Barriers to legal interoperability of research data

Barriers to implementing legal interoperability principles for data in the context of multinational, multifunder,

transdisciplinary projects

By Carrie E. Seltzer, Ph.D.September 20, 2017

RDA 10th PlenaryRDA/CODATA Legal

Interoperability Interest Group

PROJECT TEAM RECIPE

Projects must have:

• Natural scientists, social scientists AND stakeholders

• Transdisciplinary, co-created research

• Team members from at least three different countries

• Support from at least three different funders

E-INFRASTRUCTURES ANDDATA MANAGEMENT

“….the need to address global environmental challenges requires a more coordinated approach to the planning, implementation, and management of data, analytics and e-Infrastructures” through international collaboration.

- Belmont Forum, New Delhi, February 2013

COMMUNITY STRATEGY AND IMPLEMENTATION PLAN

CSIP delivered June 2015

Belmont Forum adopted Data Principles and Policy

October 2015

BELMONT FORUM DATA POLICY AND PRINCIPLES

Data should be:

• Discoverable through catalogues and search engines

• Accessible as open data by default, and made available with minimum time delay

• Understandable in a way that allows researchers—including those outside the discipline of origin—to use them

• Manageable and protected from loss for future use in sustainable, trustworthy repositories

The Belmont Forum and its members will support and promote this data policy and principles with the intent of making these data principles enforceable over time.

PHASE 2: IMPLEMENTATION

Coordination Office

Data Planning

e-InfrastructuresCapacityBuilding

EARLIER PROJECTS

Considerations:

• Belmont Forum projects started prior to 2017 generally did not have open data or data management requirements (beyond what was required by individual funders)

• Could provide useful retrospective case studies

IMPLEMENTATION

Elements:

• Incorporating standard language into each call text.

• Requiring different levels of data management questions at:

• Pre-proposal or letter of intent

• Full proposal

• Award

• Collecting policies from all funders involved

• Offering/requiring data skills training as part of a recommended curriculum based on identified skill gaps

INTERSECTION WITH LEGAL INTEROPERABILITY GUIDELINES

Existing:

• Top-down harmonization. (Guidelines 5A/5C)

In progress:

• Education about rights and responsibilities in research data (Guideline 2D)

Opportunities:

• Determine rights & responsibilities (Principle 2 & guidelines)

• Balance legal interests (Principle 3 & guidelines)

• State the rights transparently and clearly (Principle 4 & guidelines)

CRAs SINCE IMPLEMENTAITON

Timelines:

• Three Collaborative Research Actions (CRAs) require open data and data management plans

• Proposals are not yet submitted

• Awards will be made in 2018

• Some level of data skills training will be offered for project teams in 2018

• Projects will be last 3 years

CRAs IN DEVELOPMENT

Elements:

• Other CRAs are about one year behind

• Call text not finalized

• Opportunities to more deeply integrate legal interoperability guidelines

FOR DISCUSSION 15:30-17:00

• Would this group like to explore the implementation in the Belmont Forum context in greater depth?

• Which principle(s) would be best to focus on?

• What resources would be required?

• On what timeline would the activity occur?

• What would be desirable outcomes?

ALL ARE WELCOME TO JOIN THE BREAKOUT IN MANSFIELD 9!