FAIR-by-Design Methodology: how to develop FAIR materials | FAIR-IMPACT

Posted on December 3, 2023 by OATP primary

“The “FAIR-by-Design Methodology: how to develop FAIR materials” will take place on 4 December 2023 from 15:00-16:00 CET. Registration for the workshop is free but mandatory.

One of the premises of successful training on how to adopt Open Science is that you should practice what you preach. Therefore, the development of FAIR learning materials that can be easily reused by both trainers and learners is a key ingredient in the Open Science approach and should not be an afterthought.

The FAIR-by-Design Methodology that will be introduced in this webinar aims to provide a systematic approach that will integrate the FAIR principles into the process of learning materials development. The aim of this webinar is to provide a closer look at the defined FAIR-by-Design workflow wherein each stage focuses on different aspects of the materials design process. Discuss and learn how one can practically implement the proposed methodology to ensure that the final result will be high-quality FAIR materials. This event is organised in conjunction with Skills4EOSC project.”

Focused Issue on Digital Library Challenges to Support the Open Science Process | International Journal on Digital Libraries

Posted on December 3, 2023 by OATP primary

Abstract: Open Science is the broad term that involves several aspects aiming to remove the barriers for sharing any kind of output, resources, methods or tools, at any stage of the research process (https://book.fosteropenscience.eu/en/). The Open Science process is a set of transparent research practices that help to improve the quality of scientific knowledge and are crucial to the most basic aspects of the scientific process by means of the FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) principles. Thanks to research transparency and accessibility, we can evaluate the credibility of scientific claims and make the research process reproducible and the obtained results replicable. In this context, digital libraries play a pivotal role in supporting the Open Science process by facilitating the storage, organization, and dissemination of research outputs, including open access publications and open data. In this focused issue, we invited researchers to discuss innovative solutions, also related to technical challenges, about the identifiability of digital objects as well as the use of metadata and ontologies in order to support replicable and reusable research, the adoption of standards and semantic technologies to link information, and the evaluation of the application of the FAIR principles.

Joint Statement on Research Data – DataCite

Posted on November 29, 2023 by OATP primary

“Signatories of this statement recommend the following as best practice in research data sharing:

When publishing their results, researchers deposit related research data and outputs in a trustworthy data repository that assigns persistent identifiers (DOIs where available). Researchers link to research data using persistent identifiers.
When using research data created by others, researchers provide attribution by citing the datasets in the reference section using persistent identifiers.
Data repositories enable sharing of research outputs in a FAIR way, including support for metadata quality and completeness.
Publishers set appropriate journal data policies, describing the way in which data is to be shared alongside the published article.
Publishers set instructions for authors to include Data Citations with persistent identifiers in the references section of articles.
Publishers include Data Citations and links to data in Data Availability Statements with persistent identifiers (DOIs where available) in the article metadata registered with Crossref.
In addition to Data Citations, Data Availability Statements (human- and machine-readable) are included in published articles where appropriate.
Repositories and publishers connect articles and datasets through persistent identifier connections in the metadata and reference lists.
Funders and research organizations provide researchers with guidance on open science practices, track compliance with open science policies where possible, and promote and incentivize researchers to openly share, cite and link research data.
Funders, policymaking institutions, publishers and research organizations collaborate towards aligning FAIR research data policies and guidelines.
All stakeholders collaborate in the development of tools, processes, and incentives throughout the research cycle to enable sharing of high-quality research data, making all steps in the process clear, easy and efficient for researchers by providing support and guidance.
Stakeholders responsible for research assessment take into account data sharing and data citation in their reward and recognition system structures….”

Realizing interoperable end-to-end systems for efficient open scholarly communication | PUBMET

Posted on November 21, 2023 by peter.suber's bookmarks

Abstract: To ensure the success of Open Science, we have to understand how it systematically changes the research system as a whole. This presentation focuses on the synthesis of the changing research landscape and the utilisation of policies, emerging tools, and practices into shaping end-to-end systems for embedding actionability in all research stages: planning, tracking, and assessing. Specifically, it will explore the designing of interconnected systems that involve Data Management Plans, Scientific Knowledge Graphs, and FAIR Assessors, all of which are essential components of research workflows.

US Repository Network launches pilot to enhance discoverability of Open Access content in repositories

Posted on November 16, 2023 by OATP primary

“In November, the US Repository Network (USRN) will launch a pilot project aimed at improving the discoverability of articles in repositories. This pilot project involves the use of services from CORE, a not-for-profit aggregator based at Open University in the UK, to evaluate and improve local repository practices. Additional technical support will be provided by Antleaf Ltd.

As part of the project, CORE will aggregate the metadata and full text of articles from a subset of US repositories, allowing them to be findable through a centralized discovery service with prominent links back to the original full text of the repository. At the same time, the project will assess current practices related to metadata quality, the tracking of Open Access deposits, the use of PIDs, technical support for OAI-PMH, and the adoption of more recent protocols, such as FAIR Signposting. At the level of the centralized aggregation, CORE will enrich the existing US metadata with information from its larger international aggregation. A Dashboard service for participating institutions will be provided, enabling them to assess, validate and monitor their practices.

The one-year project involves 18 repositories representing a variety of institutions, software types and repository models and will result in concrete recommendations and best practice guidelines for machine and human discoverability of research articles in US repositories.”

SoFAIR: The Open University to coordinate new international project to facilitate the reproducibility of research studies – CORE

Posted on November 14, 2023 by OATP primary

“We are pleased to announce that the Open University has just been awarded a new research grant in the international CHISTERA Open Research Data & Software Call which aims to enhance the discoverability and reusability of open research software.

Open research software and data are pivotal for scientific innovation and transparency, but are often not cited as first-class bibliographic records. Much of these software mentions therefore remain concealed within the text of research papers, hampering their discoverability, attribution, and reuse. This, in turn, makes it harder to reproduce research studies. The SoFAIR project (from Making Software FAIR) aims to address this critical issue by enhancing the management of the research software lifecycle and ensuring research software and data adheres to the FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) principles. The project will build on the existing capabilities of the open scholarly infrastructures operated by the project partners. SoFAIR is a €499k international project coordinated by (1) The Open University in partnership with (2) INRIA, France; (3) Brno University of Technology, Czech Republic; (4) the Polish Academy of Sciences (PAN), Poland; and (5) The European Molecular Biology Laboratory’s European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), United Kingdom. SoFAIR is funded under the 2022 CHIST-ERA Open and Reusable Research Data and Software (ORD) call.”

Research Assessment and Open Science practices in Serbia | FAIR-IMPACT

Posted on October 10, 2023 by OATP primary

“The event will be virtually hosted by the University of Belgrade, the University of Novi Sad and the Open Science Community in Serbia.

The event will debate around the status of OS practices in the country starting from an overview of the FAIR policy regulations in Serbia, leveraging on current initiatives and assessing challenges still to be addressed by the Serbian research community, such as the eNauka portal. The debate will be stimulated by presentations about the GraspOS and OPUS projects and by FAIR-IMPACT partners working on FAIR-IMPACT contribution to FAIR assessment practices.”

The Role of Funders in Building a Robust and Trustworthy Output Tracking Mechanism Using PIDs and Open Metadata

Posted on October 4, 2023 by OATP primary

“Join us for a panel discussion that delves into the pivotal role funders play in promoting FAIR research practices and advancing Open Science.

Making research FAIR and Open requires concerted efforts from all stakeholders in the research ecosystem, and funders are in a unique place to take initiative and motivate others to follow suit; particularly, around the adoption of persistent identification and metadata annotation of research entities using open scholarly infrastructure. In this panel, we will hear perspectives—including from funding organizations—on how the adoption of PIDs and the creation of rich connection metadata can serve as a concrete step towards Open and FAIR grant management, output tracking, and impact measurement. Opening talks by each of the panellists will be followed by a moderated discussion on how funders can leverage their influence to incentivize and normalize the adoption of FAIR workflows within the research community, thereby fostering data management, publication, and communication best practices.”

Workshop: FAIR-IMPACT’s virtual clinic for potential applicants to the second open call for support | FAIR-IMPACT

Posted on September 29, 2023 by OATP primary

“FAIR-IMPACT launched our second open call for support on 30 August 2023. Applications are invited to join one of three support programmes which are targeted to our three key stakeholder groups:

Research Performing Organisations
Repositories & Data service Providers
National Level initiatives…”

2nd Open Call for support (OPEN) | FAIR-IMPACT

Posted on September 29, 2023 by OATP primary

“For those just getting started on their FAIR-enabling journeys, FAIR-IMPACT provides dedicated guidance and one-to-one support to successful applicants from our three key stakeholder groups to self-assess their current capabilities and to develop FAIR implementation action plans: National Levels Initiatives, Research Performing Organisations, Repositories and Data Service Providers.

Successful applicants from each of the three stakeholder groups will work over a period of nine months with FAIR-IMPACT mentors and external experts to learn how to support the uptake of FAIR-enabling practices. This will include participation in a series of virtual workshops based on the FAIR Implementation Framework, assessed homework and one-to-one support. This call is suitable for those who are just getting started with supporting the FAIR Principles or are less advances on their FAIR-enabling journey….”

Umbrella Data Management Plans to Integrate FAIR Data: Lessons From the ISIDORe and BY-COVID Consortia for Pandemic Preparedness – Data Science Journal

Posted on September 23, 2023 by peter.suber's bookmarks

Abstract: The Horizon Europe project ISIDORe is dedicated to pandemic preparedness and responsiveness research. It brings together 17 research infrastructures (RIs) and networks to provide a broad range of services to infectious disease researchers. An efficient and structured treatment of data is central to ISIDORe’s aim to furnish seamless access to its multidisciplinary catalogue of services, and to ensure that users’ results are treated FAIRly. ISIDORe therefore requires a data management plan (DMP) covering both access management and research outputs, applicable over a broad range of disciplines, and compatible with the constraints and existing practices of its diverse partners. Here, we describe how, to achieve that aim, we undertook an iterative, step-by-step, process to build a community-approved living document, identifying good practices and processes, on the basis of use cases, presented as proof of concepts. International fora such as the RDA and EOSC, and primarily the BY-COVID project, furnished registries, tools and online data platforms, as well as standards, and the support of data scientists. Together, these elements provide a path for building an umbrella, FAIR-compliant DMP, aligned as fully as possible with FAIR principles, which could also be applied as a framework for data management harmonisation in other large-scale, challenge-driven projects. Finally, we discuss how data management and reuse can be further improved through the use of knowledge models when writing DMPs and, how, in the future, an inter-RI network of data stewards could contribute to the establishment of a community of practice, to be integrated subsequently into planned trans-RI competence centres.

OPERAS Innovation Lab | Septentrio Conference Series

Posted on September 20, 2023 by OATP primary

“Scholars see innovative means of disseminating their work and data as a chance to improve the process of sharing ideas with different audiences, thanks to technological affordances. They understand innovation either in terms of form (novel means of communicating ideas through different media), or access (opening up outputs and making them easily accessible) (cf. Maryl and B?aszczy?ska 2021, p. 34). What we consider a “scholarly text” has thus become understood as an expression that can employ different media and engage creatively with underlying data.

However, engaging with novel forms of communication poses new challenges to scholars, who may lack competencies, know-how, or adequate resources to take full advantage of innovative outputs (Tasovac et al. 2018). This poster will outline the means of support provided by OPERAS Innovation Lab in establishing interdisciplinary, collaborative workflows for supporting innovative outputs in social sciences and humanities (SSH) throughout their lifecycle. The Lab provides guidelines on how to create and sustain FAIR innovative outputs in the SSH.

In the current infrastructure-development project (OPERAS-PLUS) Lab’s website was created (https://lab.operas-eu.org/) and serves as an innovation observatory, collecting and storing data and studies on innovative outputs as well as current research in that field. Apart from the general introduction to the Lab, the poster will showcase three diverse case studies analysed in the ongoing project. They all aim at addressing the actual needs faced by SSH researchers who decide to use innovative forms of disseminating their output:

The novel publication of project outputs: scholarly toolkit;
Management of an interdisciplinary online journal;
Prototyping software services for open science on the example of a recommender system for open access books based on text and data mining (Snijder 2021)….”

Full article: Data sharing and re-use in the traumatic stress field: An international survey of trauma researchers

Posted on September 18, 2023 by OATP primary

“Background:

The FAIR data principles aim to make scientific data more Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable. In the field of traumatic stress research, FAIR data practices can help accelerate scientific advances to improve clinical practice and can reduce participant burden. Previous studies have identified factors that influence data sharing and re-use among scientists, such as normative pressure, perceived career benefit, scholarly altruism, and availability of data repositories. No prior study has examined researcher views and practices regarding data sharing and re-use in the traumatic stress field.

Objective:

To investigate the perspectives and practices of traumatic stress researchers around the world concerning data sharing, re-use, and the implementation of FAIR data principles in order to inform development of a FAIR Data Toolkit for traumatic stress researchers.

Method:

A total of 222 researchers from 28 countries participated in an online survey available in seven languages, assessing their views on data sharing and re-use, current practices, and potential facilitators and barriers to adopting FAIR data principles.

Results:

The majority of participants held a positive outlook towards data sharing and re-use, endorsing strong scholarly altruism, ethical considerations supporting data sharing, and perceiving data re-use as advantageous for improving research quality and advancing the field. Results were largely consistent with prior surveys of scientists across a wide range of disciplines. A significant proportion of respondents reported instances of data sharing and re-use, but gold standard practices such as formally depositing data in established repositories were reported as infrequent. The study identifies potential barriers such as time constraints, funding, and familiarity with FAIR principles.

Conclusions:

These results carry crucial implications for promoting change and devising a FAIR Data Toolkit tailored for traumatic stress researchers, emphasizing aspects such as study planning, data preservation, metadata standardization, endorsing data re-use, and establishing metrics to assess scientific and societal impact.

CARE Principles — Global Indigenous Data Alliance

Posted on September 15, 2023 by peter.suber's bookmarks

“The current movement toward open data and open science does not fully engage with Indigenous Peoples rights and interests. Existing principles within the open data movement (e.g. FAIR: findable, accessible, interoperable, reusable) primarily focus on characteristics of data that will facilitate increased data sharing among entities while ignoring power differentials and historical contexts. The emphasis on greater data sharing alone creates a tension for Indigenous Peoples who are also asserting greater control over the application and use of Indigenous data and Indigenous Knowledge for collective benefit.

This includes the right to create value from Indigenous data in ways that are grounded in Indigenous worldviews and realise opportunities within the knowledge economy. The CARE Principles for Indigenous Data Governance are people and purpose-oriented, reflecting the crucial role of data in advancing Indigenous innovation and self-determination. These principles complement the existing FAIR principles encouraging open and other data movements to consider both people and purpose in their advocacy and pursuits….”

Who benefits when, from FAIR data? Part 3 – TL;DR – Digital Science

Posted on September 14, 2023 by OATP primary

“Following part 1of this series, which focused on researchers, and part 2, which focused on machines, it’s time to talk about the third puzzle piece – those impacted by research.

The general public, who pay for research via their taxes, should be able to benefit from it democratically. This is not the case. Non-researchers do not have access to over 50% of the academic literature (below). This is particularly problematic when it comes to healthcare, with the caveat that each nation-state has its own way of providing treatment to the sick. The basic science that most if not all pharmaceutical research is built on is largely government-funded….”

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