Research data management – Make your data count – part 1/2

Due to the increasing digitization and datafication in all fields of research, the proper management of research data becomes increasingly important.

You spent months on collecting samples and measurements in the field or in the lab? You explored, analysed and interpreted this data and finally published your findings in a scientific journal? Well, then it is time to think about your data again and what to do with it now. Or are you just starting your PhD or your postdoc project and want to make sure not to overlook anything when it comes to obtaining and documenting your measurements?

According to the guidelines for safeguarding good scientific practice your results should be replicable and repeatable. Are you aware of the concept of FAIR data, that is mentioned in the research data policies of many funders, institutions and journals? FAIR means that data are findable, accessible, interoperable and re-usable. To ensure this, your data should be well documented, securely stored and available for later reuse. Publishing your research data through a dedicated data journal or repository may help you on this and may also get you an additional publication and further citations.

Data publishing and long-term preservation are just two aspects of research data management. This workshop shall help you in determining your data management requirements, no matter at which stage of the project you are. In addition, the course provides you with practical guidance on how to organize, structure, describe and publish your data in order to comply with good scientific practice.

Topics of the workshop are:

• Definition of research data management and life cycle of research data.
• Data management plans
• Documentation, data organization, metadata
• Storage and back-up
• Archiving
• Publication and re-use of research data
• Legal aspects

This is an online course using Moodle and live video conferencing. Self-study materials will be provided prior to the two sessions. Participants will be expected to view the material in advance and complete assigned tasks. During the live sessions, there will be exercises, group work, discussions, and presentations.

Target group of the workshop are PhD students and postdocs from the natural and environmental sciences (especially from the eco-/bio-/geosciences).

Please register via the Qualification Portal of the Graduate Academy.