We are dedicated to openly sharing all environmental microbiome data we collect with the research community according to the FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) data use principles. We believe that, in general, holding naturally occurring biological data behind walls for the sake of commercialization or a competitive advantage directly impedes scientific progress. Generating intellectual property and starting companies is great: but data alone does not equal value, it’s what you do with it that matters. Keeping data – especially naturally occurring biological data – behind closed doors unnecessarily means that everyone has to build the same dataset independently to answer similar questions: this is wildly inefficient.

That’s why we’re committed to making the raw environmental sequencing we collect publicly available at zero cost to other researchers.

A tangible respect for local and indigenous data sovereignty is built into our work. We sample around the world, often in areas with local populations that have lived there for generations. Wherever we work, we ensure we have local collaborators and contacts in the community who understand exactly what and why we’re doing what we’re doing. Our culturing work is Nagoya compliant, we stand by FAIR data use principles, and prior to collection, we specify for every sample exactly what it could be used for, from basic research to, with the consent of the appropriate parties, intellectual property generation. We are dedicated to honoring and respecting the traditions of the local peoples who inhabit where we sample, and we are continually making efforts to build scientific bridges all over the world.