JISC

As a research-led institution, Newcastle University is committed to the full lifecycle of research management, investing over the last 4 years in the development of two major systems to support researchers: MyProjects and MyImpact. Leading on from this successful development, University Research Committee has identified the need for policies to govern the storage, management and curation of research data across the institution. Iridium, which is a significant intra-institutional collaboration, will produce those policies in consultation with researchers along with the infrastructure required to support their adoption and use.

Aims and objectives 

The aim is to produce a complete holistic plan and infrastructure for Research Data Management in the University, making data generated by research at the University both available and discoverable with effective curation throughout the full data lifecycle in consultation with the researchers who produce it. Specific objectives are: to determine current practice and future requirements; to produce an institutional RDM policy informed by the results; to support that policy by integrating data management tools and support into a pilot data management infrastructure.

Project methodology

The project will be based around the production of an institutional research data management policy by the University Research Office. This policy will be supported by the production of user support and tools by the Digital Institute, Information Systems & Services and the Library. Project management will be performed by Higher Education Academy Subject Centre for Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Medicine (MEDEV) who will also contribute their considerable expertise and ensure that anything produced by the project is joined up with learning and teaching where that is appropriate.

Anticipated outputs and outcomes

Outcomes will be:

• Institutional research data management policy
• A costed business case for a sustainable institution-wide research data management infrastructure

Outputs required to achieve those outcomes are:

• Knowledge of how data curation and storage are currently being done across the institution and of what requirements there are
• A policy framework
• Research data management tools to support that policy framework
• A framework to support researchers in the use of the policy and the tools
• Integration of policy, tools and support to provide a pilot research data management infrastructure

Technology / Standards used

The project will encourage the adoption and use of open standards based APIs and applications.