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Open Science Data Summit - First Day

Day 1: Open Science Data Summit

 

Tuesday, January 13, 2026

 

Day 1 of the Wyoming Open Science Data Summit will begin with introductions and opening remarks to convenes researchers, educators, data professionals, and policymakers to advance an open, collaborative, and AI-ready future for Wyoming’s research data ecosystem. The summit seeks to build a sustained community of practice—and a center of influence—for open science standards, governance, and capacity across the state.  

 

 


 

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Agenda

Held at the UW Conference Center

Connected to the Hilton Garden Inn off 22nd & Grand.  

***PLEASE NOTE: AGENDA IS TENTATIVE AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE***

Go to Monday's Presummit Schedule Go to Open Science Data Summit | Home Page Go to Wednesday's Summit Schedule

 

Time Agenda Item Speaker(s)
Description Moderator(s)
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM Working Breakfast   A working breakfast for networking, and open, independent discussions.  
9:00 AM - 9:15 AM Welcoming Remarks Parag Chitnis Dr. Parag Chitnis,
Vice President, Research & Economic Development, UW

Welcome and opening Remarks Dr. Jeff Hamerlinck,
Director of Wyoming Geographic Information Science Center. UW
Associate Director of the School of Computing, UW
9:15 AM - 9:45 AM Introduction & Opening Discussions Jeff Hamerlinck
Director of Wyoming Geographic Information Science Center. UW
Assoc. Director of the School of Computing, UW
Introduction and Discussion on how the Open Science Data Summit began, what our plans are, how we can move forward, and goals for the summit.

Defining the "Unconference": How to introduce your own topic(s), how to vote for topics, and what to take away from it.
Submit a topic here:  
Then vote for your favorite(s) here:  
Nicholas Case 
President of Wyoming Geospatial Organization (WYGEO)
Assistant Lecturer
UW School of Computing | Geospatial Information Sciences & Technology
9:45 AM - 10:00 AM Break  
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM Data Governance, Compliance & Alignment
Shannon Albeke Headshot
Erik Holmond
Amy McLaughlin Headshot
Panel:

Dr. Shannon Albeke
Research Scientist, Sr
Wyoming Geographical Information Science Center, UW


,
Executive Director of Alberta Data Partnerships


Amy McLaughlin
Vice President & CIO
Information Technology, UW



Discussions around governance, the challenges associated with data governance, sharing, large scale datasets, alignment and compliance.  What are the biggest challenges, why it's necessary, and how can we improve. Dr. Beth McMillan
Interim Director | Institutional Professor
UW School of Computing
11:30 AM - 12:00 PM Navigating the Intersection Between State and Federal Data Requirements
Rob Baker Photo
sarah wright photo

National Data Scientist/Integrative Biologist
Inventory & Montoring Division
National Park Service


Data Scientist & Developer
Mojave Desert Inventory & Monitoring Network
National Park Service
  Dr. Jeff Hamerlinck,
Director of Wyoming Geographic Information Science Center. UW
Associate Director of the School of Computing, UW
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM Lunch      
1:00 PM - 1:30 PM Decoding an Evolutionary Algorithm: A Crowdsourced Framework for Behavioral Data Dr. Qian-Quan Sun , Professor, Zoology & Physiology
Director of Wyoming Sensory Biology Center, UW
For the ethologist and the neuroscientist, "behavioral persistence" is the same core phenomenon, but their data speak different languages. Discover how a crowdsourced science initiative has built the first universal metrics, creating a common data schema to translate adaptive behavior into clinical insight.
Dylan Perkins
Research Computing Facilitator
Advanced Research Computing Center, UW

1:30 PM - 2:15 PM Data Workflows, Pipelines and Challenges: Large Scale Equipment and Datasets
Dr. Brandoch Cook
Gregg Randolph Headshot
Dr. Z.J. Zhang
Panel:

Dr. Brandoch Cook, Director of Center for Advanced Scientific Instrumentation, UW




Lab Manager, Genome Technologies Lab, UW



Dr. Z.J. Zhang
Resesarch Scientist Sr
Zoology & Physiology
Director of Microscopy Facility, UW

A Panel discussion around data pipelines and workflows associated with the use of large scale equipment.  How it relates to governance, associated challenges, sharing of data and equipment, production and management of large datasets, and compliance. Dr. Katie Wagner
Associate Professor
Botany, UW

2:15 PM - 2:30 PM Break  
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM Industry Partnerships
Brian Hadley Headshot
Luke Macy
Dr. Sam Malloy
Panel:



Geospatial Program Director | Government Solutions, 





Founder,






Director of R&D



A panel discussion centered around public-industry partnerships, challenges, successes, and real-world cases.
Director of Wyoming
Geographic Information Science Center. UW
Associate Director of the School of Computing, UW
3:30 PM - 4:30 PM Statewide Partnerships: Collaboration between UW & CC
Mike Bostick Photo
Mara Gans Photo
Sean Harrington Headshot
Jacki Klancher
Dr. Shawna McBride
Ami Wangeline
Panel:  


Professor
Mathmatics, CWC



Instructor
GIS & Expedition Sciences, CWC





Research Scientist, Sr. 
Science Initiative, UW




Director of Research & Innovation | Professor Env Science & Health, CWC



Director
WY EPSCoR-IDeA, UW
Co-Director
NASA Space Grant, UW




Instructional Professor
Science Institute, UW



Panel discussion around statewide collaboration between ÃÛÑ¿TV, and Community Colleges.   (Benjamin) Jason Writer
Geospatial Developer
Wyoming Geographical Information Science Center, UW
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM Networking & Reception   Reception at the UW Conference Center for networking and reflection on the day's events.