Supporting Research Data Management at the University of Stirling
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The Digital Curation Centre (DCC) provides support to universities to help them manage research data. This includes tools to assess data needs and risks, plan data management, and develop policies. The DCC can help universities develop data management strategies, provide training to researchers, and pilot tools. Its goal is to build research data management capacity across UK higher education. The DCC is working intensively with 18 universities to increase capabilities in these areas over the next year.
Supporting Research Data Management at the University of Stirling
- 1. Because good research needs good data Supporting Research Data Management at the University of Stirling Graham Pryor and Martin Donnelly Digital Curation Centre 27 April 2012 Funded by This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 UK: Scotland License
- 2. The Digital Curation Centre is • a consortium comprising units from the Universities of Bath (UKOLN), Edinburgh (DCC Centre) and Glasgow (HATII) • launched 1st March 2004 as a national centre for solving challenges in digital curation that could not be tackled by any single institution or discipline • funded by JISC • with additional HEFCE funding from 2011 for • the provision of support to national cloud services • targeted institutional development
- 3. The DCC Mission Helping to build capacity, capability and skills in data management and curation across the UK’s higher education research community – DCC Phase 3 Business Plan
- 4. DCC institutional stakeholders University managers Researchers • University libraries Research support • IT services staff with a role to play • The research and in data management, innovation office particularly those from • Digital repositories
- 5. Why manage research data? The impact of e-Science and the global network • “Research data is a form of infrastructure, the basis for data intensive research across many domains” – EC Riding the Wave report, 2010 • “Funders expect research to be international in scope. A third of all articles published are internationally collaborative” – Royal Society, 2011 The governmental and funder imperative • “Publicly-funded research data must be made available for secondary scientific research” – ESRC research data policy
- 6. Why manage research data? The researcher incentive • “By making their data available via licensed platforms researchers stand to improve their status as researchers through the mandatory citing and attribution of their original work” – Mark Hahnel, FigShare, IDCC 2011
- 7. Why manage research data? The researcher incentive • “By making their data available via licensed platforms researchers stand to improve their status as researchers through the mandatory citing and attribution of their original work” – Mark Hahnel, FigShare, IDCC 2011 The same demanding, sometimes competing community of perspectives that the Digital Curation Centre was created to unravel…
- 8. Where is the data in research? The six datacentric phases of the research lifecycle
- 9. Reflections: the research data lifecycle
- 10. Three perspectives Scale and complexity – Volume and pace – Infrastructure – Open science Policy – Funders – Institutions – Ethics & IP Management – Storage – Incentives – Costs & Sustainability http://www.nonsolotigullio.com/effettiottici/images/escher.jpg/
- 11. The data deluge “Surfing the Tsunami” Science: 11 February 2011
- 12. Challenges of scale and complexity – transformation and globalisation
- 13. “For science to effectively function, and for society to reap the full benefits from scientific endeavours, http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/ukoln/staff/e.j.lyon/publications.htm it is crucial that science data be l#november-2009 made open”
- 14. Open to all? Case studies of openness in research Choices are made according to context, with degrees of openness reached according to: • The kinds of data to be made available • The stage in the research process • The groups to whom data will be made available • On what terms and conditions it will be provided Default position of most: • YES to protocols, software, analysis tools, methods and techniques • NO to making research data content freely available to everyone After all, where is the incentive? Angus Whyte, RIN/NESTA, 2010
- 15. “Data sharing was “While many researchers are more readily positive about sharing data indiscussed by principle, they are almost early career universally reluctant in researchers.” practice. ..... using these data to publish results before anyone else is the primary way of gaining prestige in nearly all disciplines.” INCREMENTAL Project
- 16. Rules and regulations… Compliance Data Protection Act 1998 • Rights, Exemptions, Enforcement Freedom of • Climategate, Tree Rings, Tobacco Information Act 2000 and…(what’s next?) Computer Misuse Act 1980 • etc. etc. etc………..
- 17. Policy • Public good • Preservation • Discovery • Confidentiality • First use • Recognition • Public funding
- 18. RCUK Policy and Code of Conduct on the Governance of Good Research Conduct (updated Oct 2011) UNACCEPTABLE RESEARCH CONDUCT includes mismanagement or inadequate preservation of data and/or primary materials, including failure to: keep clear and accurate records of the research procedures followed and the results obtained, including interim results; hold records securely in paper or electronic form; make relevant primary data and research evidence accessible to others for reasonable periods after the completion of the research: data should normally be preserved and accessible for 10 yrs (in some cases 20 yrs or longer); manage data according to the research funder’s data policy and all relevant legislation; wherever possible, deposit data permanently within a national collection. Responsibility for proper management and preservation of data and primary materials is shared between the researcher and the research organisation.
- 20. EPSRC’s nine expectations and a roadmap - implications for HEIs http://www.epsrc.ac.uk/about/standards/researchdata/Pages/expectations.aspx
- 21. DCC policy summary http://www.dcc.ac.uk/resources/policy-and-legal
- 22. Regulation, regulation… …….addressing where European copyright and database law poses flaws and obstacles to the access to research data Intellectual Property Rights and Digital Preservation 21.11.2011 at the Clifton Hill House, Bristol University “a poor fit between technology, processes and regulations constrains preservation actions and significantly inhibits the benefits which long-term access ought to deliver”
- 23. Data access as headline news JISC Legal
- 24. Management – infrastructure and data storage challenges... Scaleable Cost-effective (rent on-demand) Secure (privacy and IPR) Robust and resilient Low entry barrier / ease-of-use Has data-handling / transfer / analysis capability Cloud services? The case for cloud computing in genome informatics. Lincoln D Stein, May 2010
- 25. http://www.flickr.com/photos/mattimattila/3003324844/ “Departments don’t have guidelines or norms for personal back-up and researcher procedure, knowledge and diligence varies tremendously. Many have experienced moderate to catastrophic data loss” Incremental Project Report, June 2010
- 26. Management - incentivisation, recognition and reward
- 27. Management - costs, benefits and value
- 28. Help desk: 0131 651 1239 info@dcc.ac.uk www.dcc.ac.uk
- 29. DCC Institutional Support: Tools and Services Martin Donnelly Digital Curation Centre University of Edinburgh University of Stirling 27 April 2012
- 30. Institutional Engagements With funding from HEFCE we’re: • Working intensively with 18 HEIs to increase RDM capability – 60 days of effort per HEI drawn from a mix of DCC staff – Deploy DCC & external tools, approaches & best practice • Support varies based on what each institution wants/needs • Lessons & examples to be shared with the community www.dcc.ac.uk/community/institutional-engagements
- 31. Some current IE activities Assessing Piloting tools needs e.g. DataFlow RDM roadmaps Policy Policy development implementation
- 32. Support offered by the DCC Institutional Assess data catalogues needs Workflow assessment Pilot RDM tools Develop DAF & CARDIO DCC assessments Guidance support support team and training and services RDM policy Advocacy to senior development management Customised Data Make the case Management Plans …and support policy implementation
- 33. DATA MANAGEMENT STRATEGY (Research and Admin) Five components: • Policy • Advocacy • Planning • Tools • Training
- 34. Four DCC Tools
- 35. Your Data as Assets: DAF • What are the characteristics of research data assets? – Number? – Scale? – Complexity? – Dependencies? – Liabilities? • Why do researchers act the way they do with respect to data? • What do they need to do research?
- 36. IN BRIEF The Data Asset Framework provides a methodology and online tool to identify research data assets and find out how they are being managed. This information will enable institutions to develop a data strategy so their assets are preserved and remain accessible in the long term. It is usually applied at research group / department level to ensure the scope is manageable. URL: http://www.data-audit.eu
- 37. Data Management Planning: DMP Online • A growing requirement from funders, publishers and HEIs, in the UK and internationally • Supportive of good research practice, according to RCUK • A cross-cutting activity involving multiple stakeholder types (researchers, librarians, IT managers, support staff)
- 38. IN BRIEF DMP Online is the DCC's web-based data management planning tool. It allows you to build and edit DMPs according to the requirements of the major UK funders. The tool also contains helpful guidance and links for researchers and other data professionals. The structure of the tool is based on the DCC’s Checklist for a Data Management Plan. URL: http://www.dcc.ac.uk/dmponline
- 40. Capacity Assessment and Building: CARDIO • How well does an institution (or department, School, etc) manage its data? • Depends on: – Finances – Technology – Policy management – Organisational will • Demands acknowledgement of many perspectives
- 41. IN BRIEF An online tool which helps departments or research groups to identify and communicate their current data management capabilities, and subsequently identify coordinated pathways for future enhancement via a dedicated knowledge base. CARDIO emphasises a collaborative, consensus- driven approach, and enables benchmarking with other groups and institutions. URL: http://cardio.dcc.ac.uk/
- 43. Risk Management: DRAMBORA • A variety of risk factors, both internal and external, affect the management of digital objects such as research data • Risks can tangible (fire/flood) or intangible (accidental data loss leading to reputational impact) • They may exist in isolation, or lead to other risks if not adequately managed
- 44. IN BRIEF DRAMBORA is an audit methodology and tool for identifying and planning for the management of risks which may threaten the availability and/or usability of content in a digital repository or archive. URL: http://www.repositoryaudit.eu
- 45. DCC Services • Policy • Strategy • Training • Other services…
- 46. Policy (i) The DCC has a number of guidance resources related to research data policy. We can guide institutions on their requirements to manage/share data, and offer practical steps to help them develop data policies by: - Providing templates and examples to demonstrate what aspects could be incorporated into a data policy; - Coordinating / contributing to meetings of relevant stakeholders to ensure all activities and perspectives are addressed; - Reviewing and feeding back on draft policies; - Assisting with communications to launch and implement the policy.
- 47. Policy (ii) Benefits of developing a data policy: - Compliance with funder guidelines, e.g. the EPSRC expectation that HEIs have a RDM roadmap in place by May 2012, and be fully compliant by May 2015; - Assuring the good conduct of research in line with Research Integrity guidelines (see RCUK & UKRIO docs); - Clarity for researchers and demonstrable institutional commitment for RDM; - The prestige of joining a small but growing group of leading institutions with a data policy: http://www.dcc.ac.uk/resources/policy-and- legal/institutional-data-policies
- 48. Strategy (i) We offer a half-day workshop in which key stakeholders from an institution (e.g. librarians, senior IT staff, research administration, repository staff, researchers, etc) convene to discuss and develop an institutional strategy for RDM. Benefits: - Coherence across service providers and agreed direction for RDM services; - Ability to reference strategy / commitment to RDM (the University of Oxford policy may be a useful example of this - http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/rdm); - A move towards more efficient management of data.
- 49. Strategy (ii) Through practical breakout sessions, senior DCC staff can lead and mediate discussion to help the institution determine its priorities and define practical next steps. These might include the development of infrastructure (e.g. data repositories), new services (e.g. DMP support), policy development, improved guidance or data management training provision. Suggested actions will depend on gaps/areas for improvement as perceived by the institution.
- 50. Training (i) We offer a variety of training courses: - DC101 introduction to data management - Tools of the Trade courses which give practical overviews and hands-on exercises using DCC tools - Train-the-Trainer, which equips information professionals to teach RDM courses. We also organise regional data management roadshow events which can incorporate a training element. Generic training materials are available online, and hardcopy packs can be produced.
- 51. Training (ii) The DCC can: - Run courses, tailoring content to institutional needs; - Assist in the development of online learning materials (screencasts, audio-synced slides); - Develop resources such as guidance documents, case studies and manuals. Key benefits of training provision are: - Improved data management capacity; - The opportunity to profile and raise awareness of institutional support services.
- 52. Other services... CARDIO Used at research group or department level to assess activity and data management infrastructure and contribute to an institution-wide view Data Asset Framework DAF is a structured mechanism used to identify what data exists and understand how research data are being managed and shared Customised DMP We can work with you to develop an institution-specific instance of DMP Online for developing data management plans that fit funder requirements before and after an award of grant Policy development We can assist in the development of institutional policy Workflow assessment Using tested methodologies we can analyse current research data workflows Training We can train people in the use of many of the above tools and in generic skills such as data quality assessment Costing We can assist with the development of costing and pricing for data management services Risk management Working with you to identify risks in current or planned research data management practice, we will make recommendations on mitigation and the elimination of those risks Institutional data We can recommend options for exposing metadata about your research data via CRIS systems, repositories, or a mix of these catalogues
- 53. Recap: support offered by the DCC Institutional Assess data catalogues needs Workflow assessment Pilot RDM tools Develop DAF & CARDIO DCC assessments Guidance support support team and training and services RDM policy Advocacy with senior development management Customised Data Make the case Management Plans …and support policy implementation
- 54. Practicalities • University Modernisation Fund provides resource for 18 “institutional engagements” between DCC and HEIs • Up to 60 days of effort available per institution, between now and March 2013 • Institution agrees a schedule of work with the DCC, and each assigns a primary contact / programme manager
- 55. Questions and Thanks For more information: – Visit http://www.dcc.ac.uk – Email martin.donnelly@ed.ac.uk or graham.pryor@ed.ac.uk This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 UK: Scotland License. © Digital Curation Centre 2012