Facilitate Open Science Training for European Research Library training, support and guidance in RDM Dr Gareth Cole. Research Data Manager, Loughborough University, UK Open access and research data management: Horizon 2020 and beyond University College Cork, April 14th & 15th 2015 Today’s session • Introduction and background • Loughborough University scenario • University of Exeter scenario • Training • Support and guidance • Example materials Introduction and background • Recently appointed as Research Data Manager at Loughborough – previously at Exeter (in a RDM role since 2011) • Research background: • PhD in Maritime History (Exeter, 2008) • Similarities between both Institutions • Need to identify: • Why you are providing the training, guidance and support • Who the training is aimed at • How to promote the training • What does successful training look like Loughborough University • Led by funder requirements BUT also seen as promoting the research of the University • Inter-departmental – Library, IT, Research Office • Aimed at: • PGRs • Researchers (Post-docs, Research Fellows etc.) • Academics (Lecturers, Professors etc.) • Promotion: • Used existing groups – e.g. Research Staff Association • Used existing programmes – e.g. Post-graduate development • Social media – e.g. blog • Contacting EPSRC grant holders • Success is an increased awareness of the advantages that good RDM can bring to an individual or group’s research. University of Exeter • Led by funder requirements • Jisc funded project under the JiscMRD Programme (archived webpage) • Inter-departmental – Library, IT, Research Office • Aimed at: • PGRs • Research active staff • Promotion • Used existing training programmes – e.g. Researcher Development Programme • Social media – e.g. Twitter • Contacted new RCUK funded researchers • Success was an increased awareness of funder policy/expectations as well as awareness of good RDM principles Requirements gathering and preparation • Loughborough: • Survey of data requirements across the University • Training by DCC staff of the Academic Librarians • A Loughborough researcher spoke to the Academic Librarians about their data issues and needs • (More recently) A day in the Life of a Researcher session for Library staff (included sections on data management) • Exeter: • Survey of College-level Computer Development Officers of data storage and archiving needs • Modified Data Asset Framework (DAF) (results available at http://hdl.handle.net/10036/3689) inc. interviews with academics • Training sessions organised, and led, by DCC and UKDS staff • Creation of research group level RDM policies e.g. http://hdl.handle.net/10871/12107 Policy • Loughborough (draft): http://www.lboro.ac.uk/service/research/offcampus/docs/R esearchDataManagementPolicy-Draft.pdf - The University will provide access to training, support, advice and, where appropriate, guidelines and templates for research data management and research data management plans. • Exeter: http://hdl.handle.net/10036/4280 - The University is responsible for the provision of training, support and advice on Open Access and research data management as well as the provision of a backed-up storage service for completed digital research data and for Open Access research papers. N.B. Both state “The University…” not “The Library…”. N.B. Both Institutions consulted academics/researchers during the formulation of the policy. Types of training • Both Institutions use similar training methods: • “Large” sessions aimed at a particular type of researcher e.g. PGR or post-doc • Presentations at institution-wide events, e.g. Research Staff Association (LU) or Research Focus Week (UoE) • Presentations to research groups, departmental staff meetings etc. • Web based materials • VLE – “Research Central” module (LU only – not just RDM) • Utilised existing strands of expertise e.g. Digital Curation Centre (DCC), UK Data Service (UKDS) • Loughborough also conducted an internal webinar on open access Contents of training sessions • What is RDM • Benefits of RDM • How to write a data management plan • Data storage • Data backup • Data sharing • Re-use of data N.B. Training sessions/programmes (should) cover the whole data lifecycle Support and Guidance - who • Loughborough: • Research Office • Library • Research Data Manager (recently appointed – March 2015) • Academic Librarians • IT staff • Institutional Repository Managers (as mitigation for Research Data Manager being off/leaving) • Generic email address (but with a named person) • Exeter: • Research Office • Academic College research support • Library • Open Access and Data Curation staff • Subject Librarians • IT staff • Generic email address (but with named people) Support and Guidance – what • Loughborough • Loughborough specific guidance on DMPonline • Pilot data repository service (Library, IT and academic schools) • Using figshare, Arkivum and Symplectic Elements • Copyright officer based in Library • Exeter • Advised on draft data management plans • One-stop-shop website inc. funder specific guides for DMPs • RDM Survival Guide – written by PGRs for PGRs • “Puzzled by Research Data Management?” leaflet • Advised and supported data deposit to Institutional Repository and external data centres (e.g. UKDS for ESRC funded research) • Copyright officer based in the Library Potential issues • Sustainability • Project vs service • Danger of creating silos • What if the RDM expert(s) leave • Engagement • Research community • Senior management • Peers • Resource • What to focus on – training, advising on DMPs, assisting with data deposits etc. Lessons learnt • Work collaboratively across the institution – Library, IT, Research Office, research active staff • Don’t re-invent the wheel if you don’t have to – reuse pre-existing material if it’s available • Talk to others doing a similar role at other Institutions • Don’t be afraid to say “I’m not sure, can I get back to you” in training sessions • Share resources across Institutions if possible or practicable • Identify “friendly” academic contacts who can act as champions or supporters Example materials • Loughborough • Website: http://www.lboro.ac.uk/services/library/research/experiment/ • Most training materials are on the VLE so not accessible for external users (ResearchCentral). Loughborough is happy to share its training materials on request and they can be reused with acknowledgement. • Loughborough guidance on DMPonline • Exeter • Website: http://as.exeter.ac.uk/library/resources/rdm/ • Funder specific DMP guidance: http://as.exeter.ac.uk/library/resources/rdm/create/datamanagem entplans/funderguidance/ • Example RDP session: How to Organise your Files - http://hdl.handle.net/10036/4269 Any Questions? • Contact Gareth Cole • Email: g.j.cole@lboro.ac.uk • Generic email: rdm@lboro.ac.uk • Twitter: https://twitter.com/@DrGarethCole Article in Aliss Quarterly: “University of Exeter research data management and open access training for staff” - https://dspace.lboro.ac.uk/2134/16964 Open access and research data management: Horizon 2020 and beyond This event was funded by FOSTER through the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme http://www.fosteropenscience.eu and organised by • University College Cork http://www.ucc.ie • Teagasc http://www.teagasc.ie • Repository Network Ireland http://rni.wikispaces.com