1. e-Science: Understanding Research Data Malcolm Atkinson & David De Roure mpa@nesc.ac.uk & dder@ecs.soton.ac.uk 20 October 2009 RCUK fact-finding mission Reporting Back

2. Data Quest: 7-30 Sept. 2009 2 http://blog.openwetware.org/deroure/ http://wikis.nesc.ac.uk/escienvoy/Main_Page#Fact-finding_mission_to_the_USA_-_September_2009

3. Preview: Digital Revolution Abundant data Intense activity All forms of data All disciplines Range of maturity From raw numbers in files to linked data sites in RDF No boundary between documents and data New architectures Beacons of good practice Trusted centres New instruments Intellectual ramps Going the last mile Niches in a digital ecosystem Co-evolution Multiple large investments Software & data projects 3

4. Datas time has come twas ever thus data + algorithm = computation Niklaus Wirth twas ever thus data + algorithm = computation Niklaus Wirth

5. Data data everywhere Digital data key to global communication Between people Between machines Between software components The universal connecting glue 1.8 Zetta bytes by 2011 (1.8×10 21 ) in 20×10 15 data containers Research data a small part in a much bigger ecosystem Triggering the Digital-Data Revolution higher stress than the previous revolutions because simultaneous impact on every nation 5 Rich sources of understanding – untapped

6. Technology & Researchers 6 Co-evolution Tech. display Researchers choose? Niches? Fastest at adaptation wins Is your data technology of interest to researchers?

7. Access ramp for the mind 7 Easy and low risk to start Progress to advanced skills For research data users Bringing researchers up to speed safely

8. Leading to specialised data use 8 Giving opportunities to do sophisticated research

9. Ride a professionally delivered data service 9 and routine research effortlessly

10. New instruments 10 NRAO/AUI/NSF To reveal to the naked mind information it cannot see unaided Data to Information Changed our place in the universe to Knowledge to Wisdom

11. Present Publish Embed Archive Evidence On Demand The whole mile from data to influence 11 Global cloud of existing data Global cloud of existing data Find Acquire Prepare Access Data Clean Filter Transform Combine Data Normalise Analyse Review Compare Data and Models Raw data Selected & cleaned data Analysis results Evidence Insight + scholarly publication Presentation Impact = behavioural change

12. All enrich pool of data 12 Global cloud of existing data Global cloud of existing data Present Publish Embed Archive Evidence On Demand Find Acquire Prepare Access Data Clean Filter Transform Combine Data Normalise Analyse Review Compare Data and Models

13. 13 Data-Intensive Research: The UK played a leading role; what will it do now?

14. Principles Research data support should be in harmony with evolving digital ecosystem Increase investment in using data to balance investment in collecting it Co-evolve research practices, new methods and their supporting software Democratise research by improving education and access Align foundational research, pioneering and support Users of data need to be aware of costs and environmental impact 14 Draft – still under development

15. Recommendations Stimulate new thinking in next generation of researchers Invest in creating and sharing methods and software for exploiting data Increase access and use by building intellectual ramps and improved education Invest in foundational research into data-intensive methods linked with the field experience of use and support Support an innovation to pioneering to supported facility life cycle 15 Draft – still under development

16. Possible DIR Actions Run summer school/bootcamp on data-intensive research (DIR) Open discussion workshop on UK DIR requirements, including UK ESFRI projects Sandpit (cross RCUK & charities) initiating foundational research programme Inject DIR into current Doctoral programmes + new ones – trickle down into rest of HEIs Ensure that a proportion of UK research infrastructure is in services with Amdahl number ~1 or better Establish broad coordination body to plan UK DIR software, service and international activity 16 Draft – still under development

17. Take home message Survival in the digital-data revolution depends on speed and appropriateness of adaptation 17

18. 18 ADMIRE – Framework 7 ICT 215024 ? Picture composition by Luke Humphry based on prior art by Frans Hals www.omii.ac.uk www.admire-project.eu www.ogsadai.org.uk www.nesc.ac.uk

19. Contact David De Roure dder@ecs.soton.ac.uk Carole Goble carole.goble@manchester.ac.uk Visit wiki.myexperiment.org