Source: Own Illustration
There is much more to a platform like Coscine than just technical development. To enable researchers to manage and store their data in a structured way and collaborate on projects, various departments must work closely together. At Coscine, two teams in particular take on key roles: the Development Team and the Service Management Team. These are complemented by other departments such as Communications and Marketing, which support the platform’s visibility.
Development and Operation of the Platform
The development team forms the technical foundation of Coscine. It implements requirements from various contexts, such as those from researchers, DH.NRW universities, or NFDI consortia. This involves not only developing new features but also the continuous maintenance and further development of the existing platform.
The team’s responsibilities include, among other things:
- developing new features,
- technically implementing received requirements,
- maintaining and supporting the platform,
- and continuously improving existing features.
By staying closely attuned to user needs, the team ensures that Coscine can respond flexibly to new requirements while maintaining stable operations.
Consulting, Support, and Networking
The Service Management Team supports the platform from an organizational and user-oriented perspective. It coordinates various processes related to platform operations to provide the best possible support to researchers and first-level support.
Tasks include, for example:
- conducting training sessions for researchers, Coscine users, or those interested in Coscine,
- training the 1st-level support team for Coscine,
- coordinating incoming storage space requests,
- developing policy documents,
- and presenting Coscine and its underlying concept at conferences and events.
The team often serves as the direct interface between users, technical developments, and organizational processes.
Communication and Marketing for Coscine
In addition to development and service management, communication and marketing efforts also help raise Coscine’s profile and provide information about the platform.
This includes, among other things:
- maintaining the Coscine website,
- creating and sending newsletters,
- social media activities,
- blog posts and mailings,
- designing graphics and images,
- conducting user surveys,
- and developing merchandise.
These measures communicate information about new features, events, training sessions, or developments related to Coscine to various target groups.
Day-To-Day Collaboration
Even though the teams have different areas of focus, their tasks are closely intertwined in their daily work. Feedback from support requests, surveys, or training sessions provides important input for technical advancements. At the same time, new features or changes to the platform help improve processes in support and consulting.
Regular exchanges, joint discussions, and close collaboration between the teams ensure that technical development, the user perspective, and communication remain interconnected. This allows requirements to be identified early on, solutions to be developed collaboratively, and new features to be implemented in a practical manner.
It is precisely this close integration that helps Coscine to continuously evolve while remaining closely attuned to the needs of researchers.
Learn More
Would you like to receive regular updates about Coscine? Then visit the Coscine website and subscribe to the Coscine newsletter to stay informed once a month.
If you have any questions about Coscine or research data management, the RDM team at RWTH Aachen University is happy to assist you at any time.
Responsible for the content of this article are Katja Jansen and Arlinda Ujkani.
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