Research Data Curation Pilots: Lessons Learned

David Minor,Arwen Hutt,Declan Fleming,Don Sutton,Matt Critchlow,Mary Linn Bergstrom

doi:10.2218/ijdc.v9i1.313

David Minor, Arwen Hutt + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.2218/ijdc.v9i1.313

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Abstract

In the spring of 2011, the UC San Diego Research Cyberinfrastructure (RCI) Implementation Team invited researchers and research teams to participate in a research curation and data management pilot program. This invitation took the form of a campus-wide solicitation. More than two dozen applications were received and, after due deliberation, the RCI Oversight Committee selected five curation-intensive projects. These projects were chosen based on a number of criteria, including how they represented campus research, varieties of topics, researcher engagement, and the various services required. The pilot process began in September 2011, and will be completed in early 2014. Extensive lessons learned from the pilots are being compiled and are being used in the on-going design and implementation of the permanent Research Data Curation Program in the UC San Diego Library. In this paper, we present specific implementation details of these various services, as well as lessons learned. The program focused on many aspects of contemporary scholarship, including data creation and storage, description and metadata creation, citation and publication, and long term preservation and access. Based on the lessons learned in our processes, the Research Data Curation Program will provide a suite of services from which campus users can pick and choose, as necessary. The program will provide support for the data management requirements from national funding agencies.

Highlights

In 2008, a campus-wide survey designed to elicit feedback on topics related to contemporary scholarship and its use of cyberinfrastructure was conducted at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD)
The results of the survey were used as the the basis of a publicly available blueprint (UCSD Research Cyberinfrastructure Design Team, 2009)
Modelled on DMPOnline13, a web-based tool produced by the Digital Curation Centre (DCC) to assist researchers in the United Kingdom in creating data management plans, the DMPTool provides context-specific guidance to researchers as they generate Data Management Plan (DMP)

Summary

Introduction

In 2008, a campus-wide survey designed to elicit feedback on topics related to contemporary scholarship and its use of cyberinfrastructure was conducted at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). The blueprint designates six core functional areas: a high speed research network, centralized campus storage, campus co-location facilities, shared computing facilities, and digital curation. Based on the direction provided by the blueprint, a shared campus initiative was started, known as the Research Cyberinfrastructure Initiative, or RCI.. Based on the direction provided by the blueprint, a shared campus initiative was started, known as the Research Cyberinfrastructure Initiative, or RCI.1 This group was tasked with operationalizing the services outlined, and providing them to campus in an efficient, cost-effective manner. The creation of a permanent Research Data Curation Program in the UC San Diego Library. These two instantiations are working closely to create a viable data curation service for campus. We will be examining the initial steps that have been taken under these efforts

Data Curation Pilots

Metadata Processes

Ingest of Data into Chronopolis

Training Classes on Data Management Planning and the DMPTool

Conclusion