Data equity in paleobiology: progress, challenges, and future outlook

• DOI: 10.1017/pab.2024.61
• Publication Date: 2025-04-22T08:25:28Z
• Authors: Emma M. Dunne; Devapriya Chattop...; Christopher D. Dean; Erin M. Dillon; Elizabeth M. Dowding; Pedro L. Godoy; Jansen A. Smith; Nussaïbah B. Raja
• Keywords: Paleobiology; Equity

Abstract In the last 50 years, field of paleobiology has undergone a computational revolution that opened multiple new avenues for recording, storing, and analyzing vital data on history life Earth. With these advances, amount available research grown, but so too our responsibility to ensure tools infrastructures continue innovate in order best serve diverse community. This review focuses equity paleobiology, an aspirational goal, wherein all forms are collected, stored, shared analyzed responsible, equitable, sustainable manner. While there have been many advancements across five decades, inequities persist. Our most significant challenges relate several interconnected factors, including ethical collection, infrastructure, socioeconomic biases, global inequalities. We highlight ways which is critical stress need collaborative efforts paleobiological community urgently address challenges. also provide recommendations actions from individuals, teams, academic publishers, societies enhancing ensuring equitable future field.