Collaboratively Advancing Research Data Support (CARDS)
Project duration: 05/24 – 10/26
Participating institutions: Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Technische Universität Berlin, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Principal investigator:
- Sibylle Söring, Freie Universität Berlin
Project description:
National and international research funders, professional societies and research institutions are increasingly calling for research data management (RDM) to be implemented as an integral part of research. Universities are called upon to support their members in this process.
CARDS focuses on the sustainable development and expansion of tools, services and educational offers for research data management (RDM) for researchers and multipliers. It will also support the implementation of best practices in data management in clusters of excellence. CARDS aims to simplify FAIR-compliant data management at the BUA institutions, to professionalize the planning and implementation of data-based projects and to increase RDM literacy in the BUA context.
Building on the predecessor project Concept Development for Collaborative Research Data Management Services (BUA-FDM), the project develops measures for the targeted optimization of RDM expertise at the institutions as well as for improving the management of research data in order to promote the quality and reusability of research data in Berlin as a science location.
CARDS consists of four subprojects:
- SP1: BUA Customized Research Data Management Organizer (RDMO)
- SP2: Data Stewardship in Clusters of Excellence
- SP3: RDM competence building in the BUA
- SP4: Model development for the use of electronic lab notebooks (ELN) in the BUA as an integral part of an RDM strategy in experimental disciplines
Contact: cards@lists.fu-berlin.de
- Sibylle Söring
Head of Research Data Management Team, University Library Freie Universität Berlin
E-Mail: sibylle.soering@fu-berlin.de
-
Dr. Fadwa Alshawaf
Head of Research Data Management Team, Computer and Media Service, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
E-Mail: fadwa.alshawaf@hu-berlin.de
- Dr. Britta Steinke
Head of Service Center Research Data Management, University Library Technische Universität Berlin
E-Mail: b.steinke@tu-berlin.de
- Dr. Evgeny Bobrov
Project team leader Open Data and Research Data Management, Berlin Institute of Health Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
E-Mail: evgeny.bobrov@bih-charite.de
- Univ.-Prof. Dr. Fabian Prasser
Head of Medical Informatics Group, Center of Health Data Sciences, Berlin Institute of Health Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
E-Mail: fabian.prasser@bih-charite.de
Freie Universität Berlin
- Lea-Sophie Orozco Prado
E-Mail: l.orozco.prado@fu-berlin.de
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
- N.N.
Technische Universität Berlin
- Lea-Sophie Orozco Prado
E-Mail: l.orozco.prado@fu-berlin.de
Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
- Dr. Stefanie Seltmann
E-Mail: stefanie.seltmann@bih-charite.de
Subproject 1: BUA Customized Research Data Management Organiser (RDMO)
Planning research data management (RDM) in preparation for and during a project not only leads to more efficient collaboration, but is also required by many funding organizations (e.g. DFG, EU) when submitting project proposals. However, the creation and maintenance of data management plans (DMPs) often presents researchers with a challenge: they lack orientation in terms of content, structure and scope. The aim of subproject 1 is therefore a BUA Customized RDMO. To achieve this, we are enhancing the open-source tool RDMO (Research Data Management Organiser) with BUA-specific extensions to make the tool's use, and thus the creation of DMPs, easier and more appealing for BUA researchers.
Specifically, we are developing BUA-specific RDMO templates (e.g., with integrated information on contacts and services), incorporating RDM-relevant forms (e.g., consent forms, data processing agreements), and creating automated outputs (such as README files and research data policies). The BUA-specific enhancements in RDMO will be tested and further developed in collaboration with pilot users from the Clusters of Excellence. Additionally, we are coordinating our activities closely with the RDMO community and the National Research Data Infrastructure (NFDI).
Subproject 2: Data Stewardship in Clusters of Excellence
Structured and sustainable RDM requires specific expertise. RDM achieves a higher quality and is more efficient if researchers are supported by experts in the field of RDM, so-called “Data Stewards”. Since this support is currently not widely available, subproject 2 aims to take on RDM tasks within the Clusters of Excellence to pilot and assess whether non-discipline-specific Data Stewards, centrally located, can provide added value for the BUA. The Data Steward's services go beyond consulting, and active work will be carried out on the data of individual working groups (WGs). This can include, for example, the conversion into other file formats, the documentation of data or its comprehensible cleansing. In addition, it is planned that data sets will be made available to other researchers with the support of the Data Steward. Where these processes are to be implemented regularly in the WGs, the Data Steward will develop standardized procedures for this. Over the course of the project, the Data Steward will be involved in various WGs from Berlin Clusters of Excellence, including Matters of Activity and NeuroCure. In addition to the immediate benefits for the WGs, the project will provide an evidence base for how support in RDM should be organized in the BUA in the long term.
Subproject 3: Building RDM Competence within the BUA
The establishment of RDM (Research Data Management) competency training in research and teaching is a crucial step in embedding and professionalizing RDM at institutions. Subproject 3, therefore, focuses on expanding comprehensive RDM training and competency development offerings—with the aim of significantly enhancing RDM expertise and practice within the BUA institutions and making sustainable, efficient, FAIR-compliant research data management, aligned with funder requirements, more accessible to researchers.
These offerings include hands-on workshops, interactive awareness and networking formats such as action days and RDM discussion series, and low-threshold options such as Coffee Lectures on RDM tools and services. Additionally, we will evaluate and, if appropriate, pilot concepts for a BUA-wide RDM certificate course.
In addition to general offerings for all status groups, there will be targeted programs specifically for the Clusters of Excellence to provide large interdisciplinary research consortia within the BUA with demand-driven support in FAIR-compliant data management.
Another focus of the subproject is cooperation and networking with regional (data competence centers, RDM state initiatives) and national initiatives (NFDI) to leverage their experience, practices, and offerings and to combine efforts.
Subproject 4: Model development for the use of electronic laboratory notebooks (ELN) in the BUA as an integral part of an RDM strategy in experimental disciplines
Precise documentation is essential in modern research. Our subproject 4 aims to increase the efficiency of data management in laboratories and experimental work by introducing electronic laboratory notebooks (ELNs). ELNs are now recognized as best practice in research data management and provide a structured and reliable way to record and manage research data.
As part of subproject 4, we are developing a customized concept for the use of ELN systems that meets the specific needs of the Berlin University Alliance. Our project objectives include the needs analysis of the BUA partners, the implementation of a pilot phase with the selected ELN solution, the development of an architecture and operating model and the establishment of an engaged community of pilot labs and stakeholders.
In the needs analysis (WP1), the requirements and expectations of the BUA partners are collected, various ELN systems are evaluated and a pilot phase is planned. In the pilot phase (WP2), the ELN systems are technically prepared, security measures are reviewed and the performance of the systems is evaluated, with adaptations being developed to meet the specific needs of the pilot laboratories. Finally, in the documentation and reporting phase (WP3), all information will be systematically documented and the results published.