Research Data Management in Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Sciences: an Introduction to the Basics

Open Exeter Project Team

Why manage data?Short-term: Increase efficiency. Save time. Simplify your life. Meet funder and institutional requirements.Long-term: Preserve your data. Easier sharing and collaboration. Allow others to build on your research. Raise your visibility and research profile.

Download our research data management survival guide

Managing references

• Why use a reference manager?– Easier to create citations and bibliography.– Manage your PDF files.– Annotate your articles.

• Choose the right reference manager for you– Endnote, Mendeley, Zotero, etc.

•Comparison of software from Cambridge.•Training in use of Endnote is available.

http://as.exeter.ac.uk/library/using/erlin/doing/refs/

Data storage• Accessibility of data:– Where will you be working: at home; in the office or

lab; both?– Will you be working collaboratively?

• U Drive – 20GBs allowance.• Cloud storage (but not for sensitive or confidential data).• Computer hard drive.• External hard drives & memory sticks.• DVDs/CDs.• There are local CEMPS solutions – ask your CDOs.• Advice from Exeter IT.

Data back up• Why back up?– Security and integrity of information.– Reduce the risk of accidental or malicious data loss.– Makes data recovery easier.

• Back up in more than one place – make multiple copies and distribute geographically.

• Back up after major changes to data.• Make sure you know which version is the most up to

date.• Get into the habit of backing up regularly.• Advice from Exeter IT and UK Data Archive.

Organising your files and folders

• Label your files and folders consistently and meaningfully so they can easily be found – choose a system and stick to it (yyyymmdd for dates).

• Make sure you know which is the latest version of your work, especially if working collaboratively:

–use a version control table in the document.–or name files accordingly, e.g., V01 & V02 – major changes; V02.01 – minor changes to version 2.• Enables efficient working – don’t waste time trying to find a

file or folder later in your studies.• Advice from Cambridge University Library.

Document your data creation & collection (metadata)

• Where did you collect your data?• How did you collect your data?• What equipment did you use?• What formats are your data in?• Needed for:

– Long-term discoverability of your data online (and articles, working papers, etc.).

– Understanding, sharing and reuse.– Replication.– Validation.

Tips from MIT and Cambridge or ask your Subject Librarian.

Be aware of copyright issues

When you put research papers or data online that include third-party copyrighted material you must be sure you have permission to do so.This includes your thesis.• Get the correct copyright permissions early on in your research – it could hold you up later. • Images are a particular problem – see JISC Digital Media for advice on using images.• Read one student’s experience of handling copyright.

Support Open Access

What is it?•International movement to open up access to research knowledge.•Publicly-funded research should be openly and freely available.•No restrictions on access or use.•Most funders now require funded research to be made OA.•Get used to putting your data and papers on OA – use our repository.•Find out more from the Library Open Access Team.

Know your funder’s policy on Open Access

• RCUK Policy on Open Access• EPSRC Policy on Access to Research Outputs• NERC Statement• BBSRC Policies• STFC:– Statement on Exploitation of Results– Scientific Data Policy• Overview of Funders’ Policies on Open Data

Helpful links

• Contact us: openaccess@exeter.ac.uk• Open Exeter Project• Open Access web site• Digital Curation Centre• Draft UoE Research Data Management Policies• Information on thesis submission• Download a copy of this presentation:http://hdl.handle.net/10036/3746

Image on opening slide © DDI and MIT:http://libraries.mit.edu/guides/subjects/data-management/cycle.html