TY - CONF A1 - Pauw, Brian Richard T1 - Reimagining user-driven science N2 - The materials scientists we work with do not want (or need) to learn the ways of the scatterer; they are primarily interested in obtaining trustworthy, authoritative answers. In particular, they need structural understanding in light of the wider framework of their experiment(s). Our interest, therefore, lies in helping them attain this this interconnected understanding, while using such investigations to further hone our methodology to approximate perfection. While perfection is by definition an unattainable goal, we have spent the last 15+ years exploring and expanding on many of its constituent aspects (often together with likeminded people) [1]. These aspects include: developing various visualization and simulation tools, deconstructing data corrections and uncertainty estimation, advancing analysis methods, quantifying questions on traceability, documentation, reproducible automation of synthesis-, measurement- and data pipelines, data visualization, exploration and education, and many more… As we explored these individual aspects, it has become clear that high quality output demands involving ourselves in the entire experimental workflow, with all associated aspects. This allows you to establish trustworthy links between parameters, structure, and performance. Through multiple cross-checks and validations, we can furthermore assign a degree of confidence to our findings. This is what we call the holistic approach. This talk will briefly define perfection in scattering experiments, expand on the holistic approach, and show examples to demonstrate its benefits. T2 - Invited talk - special event CY - Trieste, Italy DA - 15.05.2025 KW - X-ray scattering KW - Holistic experiments KW - Laboratory management KW - Laboratory automation KW - Data stewardship KW - User support PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-63372 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Pauw, Brian Richard T1 - and now it's bigger…: setting up for large scale experimentation N2 - In our laboratory, we rely heavily on automation for synthesis and measurement. Done right, automation can deliver reliable quantities of excruciatingly detailed data, produced in a reproducible and traceable way. This data then needs sorting and organising, and a good structure of metadata is a good start to long-lasting data. This metadata collection is an essential part of our “holistic experimentation”-approach. In this approach, we try to ensure that all aspects of the experimental chain are performed to a high standard, so that experimental integrity is maintained. In other words: as a failure in one of the components of the chain can make an entire experiment worthless, we must ensure each component is done (and documented) well. In this talk, we show how we 1) synthesise well-documented sample series, 2) apply a complete end-to-end X-ray scattering characterisation methodology to those samples, and 3) can link the data from the synthesis to the structural details obtained from the scattering experiments in a visual dashboard. Furthermore, we will show examples on how data can be organised in hierarchical structures in HDF5-based datafiles, and how this helps move towards more trustworthy, traceable science. T2 - Future Labs Live 2025 CY - Basel, Switzerland DA - 27.05.2025 KW - Lab automation KW - Holistic experiments KW - Synthesis KW - Traceability KW - Data stewardship PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-63373 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Pauw, Brian Richard T1 - A quick intro to our NeXus format… N2 - A brief introduction is given into our data collection and organization procedure, and why we have settled on the HDF5-based NeXus format for describing experimental data. The links between NeXus and the SciCat data catalog is also provided, showing how the NeXus metadata is automatically added as searchable metadata in the catalog. T2 - NFDI NeXus Workshop CY - Online meeting DA - 17.03.2022 KW - Data management KW - Measurement organization KW - Measurement data KW - NFDI KW - FAIR KW - Open access KW - Data mining KW - Data tagging KW - Automated data tagging PY - 2022 AN - OPUS4-54823 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Pauw, Brian Richard T1 - The human factor: A round robin study on the variation in data analyses N2 - How much do we, the small-angle scatterers, influence the results of an investigation? What uncertainty do we add by our human diversity in thoughts and approaches, and is this significant compared to the uncertainty from the instrumental measurement factors? After our previous Round Robin on data collection, we know that many laboratories can collect reasonably consistent small-angle scattering data on easy samples. To investigate the next, human component, we compiled four existing datasets from globular (roughly spherical) scatterers, each exhibiting a common complication, and asked the participants to apply their usual methods and toolset to the quantification of the results (https://lookingatnothing.com/index.php/archives/3274). Accompanying the datasets was a modicum of accompanying information to help with the interpretation of the data, similar to what we normally receive from our collaborators. More than 30 participants reported back with volume fractions, mean sizes and size distribution widths of the particle populations in the samples, as well as information on their self-assessed level of experience and years in the field. While the Round Robin is still underway (until the 25th of April, 2022), the initial results already show significant spread in the results. Some of these are due to the variety in interpretation of the meaning of the requested parameters, as well as simple human errors, both of which are easy to correct for. Nevertheless, even after correcting for these differences in understanding, a significant spread remains. This highlights an urgent challenge to our community: how can we better help ourselves and our colleagues obtain more reliable results, how could we take the human factor out of the equation, so to speak? In this talk, we will introduce the four datasets, their origins and challenges. Hot off the press, we will summarize the anonymized, quantified results of the Data Analysis Round Robin. (Incidentally, we will also see if a correlation exists between experience and proximity of the result to the median). Lastly, potential avenues for improving our field will be offered based on the findings, ranging from low-effort yet somehow controversial improvements, to high-effort foundational considerations. T2 - International Small-Angle Scattering Conference (SAS2022) CY - Campinas, Brazil DA - 11.09.2022 KW - Round robin KW - Data analysis KW - Small angle scattering KW - Nanomaterials KW - MOUSE KW - Interlaboratory comparison KW - Intercomparability KW - Reliability KW - Data analysis round robin KW - Large number of participants PY - 2022 AN - OPUS4-55762 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Pauw, Brian Richard T1 - X-ray scattering for nanostructure quantification, and the quest for the perfect experiment N2 - Measuring an X-ray scattering pattern is relatively easy, but measuring a steady stream of high-quality, useful patterns requires significant effort and good laboratory organization. Such laboratory organization can help address the reproducibility crisis in science, and easily multiply the scientific output of a laboratory, while greatly elevating the quality of the measurements. We have demonstrated this for small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering in the MOUSE project (Methodology Optimization for Ultrafine Structure Exploration). With the MOUSE, we have combined a comprehensive and highly automated laboratory workflow with a heavily modified X-ray scattering instrument. This combination allows us to collect fully traceable scattering data, within a well-documented, FAIR-compliant data flow (akin to what is found at the more automated synchrotron beamlines). With two full-time researchers, our lab collects and interprets thousands of datasets, on hundreds of samples, for dozens of projects per year, supporting many users along the entire process from sample selection and preparation, to the analysis of the resulting data. This talk will briefly introduce the foundations of X-ray scattering, present the MOUSE project, and will highlight the proven utility of the methodology for materials science. Upgrades to the methodology will also be discussed, as well as possible avenues for transferring this holistic methodology to other instruments T2 - SNI 2022 CY - Berlin, Germany DA - 05.09.2022 KW - Methodology KW - X-ray scattering KW - Laboratory management KW - Instrumentation utilization KW - MOUSE KW - SAXS KW - WAXS KW - Automation PY - 2022 AN - OPUS4-55760 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Pauw, Brian Richard T1 - Reusable data: putting the “Arr” in FAIR N2 - This talk demonstrates how to apply FAIR principles to data from actual scientific investigations. The reasons and practical benefits of FAIR data are highlighted. Several levels of reusability are discussed, i.e. the “trust me”-level, the “I’ll not need to repeat my measurement”-level, and the “you’ll not need to repeat my measurements”-level. Practical FAIR datafiles are explored and their information content highlighted. T2 - Reusability of Scientific Data for Matter CY - Online meeting DA - 13.11.2025 KW - Methodology KW - Metadata KW - FAIR KW - Reusability KW - X-ray scattering KW - Traceability PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-65309 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -