Abstract
Research data is central to research; sharing and enabling access to research data are now seen as essential to research integrity. Making research data accessible goes beyond validation as it also supports new research and innovation. However, sharing of research data is not yet ‘business as usual’, though digital technology is making data sharing much easier and Jisc is currently harnessing this in partnership with the UK research community to develop the research data shared service (RDSS). The RDSS will enable research organizations to support researchers to easily deposit data for publication, discovery, safe storage, long-term archiving and preservation. Ultimately it will support researchers in sharing and re-using data and will enable increased reproducibility of research. The initial impetus for the development is to better enable institutions to meet policy requirements around research data, whilst exploiting efficiencies and best practice generated by working collectively. This article examines the development of this service so far, from initial ideas and requirements gathering to entering technical development.
Highlights
Introduction and backgroundThroughout this article we use ‘research data’ as defined by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) research data definition: ‘Research data is defined as recorded factual material commonly retained by and accepted in the scientific community as necessary to validate research findings; the majority of such data is created in digital format, all research data is included irrespective of the format in which it is created.’[1]For a number of years, managing research data has been on the agenda of research funders and organizations, and Jisc has worked with universities and funders to seek to address related needs
The need to address the inefficient approach to research data management (RDM) drove the project and, through consultation with the sector, a picture emerged of
In addition to informing the requirements for the research data shared service (RDSS) via this work, we have developed resources that could be reused
Summary
Throughout this article we use ‘research data’ as defined by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) research data definition: ‘Research data is defined as recorded factual material commonly retained by and accepted in the scientific community as necessary to validate research findings; the majority of such data is created in digital format, all research data is included irrespective of the format in which it is created.’[1]. We know that at institutional level the requirements of government and funders are placing potentially significant financial costs on institutions which they are finding challenging to discharge in the present financial climate.’[2] This characterizes the environment in which the research data shared service (RDSS)[3] emerged as a priority development for Jisc. In order to create a ‘balanced portfolio’ universities that had expressed an interest in joining the pilot were evaluated against criteria taking into account the size and type of institution (e.g. research intensive, small and specialist, teaching led), availability of varying types of data, their degree of RDM readiness (e.g. from greenfield sites to more established) and current use of institutional systems.[24] As a result of this selection process, Jisc is collaborating with the following pilot institutions to develop the service:. More information on the detail of the functions of these lots can be found in the RDSS Operational Requirements document[25] and a list of successful suppliers on the lots can be found on the Jisc RDM blog.[26]
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