Advancing and Supporting FAIR Principle Adoption through Innovative Social Infrastructure Tools

The adoption of the FAIR data principles has revolutionised data management in Earth System Sciences (ESS), yet challenges persist in achieving true machine-actionability and comprehensive implementation. 

DeSci Labs introduces two innovative tools—Decentralised Persistent Identifiers (DPIDs) and the CODEX protocol—to address the barriers to FAIR data practice implementation in general; whilst fostering widespread uptake of FAIR principles in the ESS community in particular through involvement in the FAIR2Adapt consortium.

DPIDs are globally unique persistent identifiers based on, and linked directly to, the content of the files it refers to. Each version of every file, regardless of type, is automatically assigned a cryptographic fingerprint, ensuring deterministic resolution and transparent versioning. The DPID has been specifically designed to support FAIR digital research objects. The flexibility to alias DPIDs with existing systems (e.g., DOIs) and programmatic publishing capabilities via NodesLib enhances interoperability while preserving data sovereignty.

The CODEX protocol, an open scholarly infrastructure, further complements this by enabling the storage and retrieval of FAIR digital research objects via a decentralised peer-to-peer network (IPFS). This architecture allows multiple copies of the same content to be stored by different network participants using the same PID. By empowering researchers to collaborate within an open-state repository, the protocol minimises reliance on centralised actors, ensuring long-term accessibility, data integrity, and transparency. Its modular design facilitates diverse gateway applications, maximising participation and reducing barriers to entry.

These tools address core challenges in FAIR adoption by providing robust, scalable, and interoperable solutions tailored to the ESS community. By integrating DPIDs and CODEX into data workflows, researchers can enhance data reusability, improve the provenance of research outputs, and safeguard the collective scientific record. This presentation explores how these technologies can catalyse the next decade of FAIR data practices in ESS, fostering trust, reproducibility, and innovation.