Status Update: January 11, 2011

The data management survey results were compiled and reviewed by the SACC Ad hoc committee. 

• Sixty seven people responded to the survey, several indicated they were responding for their group. 
• The Directorate/Program that is most often submitted to is Ocean Sciences, followed by Marine Geology & Geophysics and Physical Oceanography.
• The most common place to store data is on a local computer.
• Less than half of the respondents said they have a plan to manage data collected since 2008. 
• More than half of the respondents said they would like assistance with a data management plan.

One recurring question was, What is data?  Jen Schopf offers this definition: Data is everything needed to have reproducible science.

Using information from the survey and resources gathered at the Fall 2010 AGU Meeting, we have compiled a checklist to assist with the preparation of your data management plan.  We have also put together a list of additional resources and a list of repositories commonly used by WHOI researchers.

Status Update: October 1, 2010

The new NSF data management plan requirements were published as part of the new NSF Grant Proposal Guide last Friday, October 1. These apply to all NSF proposals submitted after January 4, 2010. More info from NSF, including Frequently asked Questions can be found here -- (includes some FAQs).

Also, Jen Schopf gave a talk in the Redfield Auditorium on Friday October 1. After a short (approx. 15 minute) talk Jen answers questions from WHOI researchers on this topic. See links on the right hand side of this page for more information.

We have extended the deadline for the WHOI data management survey until next Wednesday (October 13). We would really like to get a representative sample of staff so please take the survey if you have not already done so. Thanks!

Increased NSF focus on Data Management

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has recently issued a press release describing a decision made at the May 5, 2010 National Science Board meeting to change the implementation of the existing policy on sharing research data. It was decided that around October 2010 all proposals submitted to the National Science Foundation must include a data management plan as a 2-page supplement. Requests to cover costs associated with these data management plans can be included in the proposal budget. This echos actions of other research funding agencies such as NIH, NASA, NOAA, and the EU Commission.

The WHOI directorate is taking this opportunity to review the data management needs of its prinicipal investigators over the summer of 2010 with a goal of producing a data management strategy and set of document templates that can be used in responding to this situation. A proposed set of next steps is found below.