Introduction to Research Data Management Services, January 2013 Collaboration Finding Partners in the World of Research Data Management

Introduction to Research Data Management Services, January 2013 What is Collaboration? A process where two or more people or organizations work together to realize shared goals (Wikipedia) To work together, especially in a joint intellectual effort (Free Online Dictionary) To cooperate with an agency or instrumentality with which one is not immediately connected (Merriam-Webster)

Introduction to Research Data Management Services, January 2013 Why Collaborate? Research data management is a complex set of activities; no one entity can do it alone Partners can bring a diverse set of skills Share the benefits (as well as the risks) Without collaboration, it won’t get done Libraries have a history of collaboration – Data Liberation Initiative – This workshop Collaboration provides benefits to all partners

Introduction to Research Data Management Services, January 2013 Potential Partners On campus – In the Library Systems/IT Subject specialists – Research Office – Graduate Studies – Computing Services – Ethics boards – Research institutes

Introduction to Research Data Management Services, January 2013 Inter-library Partners Other CARL institutions Regional library associations and their members – COPPUL – OCUL – CREPUQ – APLA Specialised libraries (eg. Parliament) Archives (municipal, provincial and federal) Library service providers

Introduction to Research Data Management Services, January 2013 External Partners Funding agencies – SSHRC, CIHR, NSERC – Provincial government bodies – Foundations and other sources of financial assistance International Data organizations – ICPSR, CESSDA, IFDO, UKDA, DANS, DCC All provide training materials Existing data storage centres – (eg. Physics, Astronomy, Genomics)

Introduction to Research Data Management Services, January 2013 Examples of External Partnerships Standards groups – provide guidance for metadata – NISO – Data Documentation Initiative (DDI) – Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS) – Open Biological and Biomedical Ontology (OBO) – Consortia Advancing Standards in Research Administration Information (CASRAI) Research Data Canada – providing a collaborative venue for RDM – Granting councils – CANARIE – Canada’s high-speed internet provider – CISTI – Canda’s national science library (National Research Council) – CFI – Canadian Foundation for Innovation – CUCCIO – Canadian University Council of Chief Information Officers

Introduction to Research Data Management Services, January 2013 Informal Collaborations Other data colleagues – Use them to discuss new projects Form informal partnerships and share ideas and tasks IASSIST - (International Association for Social Science Information and Technology) – Community of practice for data professionals – Excellent sounding boards, source of support – Great source of ideas – Wonderful membership

Introduction to Research Data Management Services, January 2013 IASSIST 2014: Toronto Great opportunity to broaden your network beyond our borders Kevin, Berenica and Walter will be hosting Chuck is the program chair Something for everyone at every level

Introduction to Research Data Management Services, January 2013 Planning Collaborative Activities Think of the 4 service areas from Exercise 1 and your local data landscape Think of your 3-year plan Is there one activity or set of activities that stands out with which you need a collaborator? Use the template as a guide

Introduction to Research Data Management Services, January 2013 Data Liberation as an Example of a Successful Collaboration Lessons learned – Have a clear vision of what you want to accomplish: make sure there is a need – Choose your partners wisely: SSFC was instrumental in the lobbying (helped that they represented 25,000 SS researchers); had internal support from Statistics Canada senior manager (Ernie Boyko) and Carleton’s CCS Director – Be willing to modify the procedures, NOT the vision – Do as much proof of concept as possible beforehand: anticipate arguments (prepare like you’re defending a thesis) – Be patient: it took 49 months from the first paper to acceptance of DLI as a partnership between the academics and Statistics Canada – Conduct periodic, systematic evaluations once the project is underway

Introduction to Research Data Management Services, January 2013 CARL Research Data Management Services Example Collaboration Template Need University Partners/ Internal and External Non-university Partners Benefits to the PartnersLibrary’s contributionDesired Outcome To acquire funding for a bilingual research data management pilot Internal Research Office To provide grant oversight Library Systems To provide IT infrastructure External To provide the French component of the pilot SSHRC/NSERC/CIHR To provide funding to finance the pilot. Pilot scope will determine which granting agency will be chosen. Research Office To be an active partner in a new service to researchers on campus. Library Systems Fosters a closer relationship between the Library and the Research Office Granting agency Helps fulfill their mandate to make publicly-funded data available for reuse Grant-writing Research Data Management expertise Provision of bilingual research data preservation and access services in a pilot format Enough money to fund a successful pilot project.

Introduction to Research Data Management Services, January 2013 Deconstructing the Template Need should be well-defined and articulated University partners should not be limited to your campus Non-university partners should have a well- defined stake in the project Benefits should be real and concrete for all parties Your library’s contribution should be substantial Desired outcome must be achieveable

Introduction to Research Data Management Services, January 2013 Questions?