Scholarly Communication at Texas A&M

Some additional information about the National Science Foundation’s requirements for Data Management Plans (DMP) is available on the website for the agency’s Directorate for Engineering. An excerpt from this blurb follows:

Beginning in January 2011 (actual implementation date to be announced), a Data Management Plan (DMP) will be required for all new NSF proposals. FastLane will be updated to enable its upload as a separate Supplementary Document. Proposals that do not include the requisite DMP will be stopped from submission. Specific guidance will be included in an upcoming revision to the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide. Please note, the Engineering Directorate (ENG) will have additional guidance for proposals submitted to ENG programs. Detailed instructions, including responses to Frequently Asked Questions will be provided at the time of implementation.

An accompanying document, Data Management for NSF Engineering Directorate Proposals and Awards, provides very helpful details about their expectations for the DMP. According to these guidelines, we can expect the following components to be required:

Expected data

- Describe the types of data, samples, physical collections, software, curriculum materials, and other materials to be proced in the course of the project.

- Describe the expected types of data to be retained

Period of data retention

- Minimum retention of research data is 3 years after the conclusion of the award or three years after public release, whichever is later.

- Additional guidelines on data retention provisions with respect to publication, patents, student research, etc. are provided in the document.

Data formats and dissemination

- Describe specific data formas, media, and dissemination approaches used to share the data and metadata with others

- Describe policies for public access, including provisions for protecting privacy, confidentiality, security, intellectual property, other rights or managing other restrictions.

- Describe how data are to be shared and managed with partners, if applicable, or other major stakeholders or user communities.

- Clearly indicate publication delay policies, if applicable

Data storage and preservation of access

- Describe physical and cyber resources and facilities used for preservation and storage of research data.

For Principal Investigators in the Texas A&M community, please feel free to contact the Libraries’ Digital Services & Scholarly Communications staff at digital@library.tamu.edu for assistance in preparing your DMP. We have a range of services and facilities you may wish to take advantage of, including metadata consultation, hosting of digital resources via the Texas A&M Digital repository, and a robust preservation facilitiy managed by the Texas Digital Library and hosted at the Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC).

From the University of California–

Researchers at the University of California have partnered with dozens of other universities and agencies to create DataONE, a global data access and preservation network for Earth and environmental scientists that will support breakthroughs in environmental research. DataONE (Data Observation Network for Earth) is one of two $20 million awards made this year as part of the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) DataNet program. The collaboration of universities and government agencies coalesced to address the mounting need for organizing and serving up vast amounts of highly diverse and inter-related but often incompatible scientific data. Resulting studies will range from research that illuminates fundamental environmental processes to identifying environmental problems and potential solutions. (more…)