Curation in the cloud workshop

The aim of this 2-day workshop is to assess the potential and practicalities of using cloud-based solutions for the curation and long-term preservation of digital materials, focusing particularly on data that originates from research or that supports research processes.

In recent years the hype around cloud computing as a route to delivering a dazzling array of services has (to quote Gartner) been 'deafening'. But much of the focus has been on using cloud infrastructure to create, process and analyse data, often in relation to business information and in the context of either the virtualisation and green ICT agendas, or for the purpose of providing flexible computational capacity for actively undertaking research work. There has been less opportunity to consider the potential of this technology to address the data curation and long-term preservation needs of researchers and research organisations. Especially in light of emerging UK government-led directives on ensuring long-term open access to publicly funded research, it is more important than ever that organisations have a clear sense of all the choices that are available to them when investing in this critical area.

Workshop aims

The aim of this 2-day workshop is to assess the potential and practicalities of using cloud-based solutions for the curation and long-term preservation of digital materials, focusing particularly on data that originates from research or that supports research processes. What will particularly be of value is to engage stakeholders from a number of different types and scales of organisations, encompassing those that are able to rely on established and joined-up institutional infrastructures; alongside those who may have more fragmented or immature local measures in place to manage data.

Presentations, panels and breakout style sessions will provide delegates with a number of different ways of engaging with the topic during the workshop.

Workshop white paper

To promote discussion at the workshop and to provide a focused objective and outcome for this event, a white paper will be drafted and circulated to all delegates prior to the event. Themes, topics, concerns and directions emerging from the event will be incorporated into a second draft of the white paper, the objective of which is ultimately to inform both future funding decisions on the part of infrastructure providers (e.g. Jisc), and policy and strategy within institutions.