Data are the New Black

Susan RobbinsResearch Services CoordinatorUniversity of Western Sydney Library

s.robbins@uws.edu.auhttp://library.uws.edu.au/uws_library/

Open Data, Data Reuse and Research ImpactANDS November 2014

CC-BY-NC Susan Robbins

University of Western Sydney

• 6 campuses. Same geographic footprint as The Netherlands

• Growing our research culture

• Named one of the world's best 100 universities under 50 (Times Higher Education ranking)

• Dedicated Library support for Research since 2006

Library support for data began with ANDS Projects

Data Capture

Seeding The Commons

Metadata Stores

Centre for Western Sydney

Big Picture Library Data Support at UWS

Library as a key stakeholder

• Collaborate with stakeholders to ensure buy-in at all levels -DVR (R & D) office, eResearch, Research office (inc. ethics), researchers/research students, research support staff, Facility managers

• Facilitate culture change through researcher education and communication

• Informed Library Staff act as data triage point (staff on email lists and attend divisional events)

Specific Library Support

• Data Information on Library webpages

• Induction Appointments (researchers & research students)

• On demand & point of need training

• Open Access Week webinars (Western Sydney Portal & Journal data)

• Emailed previous UWS researchers with PLoS pubs to outline new polices & UWS support

• Email grant recipient @ Project Cost code creation stage outlining support from Library & eResearch

• Drafted generic ARC UWS data management para for grant applicants and follow up support

• Advice on how data sharing may assist measuring impact outside academia

Roadblocks to Researcher Engagement

• Information/Communication Overload (utilise preferred senders and initiate contact at point of need)

• Ethics (ethics forms need to be more ‘sharing’ friendly)

• Resistance to formal data management & data sharing (use ‘carroty stick’ Outline why beneficial first - then

what they are required to do to comply with UWS Data Management policy,

ARC data policy, journal data requirements

Gotchas

• Big Data (storage & working data)

• Off campus & collaborator data access

• Data DOIs (DOIs are like puppies, they’re forever, not just for Christmas -PT Sefton)

• Time lag between identified service or resource need and implementation

Questions