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RDMF15: The Compliance of Science? Data Policies, Expectations and Concordat

27 April 2016 |

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*Registration is now closed*
 

Research data policy is sometimes spoken of as a simple thing with a single point of origin. In fact it's an environment with rules that emerge from many levels, from national and international law down to the decisions of individual departments or research groups. Local policy is often that most visible to the researcher, but non-compliance with the most distant, legal elements can have the most serious consequences.

Occupying the middle ground are the funders, who may not have the sanction of prosecution, but do have the researchers’ attention and respect. Within research organisations,  institutional research data management services are often charged with aiding and monitoring policy compliance whilst also aiming to keep everyone happy. 

The policy sands shift slowly, but the overarching trend is towards a coalescence and consensus of expectations and standards, as evidenced in recent developments from Research Councils UK and in the European Commission’s Horizon 2020 open data pilot. 
 
Compliance is important, but it's long been the DCC's message that viewing research data management as solely a compliance issue won't result in a good outcome for anyone involved. Hence this Research Data Management Forum will look not only at the delicate balance between compliance and cooperation, but also at the wider benefits to universities and researchers of a pro-active approach to data stewardship. Scheduled to coincide with the one-year anniversary of EPSRC’s much-discussed research data expectations entering into force, the theme of this event will be “The Compliance of Science? Data Policies, Expectations and Concordat”.
 
Speakers from a range of research funders, including Wellcome Trust and Cancer Research UK, will provide background on the thinking behind their data related policies, and representatives of universities will offer their own perspectives and stories. As ever, there will be opportunities to influence the discussion and take an active part via breakout discussion groups arranged around specific sub-themes.
 

Programme

Wednesday 27th April

09.00

Registration / tea and coffee

 

09.45

Welcome and introduction

Kevin Ashley (DCC)

10.00

“Policy Steps Towards an Open-Data Research Environment”

Juan Bicarregui (STFC)

10.45

“Open data - how do we secure the benefits?"

Ben Johnson (HEFCE)

11.15

Tea and coffee

 

11.45

"Working in partnership to maximise the value of research data"

 

"Cancer Research UK and data sharing: From policy to implementation"

Dave Carr (Wellcome Trust)

 

 

Jamie Enoch (Cancer Research UK)

12.30

“Collaboration is the way forward: Joint response to the draft UK Concordat on Open Research Data”

Marta Teperek (University of Cambridge),  James A.J. Wilson (UCL), Lydia Johnson (University of Nottingham)

13.00

Brief intro to afternoon breakout sessions

Kevin Ashley (DCC)

13.05

Lunch / breakout sign-up

 

14.00

Break-out sessions:

  1. “DMP Rubrics”
  2. “Building engagement with researchers, from marketing the service to co-design”
  3. "Encouraging reuse of research data for the benefit of its producers, the institution and wider society"

Facilitator(s):

1. Mary Donaldson (University of Glasgow)

2. Alan Hyndman (figshare) & Veerle Van Den Eynden (UK Data Service)

3. Gareth Knight (London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine)

15.00

Tea and coffee

 

15.30

Report back from groups / discussion

Chair: Kevin Ashley  (DCC)

16.00

Summary and next steps / parting remarks and close

Kevin Ashley (DCC)
 
 

Post-event outputs will include:

  • Storify page for the event
  • Blog post: Breakout Group 1
  • Blog post: Breakout Group 2
  • Blog post: Breakout Group 3

Amplification: the event hashtag is #rdmf15

Feedback: we always welcome your feedback to help us to improve future events.

Costs and Registration

Registration is now open.

The delegate fee is £160 and includes lunch and refreshments.

Registration closes on 20 April 2016.

Image credit:

Checklist, Sharestock Images.