Engagement Conduct stakeholder interviews and participate in AAS Explore sustainability models Identify potential mentors 4. Curriculum Framework Establish curricular needs and interdisciplinary learning modules for interns on topics such as: Knowledge organization; thesaurus curation and metadata; governance and open science; AI; science communication; etcetera. 5. Finalization & Sustainability Summary report Sustainability plan Recommended internship structure and curriculum Evaluation of project success
Milestones and Timeline Phase 1: Project Initiation & Needs Assessment Oct - Nov ‘25 • Recruit a graduate student assistant • Plan environmental scan Phase 2: Scope the Internship Program Dec ‘25 – May ‘26 • Outline core objectives and learning outcomes • Develop an initial curriculum framework for the program, including modules for training • Attend the AAS Winter Meeting to gather insights Phase 3: Fieldwork & Community Engagement May ‘26 – Sep ‘26 • Conduct stakeholder interviews • Facilitate networking with potential mentors and collaborators • Raise awareness and seek feedback Phase 4: Program Refinement Sep ‘26 – Jan ‘27 • Refine internship structure with collaborators • Review and adjust proposed curriculum • Develop materials for student recruitment and mentor engagement Phase 5: Finalize Program Structure & Deliverables Feb ‘27 – Mar ‘27 • Finalize program curriculum and detailed structure • Prepare report summarizing the planning process and findings • Develop a detailed plan for sustainability • Continue disseminating results • Evaluate success
Potential Benefits for the UAT and Astronomy Sustained curation and governance Pipeline of curators Enhanced quality and responsiveness Systematic, evidence-based curation practices Support for open science and discoverability Reinforces FAIR Broader community engagement Collaboration and community curation Innovation and knowledge transfer Testbed for automation and educational outreach
