Institutional Support for Research Data ManagementWhy, what, and where next? A UK perspective

Digital Science Webinar 5 May 2015Angus Whyte a.whyte@dcc.ac.uk

because good research needs good data

Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 UK: Scotland.

Data science, metadata standards, shared servicesObsolescence, siloed and unexploited data

Demonstrate good practice, research integrityNon-compliance, legal risks, reputational damage

Professional development, sector leadershipDisengagement from researchers, staff, community

RDM opportunities and risks for institutions

Funding potential from better research environment Loss of assets, funding inefficient, unidentifiable costs

Trustworthy services, enabling citation, collaborationUnrecognised effort, low awareness, poor practices

Overview of UK Funder Data Policies

Source: Overview of funders’ data policies, available at: www.dcc.ac.uk/resources/policy-and-legal/overview-funders-data-policies

Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council mandates institutions to provide services

Skills training & consultancy

Policy and strategy Business planning

Data Mgmt Planning

Managing active data Data cataloguing

Governing access & reuseData preservation

Source: DCC Institutional RDM Survey 2014 (61 responses, n=130 research active institutions)

InitiatingRequirementsPilotingRolling outEmbedding

What services… and how quickly?

Directions of travel

UK funder policy harmonization & Horizon 2020 Guidelines

More awareness of cost models and guidance

Platforms more capable and connected • Link data publications

& code• Find data across

repositories

More institutional support to help them• Develop – share

useful exemplars• Deliver – address the

right questions with guidance, workflows & checklists

Policy Economic

Stake-holders

Cultural

Infrastructural

More awareness of reputational advantage

‘Progress has little to do with speed, but much to do with direction’ (anon.)

Thank you!Further DCC reference: resources, events, tailored support