Universities and researchers need to be able to manage research data effectively to fulfil research funders requirements and ultimately to contribute to research excellence. UK universities are comparatively well advanced in what is a global challenge, but none the less there needs to be further advances in university policy, technical and support services. This session will share best practice in research data management and information about key tools that can help to develop university solutions; and it will also inform participants about the latest Jisc initiatives to help build university research data services and shared services.

1. Rachel Bruce, Jisc, Kevin Ashley, DCC, Debra Hiom, University of Bristol &
Laurian Williamson, University of Sheffield
Meeting the Research Data Management Challenge

2. The growing pressure of data …2009 ,
2010
Research Data Management 2

3. Why Research Data Management?
Research Data Management 3
•Research Excellence & Impact – data will be cited; used by others
including peers, other disciplines, the public, industry, in learning –
ability to meet global challenges; innovate & create new research
areas.
•Research integrity - replication, verification of research,
improvement of methods & results.
•Efficiency - save duplication of research effort, data creation &
therefore costs; ease of access & re-use.
•Managing risks – ability to meet FOI requests; protect reputation.

4. In reality…
Research Data Management 4
Social Scientist- “I have
notes, photos & video and
audio of subjects it would
take way too long to
anonymise it ”
Informatics
researcher- “ yes I will
share my data but
people should register;
& why change to the
Open Data Commons
licence I have a
bespoke licence I have
always used”
Philosopher- “I
don’t have data, I
annotate books”
Bio-scientist- “why
would I put my data in
a repository? I share it
informally with my
peers, no-one else
would understand it. “
Engineer “ I
have lots of
data but you
need a licence to
this bespoke
software to use
it”

5. DUDs
The data centre
under the desk (or
in a back pack) is
not adequate.
5

6. Discussion…
Research Data Management 6
•What components do you need in your research data
services?
•Where does the primary responsibility lie for delivering
each component?
•Who, if anyone, is responsible for overall coordination?
•& IF time , what do you perceive as the major common
pain point or two?WHAT WOULDYOU LIKE JiscTO DO?
•Try and capture on your flip charts.