Not all science starts in the lab, as is implied by Heather Pierce and colleagues’ advice to give credit to people who generate data for reuse (Nature 570, 30–32; 2019). We should not overlook the crucial work done by collectors of clinical and field samples.

Lab-dwellers risk ignoring the science that goes into determining what types of naturally occurring sample are needed and where these can be found, and into developing and executing procedures that ensure the future usefulness of these samples. This is an important part of the scientific process. Examples include ice-core collection to supply climate data, unearthing archaeological specimens, fossil hunting and collecting rare biological material to understand species diversity.

I have been in meetings where everyone wants such samples, but no one is willing to collect them because they know that their contribution will go unrecognized. Correcting this would boost the number and variety of samples available.