The University is inviting all research staff to give their views on data management in order to help develop essential support for their data storage and curation plans. The Data Survey seeks to understand the data storage and retrieval needs of researchers which will inform the development of support to help them with data management aspects of funding applications.
The survey is an important consultation exercise and links to the University’s new Research Data Management policy, designed to foster best practice across the institution in collecting, storing and sharing data in a secure, disciplined and managed way. The policy was developed following consultation with academic and professional services departments across the institution.
Nick Dods RDM Project Manager explained the role of the new policy:
“Given research is conducted in an increasingly complex and data-oriented environment, it is essential that researchers employ effective methods of curation to secure data, protect it from loss, corruption, unnecessary duplication and preserve it for future re-use. Effective Data Management planning is being increasingly called for by funding bodies and, through the University’s commitment to academic excellence, this policy seeks to guide researchers to adopt best practice throughout the lifecycle of data creation and preservation. We are continually asked to help researchers to construct the data planning element in their funding bids, defining important issues such as governance and ownership. Understanding how best to meet the needs of researchers in the changing landscape of data management is an important next step in designing the right tools and support.”
Key objectives
The launch of the RDM Policy and the invitation for researchers to partake in the Data Survey are only the first in a number of key objectives the RDM project team are putting in place. The goal of the Research Data Management project is to produce a comprehensive support network to provide researchers with the tools and information needed to ensure their continued success in securing grant funding and to enhance the standard of data storage and curation across the institution.
Should you require any advice regarding research data management issues, please visit the RDM webpage or contact the project team at data@liverpool.ac.uk.