Category Archives: oa.rda

Building the Social and Technical Infrastructures to Transform Research Data Sharing One Plenary at a Time – The Scholarly Kitchen

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The Research Data Alliance (RDA) is a community-driven, non-profit initiative that was originally set up in 2013 by the European Commission, the US NSF and NISO, and the Australian Department of Innovation. Right from the very start, RDA was an entirely independent, grassroots effort to build the social and technical infrastructure that supports open sharing and re-use of data. The most recent RDA plenary was an entirely virtual event spread across two weeks at the beginning of November, which I attended via Whova, Zoom, and a little bit of Gather, from the comfort and COVID-safety of my home office….

If I have a concern at all, it’s that the good people at RDA can’t do all of this alone. Publishers, learned societies, institutions, libraries, and funders all have significant parts to play in building a better, more efficient, and more connected research infrastructure. While there are representatives of all of these stakeholders in RDA, more organizational and systemic work is needed. From the immediate benefits that publishers can glean from improved metadata about research and smoother processes, to systemic benefits for the research infrastructure that will accelerate science and save lives, it’s in all  our interests to be a part of this transformation.”

FAIR Principles for Research Software (FAIR4RS Principles) | RDA

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“Research software is a fundamental and vital part of research worldwide, yet there remain significant challenges to software productivity, quality, reproducibility, and sustainability. Improving the practice of scholarship is a common goal of the open science, open source software and FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable) communities, but improving the sharing of research software has not yet been a strong focus of the latter.

To improve the FAIRness of research software, the FAIR for Research Software (FAIR4RS) Working Group has sought to understand how to apply the FAIR Guiding Principles for scientific data management and stewardship to research software, bringing together existing and new community efforts. Many of the FAIR Guiding Principles can be directly applied to research software by treating software and data as similar digital research objects. However, specific characteristics of software — such as its executability, composite nature, and continuous evolution and versioning — make it necessary to revise and extend the principles.

This document presents the first version of the FAIR Principles for Research Software (FAIR4RS Principles). It is an outcome of the FAIR for Research Software Working Group (FAIR4RS WG).

The FAIR for Research Software Working Group is jointly convened as an RDA Working Group, FORCE11 Working Group, and Research Software Alliance (ReSA) Task Force.”

Data Together: Fostering Cooperation Among Open Science Platforms

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“In alignment with RDA’s core mission to ‘set international Research Data and Protocol agreements and standards’11 , the RDA Global Open Research Commons Interest Group (GORC IG)12 is helping to support coordination amongst regional, national, pan-national and domain-specific organizations. Those organizations are developing the interoperable resources necessary to enable researchers to address societal grand challenges across disciplines, technologies and countries….

The Global Open Science Cloud (GOSC)13 initiative has its roots in the same series of meetings. It was proposed in 2019 at the CODATA conference in Beijing with the objective to assist the alignment and interoperation of open science cloud activities. GOSC aims to co-design and build a cross-continental, federated e-infrastructure and virtual research environment for global cooperation and open science using harmonized policies, interoperable protocols and transparent services. Network connectivity, secure AAI (Authentication and Authorization Infrastructure), computing federation, FAIR data, and policy alignment are the key components….

 While the GORC initiative focuses on a roadmap for commons integration, the GOSC is creating a cooperation mechanism and testbed implementations for science clouds that arise from that roadmap. Developing and sustaining collaboration between GORC and GOSC, through the Data Together partnership will enhance the impact of each initiative and result in sustainable benefits for the wider research community. In addition, members of the Data Together group are working with the various platforms to convene a roundtable of senior representatives from the organizations to facilitate these efforts.”

» Data Together: Fostering Cooperation Among Open Science Platforms

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“Collectively referred to as Data Together, the four collaborating international data organisations—CODATA, GO FAIR, RDA, WDS—have a joint commitment (published in March 2020) to work together to optimise the global research data ecosystem and to identify opportunities that will trigger federated infrastructures to service the new reality of data-driven science.

These infrastructures are typically referred to as science clouds or platforms, or research commons, and can be defined at a high level as forming a global trusted ecosystem that provides seamless access to high quality interoperable research outputs and services. Science clouds and commons are developing around the world to address the need for infrastructures to support cross-geographical and cross-disciplinary open science.

Both CODATA and RDA have major initiatives to work with the development of such open research infrastructures: CODATA’s Global Open Science Cloud (GOSC) and RDA’s Global Open Research Commons (GORC), developed in collaboration with the WDS. These came out of a series of meetings held at International Data Week, RDA Plenaries, CODATA Conferences and the FAIR Convergence Symposium, and ultimately include all the Data Together organisations as partners. The GOSC and GORC initiatives aim to encourage cooperation, alignment and interoperability among these infrastructures….”

The final version of the RDA COVID-19 Recommendations and Guidelines for Data Sharing, published 30 June 2020 | RDA

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“The Research Data Alliance (RDA) COVID-19 Working Group members bring various, global expertise to develop a body of work that comprises how data from multiple disciplines inform response to a pandemic combined with guidelines and recommendations on data sharing under the present COVID-19 cicumstances.  This extends to research software sharing, in recognition of the key role in software in analysing data.  The work has been divided into four research areas (namely, clinical, omics, epidemiology, social sciences) with four cross cutting themes (namely, community participation, indigenous data, legal and ethical considerations, research software), as a way to focus the conversations, and provide an initial set of guidelines in a tight timeframe.  The detailed guidelines are aimed to help stakeholders follow best practices to maximise the efficiency of their work, and to act as a blueprint for future emergencies.  The recommendations in the document are aimed at helping policymakers and funders to maximise timely, quality data sharing and appropriate responses in such health emergencies.

This work was executed in an intense period over just over 6 weeks, with five iterations, all of which were opened for public community comment.  Draft releases and comments are avaialable here (https://doi.org/10.15497/rda00046). …”

Helping data make a difference – ARDC

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“In late March, when the European Commission asked the Research Data Alliance (RDA) to develop a set of global guidelines and recommendations for data sharing in response to the crisis, Kheeran Dharmawardena served as one of the moderators in the community participation theme.

Kheeran has been addressing the gap between information infrastructure and users over the past two decades. His background includes providing ICT services across the higher education and research sectors, including Monash University, the University of Melbourne, ARDC’s Nectar Research Cloud and the Atlas of Living Australia. He’s currently the principle consultant at Cytrax Consulting and also co-chairs the Virtual Research Environments and the Social Dynamics of Data Interoperability interest groups at the RDA. He also founded and co-chairs the Australian Geospatial Capabilities community of practice.

 

Following the RDA’s publication of its report, COVID-19 Recommendations and Guidelines for Data Sharing, Dharmawardena provided some insight on the project and the importance of data access….”

The Value of RDA for COVID-19 | RDA

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“Under public health emergencies, and particularly the COVID19 pandemic, it is fundamental that data is shared in both a timely and an accurate manner. This coupled with the harmonisation of the many diverse data infrastructures is, now more than ever, imperative to share preliminary data and results early and often. It is clear that open research data is a key component to pandemic preparedness and response.

In late March, RDA received a direct request from one of its funders, the European Commission, to create global guidelines and recommendations for data sharing under COVID-19 circumstances. Over 600 data professionals and domain experts signed up and began work in early April 2020.

They have produced a rich set of detailed guidelines to help researchers and data stewards follow best practices to maximise the efficiency of their work, and to act as a blueprint for future emergencies; coupled with recommendations to help policymakers and funders to maximise timely, quality data sharing and appropriate responses in such health emergencies.

On 30 June 2020, RDA published the final version of the RDA COVID-19 Recommendations and Guidelines on data sharing covering four research areas – clinical data, omics practices, epidemiology and social sciences – complemented by overarching areas focusing on legal and ethical considerations, research software, community participation and indigenous data….”

The future of Open Science initiatives in Spain | RDA

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“The Research Data Alliance (RDA) Spanish node is hosting a webinar to present RDA global and national activities, RDA adoption cases, and related Open Science initiatives in Spain, such as OpenAIRE, EOSC, and the National Network for E-Science.

  The purpose of this webinar is to promote the activities of the Research Data Alliance (RDA), specifically to the Spanish research data community, present national adoption cases and provide an overview of related ongoing Open Science initiatives. In a round table discussion, questions related to ongoing initiatives and the future of RDA in Spain after the end of the RDA EU 4.0 project in September 2020 will be raised. The webinar is open to all and specifically aimed at researchers, data scientists, students, and representatives from private and public sectors….”

The future of Open Science initiatives in Spain | RDA

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“The Research Data Alliance (RDA) Spanish node is hosting a webinar to present RDA global and national activities, RDA adoption cases, and related Open Science initiatives in Spain, such as OpenAIRE, EOSC, and the National Network for E-Science.

  The purpose of this webinar is to promote the activities of the Research Data Alliance (RDA), specifically to the Spanish research data community, present national adoption cases and provide an overview of related ongoing Open Science initiatives. In a round table discussion, questions related to ongoing initiatives and the future of RDA in Spain after the end of the RDA EU 4.0 project in September 2020 will be raised. The webinar is open to all and specifically aimed at researchers, data scientists, students, and representatives from private and public sectors….”

The TRUST Principles – An RDA Community Effort | RDA

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“An RDA community effort has led to the development and publication, in Nature Research’s Scientific Data, of the article, “The TRUST Principles for digital repositories”. These principles offer guidance for maintaining the trustworthiness of digital repositories, especially those responsible for the stewardship of research data. Guidance for each of the TRUST Principles is reproduced below.”

The TRUST Principles – An RDA Community Effort | RDA

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“An RDA community effort has led to the development and publication, in Nature Research’s Scientific Data, of the article, “The TRUST Principles for digital repositories”. These principles offer guidance for maintaining the trustworthiness of digital repositories, especially those responsible for the stewardship of research data. Guidance for each of the TRUST Principles is reproduced below.”

The Global Research Data Alliance community response to the global COVID-19 pandemic | RDA

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“Data drives rapid response and informed decision making during public health emergencies. There is a need for timely and accurate collection, reporting and sharing of data with the research community, public health practitioners, clinicians and policy makers. Accurate and rapid availability of data will inform assessment of the severity, spread and impact of a pandemic to implement efficient and effective response strategies.

The Research Data Alliance (RDA) is a volunteer community of over 10,500 professionals from 145 countries across the globe. In less than two months, the community responded to an urgent call for action and defined much needed, comprehensive recommendations and guidelines for data sharing under the present COVID-19 circumstances. 
Today, 28 May 2020, we publish the pre-final version of the RDA COVID-19 Recommendations and Guidelines covering four research areas – clinical data, omics practices, epidemiology and social sciences. This document is also complimented by overarching areas focusing on legal and ethical considerations, research software, community participation and indigenous data.
The detailed guidelines in this body of work aim to help stakeholders follow best practices to maximise the efficiency of their work and act as a blueprint for the current and future health emergencies. The recommendations aim to help policymakers and funders maximise timely, quality data sharing and appropriate responses to health emergencies, particularly COVID-19. 

The report specifically emphasises the importance of the following during the COVID-19 emergency response:  …”

The Global Research Data Alliance community response to the global COVID-19 pandemic | RDA

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“Data drives rapid response and informed decision making during public health emergencies. There is a need for timely and accurate collection, reporting and sharing of data with the research community, public health practitioners, clinicians and policy makers. Accurate and rapid availability of data will inform assessment of the severity, spread and impact of a pandemic to implement efficient and effective response strategies.

The Research Data Alliance (RDA) is a volunteer community of over 10,500 professionals from 145 countries across the globe. In less than two months, the community responded to an urgent call for action and defined much needed, comprehensive recommendations and guidelines for data sharing under the present COVID-19 circumstances. 
Today, 28 May 2020, we publish the pre-final version of the RDA COVID-19 Recommendations and Guidelines covering four research areas – clinical data, omics practices, epidemiology and social sciences. This document is also complimented by overarching areas focusing on legal and ethical considerations, research software, community participation and indigenous data.
The detailed guidelines in this body of work aim to help stakeholders follow best practices to maximise the efficiency of their work and act as a blueprint for the current and future health emergencies. The recommendations aim to help policymakers and funders maximise timely, quality data sharing and appropriate responses to health emergencies, particularly COVID-19. 

The report specifically emphasises the importance of the following during the COVID-19 emergency response:  …”

RDA COVID-19 Guidelines and Recommendations | EIFL

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“The Research Data Alliance (RDA) COVID-19 Working Group has released draft guidelines and recommendations for sharing research data in ways that support scientific research and policy making during public health emergencies. 

The group is calling for feedback on the draft guidelines. Feedback will inform the Working Group’s discussions and be incorporated into the next version of the guidelines and recommendations. You can post your feedback here. The deadline is 24 May. …”