Research Data Management at University of the Arts LondonJohn Murtagh

Library Services Conference - September 2012

The word “data” means different things to different people in different contexts.

Different disciplines have and use discipline-specific language around the subject research data.

Some people refer to everything digital as “data”. Others refer to both analogue and digital materials as 'data'.

What is Research Data?

It can also be created by researchers for one purpose and used by another set of researchers at a later date for a completely different research agenda.

ExampleCCTV footage may be archived (or destroyed) by a security firm. However when used by a researcher to study human behaviour or 21st century surveillance methods, the video footage becomes data for that researcher

What is Research Data?Reuse

• Research data is very much about when it is used as well as what it constitutes and the purpose for which it is to be used

• ExampleA photographic image of an old building is an archived image. But when used by a researcher to study the history of a city, the image becomes data for that researcher

What is Research Data?

The management of research data is recognised as one of the most pressing challenges facing the higher education and research sectors (JISC)

• Research data generated by publicly-funded research is seen as a public good and should be available for verification and re-use (RCUK)

• All UK Research Councils require their grant holders to manage and retain their research data for re-use, unless there are specific and valid reasons not to do so (RCUK)

• Research data can also be the subject of requests under Freedom of Information legislation or Environmental Information Regulations

Why it should be managed?

KAPTUR will discover, create and pilot a sectoral model of best practice in the management of research data in the visual arts

18 months

Collaborative(Goldsmiths, U Creative Arts, Glasgow School of Art)

Ends March 2013

Various Outputs (environmental, technical, training)

The KAPTUR ProjectDCC Institutional Engagement

Ability to advise on preserving research outputs (49% essential in 2-5 years;10% now)

Knowledge to advise on data management and curation, including ingest, discovery, access, Dissemination, preservation, and portability (48% essential in 2X5 years; 16% now)

Knowledge to support researchers in complying with the various mandates of funders, including open access requirements (40% essential in 2X5 years; 16% now)

Librarians: A skills gap?

Research Libraries UK (2012) ‘Re-skilling for research: an investigation into the role and skills of subject and liaison librarians required to effectively support the evolving information needs of researchers’ http://www.rluk.ac.uk/content/re-skilling-research

Research Information Network (2008) ‘Mind the skills gap: information-handling training for researchers’, London: RIN

“Building on existing competencies may only be part of the picture”. Graham Pryor, DCCRe-skilling for research - observations on an RLUK report

A shift? Subject Librarians are entering a world “beyond information discovery and management, collection development and information literacy training, to one in which they play a much greater part in the research process and in particular in the management, curation and preservation of research data”. 

A shift?

• Kaptur Project blog http://www.vads.ac.uk/kaptur/index.html

• Twitter @UAL_Kaptur #kaptur_mrd #jisc_mrd

• j.murtagh@arts.ac.uk

Slide 1 photo London Hatwalk by kenjonbro

Slide 2 photo London Hatwalk by kenjonbro

Slide 3 Banksy photo by nolifebeforecoffee

Slide 4  photo by David Lauder

Slide 5 Beau Brummell – London Hatwalk by John Murtagh

Slide 7 The Librarian by Giuseppe Arcimboldo

Further information