GMI13: equitable data sharing with William Hsiao
Andrew Page and Lee Katz speak with Dr William Hsiao on day two of the Global Microbial Identifier conference, GMI13, in Vancouver, Canada. Hsiao explains how he and Emma Griffiths approached organising a meeting with equity, diversity and interoperability in mind. They discuss participation from low- and middle-income countries, First Nations representation, and why social perspectives matter when designing technical approaches to data sharing.
Listen to Episode 112: Global Microbial Identifier conference with Will Hsiao on SoundCloud
In this episode
Four years in the making
William Hsiao introduces himself as working at Simon Fraser University and describes organising GMI13 with Emma Griffiths. They agreed to host in 2019, before the pandemic, making the event four years in the making. Hsiao distinguishes that long wait from the few months spent organising it. Both hosts say they are enjoying the meeting, with Lee praising its organisation.
Building more equitable data sharing
Hsiao describes a growing emphasis within GMI on equity and diversity, including greater participation from low- and middle-income countries. He points to the previous meeting in Singapore as an effort to support travel logistics for communities in Asia.
For Vancouver, the organisers wanted to build on that experience through social sciences and socially oriented discussions. The aim was to improve data sharing and make it more equitable, rather than assume one solution would fit everyone.
Representation and the work behind invitations
Andrew welcomes the inclusion of people from First Nations and marginalised communities. Hsiao explains that a major First Nations conference was taking place across town, making invitations difficult because several groups were already attending that event. They eventually found someone relevant who could join, and he credits Emma Griffiths with the practical work of resolving invitations.
Andrew also praises the meeting’s gender balance and notes that there have been no male-only panels so far.
Connecting social perspectives to interoperability
Hsiao says participant engagement has exceeded expectations. The discussions have also been more diverse and richer than the organisers’ initial ideas about where conversations would go.
When Lee brings the conversation back to bioinformatics, Hsiao identifies interoperability as another focus of the conference. He argues that considering social perspectives while designing technological solutions can improve buy-in and make practice more equitable. The discussion stays at this level rather than examining particular software or implementation methods.
A Vancouver coffee and doughnut verdict
Lee asks for Hsiao’s opinion on his arrival-night purchase: a Boston cream doughnut from Tim Hortons. Hsiao says Vancouver has better doughnut shops, but recommends ordering a double double coffee as a Canadian gesture. The exchange explains that this means two sugars and two creams, not a double espresso.
Highlights
- 00:01:00 — Hsiao introduces himself and explains the four-year wait to host GMI13.
- 00:01:59 — Equity, diversity and participation from low- and middle-income countries shape the meeting.
- 00:03:04 — Andrew welcomes First Nations and marginalised-community representation.
- 00:03:19 — A competing First Nations conference complicates invitations; Hsiao credits Emma Griffiths.
- 00:04:16 — Andrew praises gender balance and the absence of male-only panels so far.
- 00:04:50 — Participant engagement and the richness of discussion exceed organisers’ expectations.
- 00:05:34 — Hsiao connects interoperability with social perspectives, buy-in and equitable practice.
- 00:06:03 — Lee asks about his choice of a Boston cream doughnut from Tim Hortons.
- 00:06:24 — Hsiao gives his Vancouver doughnut verdict and recommends a double double coffee.
In their own words
It takes four years to think about it, and then a few months to organize it.
— William Hsiao, 00:01:28
Who is talking
- Andrew Page (host)
- Lee Katz (host)
- William Hsiao (guest, Simon Fraser University)
Also mentioned: Emma Griffiths.
Questions this episode answers
Who organised GMI13 in Vancouver, and why was it four years in the making?
William Hsiao describes organising the meeting with Emma Griffiths. They agreed to host in 2019, before the pandemic delayed the event; Hsiao says the actual organising took a few months.
How did GMI13 approach inclusion and equitable data sharing?
Hsiao describes building on GMI’s growing participation from low- and middle-income countries and using social-science perspectives to improve data sharing. Andrew also highlights First Nations and marginalised-community representation, along with gender balance at the meeting.
Why does Hsiao connect social perspectives with interoperability?
He argues that considering those perspectives when designing technological solutions can improve buy-in and make practice more equitable. The goal is to avoid treating data sharing as a problem with one solution that fits everyone.
This page was written from a machine transcript of the episode and checked against it. Listen to the episode for the whole conversation.
Show notes
Andrew and Lee are at the Global Microbial Identifier conference (GMI13) in Vancouver Canada. We talk to Dr William Hsiao, one of the organisers of the conference.