Abstract
The Oxford University Research Archive (ORA) is the University's open access repository for research outputs. To simplify deposit in ORA, a registry has been created containing data harvested from existing sources to be used as repository metadata. The registry stores publicly available research activity data, that is, data about research including people, projects, and funders. Data held in the registry are available for purposes beyond the repository, particularly as the registry uses semantic web technologies which expedite data sharing. Value is added by aggregating disparate data for discovery, by making creative use of data such as revealing connections between entities and recording data provenance. This article describes the entity registry, its role within ORA, and as a tool to support scholarly communication. The advantages of storing data as entities and gathering, aggregating, and displaying research activity data to assist dissemination of research are explained. Examples of use of the registry and its data are provided that enable easy discovery of researchers and their activities and reveals hidden connections between them, thereby, encouraging communication and collaboration between different subject areas. Development of the registry and examples has been underpinned by extensive stakeholder analysis and user testing.
Highlights
New technologies improve the efficiency of scholarly communication processes and open up possibilities which were not available before
This paper presents an initiative to support research processes and scholarly communication activities which uses and goes beyond institutional repositories
The aim of the project is the efficient sharing of Research Activity Data (RAD) using semantic web technologies (Rumsey 175)
Summary
New technologies improve the efficiency of scholarly communication processes and open up possibilities which were not available before. These advances have the potential to transform scholarly communication in a profound manner (Williams and Lawton). IRs offer numerous benefits to researchers and their institutions as they capture, preserve, and provide access to the digital work products of a community (Foster and Gibbons). They help in promoting the institution‟s research profile and providing global visibility for research outputs. Systems complementary to IRS could be used to improve awareness, and scholarly communication, by creating alternative channels of communication, and by using contextual information which is easier to distribute but relevant to the understanding of how research outputs are produced
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