DRAFT - Research Data Management Task Force - DRAFT

The scientific and technical data generated in the course of research and scholarly activity lie at the very heart of the research enterprise. Such data is of immediate use to researchers as they conduct their investigations, and may prove to be a resource of continuing value to the researchers and to others over time. NIH encourages timely release and sharing of research results of its grantees, and requires retention of all data for three years following the final expenditure report. NSF requires a data management plan of its grantees.  Overall, we have the following issues:

• The management of research data is ad hoc, potentially resulting in lost or unusable information.
• Federal grant agencies are noticing these issues and starting to impose requirements for data management.  We can expect institutions that address these issues well to be more competitive for funding.
• Costs are ongoing, but grant funding is not.

The Research Data Management Task Force is charged with the creation of a proposed strategy for the management of research data at UC Davis.  This strategy should address the following issues:

• Services that should be available researchers at UC Davis, such as:
  • Consultation to aid researchers with the creation and implementation of their data management plans
  • Curation services to aid researchers with the management of their data during research projects, as well as after the completion of those projects
  • Preservation services to assure the long-term availability and usability of research data
• An organizational model for the provision of these services
• A financial sustainability model, particularly for preservation services

The Task Force will be composed of representatives of the CCFIT SORC, the Technology Infrastructure Forum, the Office of Research, the Library, and Information and Educational Technologies.  It will deliver its report to Provost and VPET (?) by October, 2011 (?)