#idcc11 data re-use – how can metadata stimulate re-use?

The following blog post has been written by Anne Spalding, Kaptur Project Officer, University for the Creative Arts, about one of the pre-conference workshops on Monday 5th December 2011, held at the 7th International Digital Curation Conference, “Public? Private? Personal? Navigating the open data landscape”.

This workshop was organised and hosted by the LIBER http://www.libereurope.eu/ working group on e-science.  This particular workshop is the second of the four workshops they are running.   The first part of the session was given over to presentations from a variety of speakers.  David Giaretta, Director of the Alliance for Permanent Access http://www.alliancepermanentaccess.org/  gave the keynote address outlining the importance of preserving data and access to this information.  See also Riding the Wave report available at http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/ict/e-infrastructure/docs/hlg-sdi-report.pdf

Rob Grim from the University of Tilburg spoke about the Open Data Foundation (ODaF) http://www.opendatafoundation.org/  and presented an interesting diagram illustrating four key areas in which libraries can be involved with data:  data availability, data discovery service, access and accessibility and delivery services.  Dave Reynolds from Epimorphics (a company which specialises in linked data) outlined an example of the work they have been doing with the Environment Agency on the quality of bathing water:  http://www.epimorphics.com/web/projects/bathing-water-quality .  The final presentation was from Karen Morgenroth of the Canada Institute for Scientific and Technical Information, who outlined the work of Datacite http://datacite.org/

There then followed a lively discussion about how libraries can support the infrastructure and access to research data.  Within our group this then led to a debate about the purpose and function of libraries in general.

#idcc11 delivering post-graduate research data management training

The following blog post has been written by Anne Spalding, Kaptur Project Officer, University for the Creative Arts, about one of the pre-conference workshops on Monday 5th December 2011, held at the 7th International Digital Curation Conference, “Public? Private? Personal? Navigating the open data landscape”.

After introductions there were presentations on various research data management projects which looked at data management training provision across a variety of subject areas.  All the materials created by UK institutions are available via JORUM http://www.jorum.ac.uk/ as well as through the institutional or project websites.

Robin Rice presented information about MANTRA, an online training programme aimed at both PhD students and early career researchers.  http://datalib.edina.ac.uk/mantra/  Sue Childs from Northumbria University talked about DATUM which is used to promote research data management skills in health studies.   http://www.northumbria.ac.uk/sd/academic/ceis/re/isrc/themes/rmarea/datum/  Data Train was presented by Anna Collins of Cambridge University.  Her talk compared and contrasted the two approaches taken for the subjects of Archaeology and Social Anthropology.   The students had to write a data management plan as part of the training which was assessed by the relevant department.  http://www.lib.cam.ac.uk/preservation/datatrain/

Laura Molloy spoke briefly about DMTPsych http://www.dmtpsych.york.ac.uk/ and then Stephen Gray presented Cairo (Curating Artistic Research Output) which produced a post graduate module for Managing Creative Arts Research Data http://resources.jorum.ac.uk/xmlui/handle/123456789/15706   The final presentation was given by Rebecca Koskela from the University of New Mexico about DataONE (Data Observation Network for Earth).  https://www.dataone.org/  One of the roles of DataONE is to preserve and maintain access to scientific data particularly in the area of environmental sciences.   They are also working to provide training in all elements of the data life cycle and engaging with relevant stakeholders.  DataONE is working to link things together and accessibility is key.

Breakout sessions followed which covered the themes of a) creating and repurposing discipline-specific learning materials, b) modes of delivery, and c) engagement with postgraduate training programmes.  After each group had reported back various themes emerged from the breakout sessions.

One of these was about roles and responsibilities for research data and management, within the UK, DCC and JISC are in a good position to provide a framework and structure. All the UK projects above are in JORUM but not linked together in a harmonised way.  There is a lack of cohesion.  Another factor is language and terminology; it is about translating the language of information handling into words that are used by researchers.  Timing of research data management programmes is key, as is building relationships.   There was some discussion about the benefits of online and face to face delivery of programmes.  This subject is likely to becoming increasingly important with distance learning becoming more prevalent.  One can always develop hybrid programmes with online content followed by face to face meetings.  It is important to create a university wide policy around data management.  Programmes in data management cannot be produced in an hour and a suggested ratio was for one hour of deliverable material, allow ten hours preparation time.  It is worthwhile taking time and taking the ‘long view’.  Embedding is another key factor in the success of the programmes.   It is clear that in order for the management of research data and programmes teaching these skills to be successful awareness needs to be raised with students, senior management, librarians, academics, IT and possibly other stakeholders.

Laura Molloy then presented recommendations from the DaMSII (Data Management Skills and Support Initiative) at the University of Glasgow.  http://www.dcc.ac.uk/training/data-management-courses-and-training/skills-frameworks  and/or http://www.rin.ac.uk/our-work/researcher-development-and-skills/data-management-and-information-literacy