Source: Own Illustration
Research data management (RDM) is a central topic in modern science that goes far beyond the mere collection and storage of data. It encompasses all processes that are necessary to securely collect, store and analyze data and make it usable in the long term. At RWTH Aachen University, a clear guideline and a structured infrastructure around the data lifecycle for RDM is provided, enabling researchers to manage their data sustainably and follow the principles of good scientific practice.
Why Is RDM Important?
Research data is the foundation of every scientific discovery and has a value that extends beyond the life of a project. It enables existing knowledge to be developed further and new questions to be answered. The FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) ensure that data is not only accessible and reusable for humans, but also for machines.
Data Management Right From the Start: The DMP
A data management plan (DMP) is a tool for structuring the RDM right from the start. The DMP contains important information about the planned data, its storage, the organizational framework and the responsibilities and thus enables you to obtain an overview of the infrastructure available to you for RDM. In addition, proof of a good RDM is nowadays required by funding bodies such as the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and also by many specialist journals. The document is updated regularly and accompanies the entire course of the project as a “living document”. RWTH Aachen University offers the RDMO tool for creating and maintaining DMPs, which provides both general and subject-specific templates. If no subject-specific template is available, we recommend the “Generic DFG checklist (RWTH template)”, as it answers all the important questions about your research data that you need to consider as a researcher at RWTH.
Data Collection and Documentation
The collection of data requires precise documentation in order to ensure its long-term traceability. Metadata is essential here, as it provides readable information about the data for both humans and machines. Persistent identifiers (PIDs) such as DOIs enable data sets to be clearly assigned and linked. The Coscine platform is available at RWTH, which allows researchers to securely store data, add metadata to it and share it with colleagues.
Data Security and Organization
A well thought-out concept for data organization and data security is essential. This includes file naming, versioning and setting up backups. The IT Center of RWTH Aachen University offers services such as Coscine and Backup & Restore to store data reliably. Platforms such as SharePoint, GitLab and Sciebo are available for collaboration.
Long-Term Archiving and Publication of Research Data
The archiving and publication of research data are central components of sustainable data management. Archiving means keeping relevant research data for at least 10 years after the end of the project, including selection and migration to future-proof formats such as CSV or JSON and protection against loss and manipulation. RWTH supports researchers with tools such as Coscine.
Data is published via repositories in combination with the publication of a research paper. At RWTH, we offer the repository RWTH Publications, which enables open access publications. The following applies: data should be shared as openly as possible and as closed as necessary. Licenses such as Creative Commons clarify the rights of use and promote reuse.
Subsequent Use of Data
An important advantage of RDM is the possibility of reusing data. The reuse of previously published data helps to reduce research costs and gain new insights. Before data is used for new projects, it is important to check its quality. Citing data is an elementary component of good scientific practice. It follows the same rules as citing scientific articles and ensures that the original researchers are acknowledged.
Conclusion
Structured and sustainable research data management is the key to making data usable in the long term and ensuring the transparency and reproducibility of scientific results. RWTH Aachen University offers its researchers a variety of tools and resources to effectively implement RDM. Further information and support can be found on the RWTH Aachen University’s RDM website. We will inform you about news, interesting facts and innovations first via the RDM blog.
Responsible for the content of this article is Hania Eid.
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