Source: Lukas Bossert
What do cold coffee, scientific data and a university library have in common? At first glance, perhaps not much, but it was precisely this combination that sparked lively discussion and fresh ideas on research data management (RDM) and data literacy in general on June 24, 2025.
For the second time, the Data Café of the Rhine-Ruhr Center for Scientific Data Literacy (DKZ.2R) invited researchers from all disciplines to an open consultation format. Between 11am and 3pm, the University Library RWTH Aachen University was transformed into a place of dialogue: Questions, ideas and challenges relating to data organisation, visualisation and machine learning were discussed over a cup of cold brew coffee – in a professional, informal atmosphere with no obligation.
Individual Advice Instead of Lectures
Everyone who came was heard: around 30 participants took the opportunity to discuss their specific concerns with the DKZ.2R consultants, without having to register or attend lectures. The focus was on personal exchange. Whether it was questions about data structure, support in choosing suitable analysis methods or simply curiosity about the topic, the experts were open to all questions and offered an impressive range of expertise, from RDM to HPC to machine learning.
A Format That Works!
The Data Café thrives on its accessibility: it is low-threshold, spontaneous and on an equal footing. The success of this concept was evident not only in the number of conversations, but also in the positive feedback. The cold brew was particularly popular – not only as a caffeinated pick-me-up, but also as a topic of conversation and icebreaker.
We would also like to express our sincere thanks to the University Library RWTH Aachen University, which provided active support for the event, both in terms of room organisation and public relations.
From Success in Cologne to a Continuation in Aachen
After a successful start in Cologne in April 2025, Aachen was the next stop on the Data Café tour. And the success speaks for itself: the format is set to take place regularly at different locations in the Rhine-Ruhr region in the future.
Learn More
Further information on the event can be found on the DKZ.2R event page.
The Data Café is part of a series of events organised by DKZ.2R, which will continue at other locations in the Rhine-Ruhr region in the future. If you have any questions, please contact DKZ.2R directly.
If you would like to participate in the Data Café yourself, please keep an eye on the DKZ.2R website for new dates.
If you have any questions about RDM, the RDM team will be happy to help and look forward to hearing from you!
Responsible for the content of this article is Hania Eid.
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