# Kevin Richards

> researcher

**Wikidata**: [Q51883936](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q51883936)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/kevin-richards-q51883936

## Summary
Kevin Richards is a New Zealand researcher and programmer who has been affiliated with Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research from 1992 to 2025. He is best known for contributing to "GUID and Life Sciences Identifiers Applicability Statements," which supports biodiversity data standards.

## Biography
- Born: [date and place not provided]
- Nationality: New Zealand
- Education: University of Waikato
- Known for: Contributing to GUID and Life Sciences Identifiers Applicability Statements
- Employer(s): Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research (1992–2025)
- Field(s): Research, programming, software engineering

## Contributions
Kevin Richards has made significant contributions to biodiversity informatics through his work on the Global Unique Identifier (GUID) and Life Sciences Identifiers (LSID) standards. He specifically contributed to "GUID and Life Sciences Identifiers Applicability Statements," which provides technical guidelines for implementing these identifiers in biological data management. This work has been published on GitHub (https://github.com/tdwg/guid-as) and has likely supported standardized data management practices across the scientific community during his extensive tenure at Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research.

## FAQs
### Q: What organization has Kevin Richards been affiliated with the longest?
A: Kevin Richards has been affiliated with Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research since 1992, with his association continuing through at least 2025, representing a 33+ year commitment to the New Zealand research institute.

### Q: What technical standards has Kevin Richards contributed to?
A: Richards contributed to "GUID and Life Sciences Identifiers Applicability Statements," which outlines implementation guidelines for Global Unique Identifiers and Life Sciences Identifiers in scientific data management.

### Q: What is Kevin Richards' educational background?
A: He is educated at the University of Waikato, though specific degrees or years of completion are not provided in the available source material.

## Why They Matter
Kevin Richards has played a crucial role in advancing biodiversity informatics through his long-standing work at Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research and his contributions to data standardization efforts. By developing guidelines for GUID and LSID implementation, his work has helped establish consistent data management practices that enable better sharing and integration of biodiversity information across institutions and projects. His three-plus decades of service to a key environmental research institution in New Zealand have likely supported numerous conservation and environmental monitoring initiatives that rely on standardized data practices.

## Notable For
- Long-term affiliation with Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research spanning from 1992 to at least 2025
- Contributions to GUID and Life Sciences Identifiers Applicability Statements for biodiversity data management
- Professional role as a programmer within the research sector
- Education at University of Waikato
- Work supporting environmental research in New Zealand

## Body
### Professional Background
Kevin Richards has maintained an extended relationship with Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research, a New Zealand environmental research institute headquartered in Lincoln, from 1992 through 2025. During this period, he has served in roles that combine programming expertise with research objectives.

### Technical Contributions
Richards has made tangible contributions to scientific data management standards through his work on "GUID and Life Sciences Identifiers Applicability Statements." This technical documentation provides implementation guidelines for standardized identifiers used in biodiversity informatics, addressing a critical need for interoperability in scientific data systems. His work is publicly available on GitHub, demonstrating an open-source approach to developing these important standards.

### Educational Background
Richards is educated at the University of Waikato, a New Zealand institution known for its computer science and environmental research programs. While specific details about his degree or field of study are not available in the source material, his professional trajectory suggests a focus on applying programming skills to environmental research challenges.

## References

1. [Source](https://github.com/tdwg/guid-as)