1. Philip LordDigital Archiving Consultancy Alison Macdonald Digital Archiving Consultancy Liz LyonDigital Curation Centre David GiarettaDigital Curation Centre © Philip W. Lord & DCC 2004 1 From Data Deluge to Data Curation e-Science All Hands Meeting 2004 Nottingham, September 2004

2. © DAC Ltd & DCC 2004 2 e-Science Curation 1.Curation 2.Curation and e-Science 3.The role of JISC/JCSR and e-Science Core Programme 4.Moving towards curatorial services for UK (e-)Science 5.The Digital Curation Centre

3. © DAC Ltd & DCC 2004 3 e-Research and change Changes in technology enable e-Science BUT These same advances put data at risk AND Raise issues of policy and practice IMPLYING A need for continuing care and management of data This continuing care requires data CURATION

4. © DAC Ltd & DCC 2004 4 Curation for e-Research CURATION: The activity of managing and promoting the use of data from its creation to ensure it is fit-for-purpose and remains available for discovery and re-use. ARCHIVING: A curation activity ensuring data is properly selected, stored making it available for access over the long term. PRESERVATION: An archiving activity in which data are maintained over time so they can still be accessed and undertood through changes in technology

5. © DAC Ltd & DCC 2004 5 Curation, JISC and the e-Science Core Programme JISC has recognised this as an area of need and instituted a Preservation and Records Management Programme The e-Science Core Programme is also addressing the data curation question JCSR commissioned a report into the status of e-Science curation in the UK, which reported in 2003 JISC and e-Science Core Programme funding the newly formed Digital Curation Centre

6. © DAC Ltd & DCC 2004 6 The current status of curation The e-Science Curation Report: Surveyed the UK HE and Research Councils current practice and provision for data curation Surveyed the bench-scientists perceptions and awareness of the issues of data curation Made 10 strategic and 19 tactical recommendations for future action Developed a process model for academic science curation

7. © DAC Ltd & DCC 2004 7 Perceived need at the bench 79% of data generator responses said their primary data would be of value after project end 90% said their summary/derived data would be of value after project end 94% said their published data would be of value after project end BUT A generally low understanding of the curation issues attached to maintaining that value

8. © DAC Ltd & DCC 2004 8 But short-comings in provision Table percentages (over all responses) Has financial provision been made for keeping data? YesNoDont know Do the terms of your funding require data to be archived/ preserved? Yes17%21%8% Some cases -8%- No4%23%4% Dont know -4%10%

9. © DAC Ltd & DCC 2004 9 Issues needing addressing 1.Curation needs recognition at all levels – including the highest 2.Overall responsibility needs to be assigned and a task force established 3.The Research Councils should make curation an article of policy 4.The Digital Curation Centre is urgently needed to provide generic services 5.Discipline-specific centres are needed to support the user communities

10. © DAC Ltd & DCC 2004 10 Issues needing addressing 6.Exemplar research projects are needed to identify measurable benefits and rescue valuable data at risk 7.Work should be co-ordinated: a.With e-Library initiatives b.Between and within the Research Councils c.With supra-national bodies, specifically in Europe 8.Institutions should be encouraged to adopt OAIS-compliant repositories 9.Training and awareness-raising are key

11. © DAC Ltd & DCC 2004 11 A model for curation - level 1

12. © DAC Ltd & DCC 2004 12 A model for curation – level 2

13. © DAC Ltd & DCC 2004 13 A model for curation - level 3

14. © DAC Ltd & DCC 2004 14 The Digital Curation Centre Funding awarded in early 2004 to –University of Edinburgh (Lead) –University of Glasgow –UKOLN (Bath) –CCLRC Formal launch in autumn 2004 Funding from JISC and e-Science Core Programme assured for three years –Continuity beyond year three to be established

15. © DAC Ltd & DCC 2004 15 DCC Programme Establish a vibrant research programme –addressing wider issues of data curation Nurture strong community relationships –Centres for community advice, help and training Develop services –for testing and evaluating tools, methods, standards and policies in realistic settings –offering a repository of tools and technical information, a focal point for digital curators Achieve the 'virtuous circle' –feeding expertise, experience and need into its research programme on data curation –transforming research-led innovation into services that enhance productivity of practice

16. © DAC Ltd & DCC 2004 16 Information and contacts SEE: Digital Curation Centre: www.dcc.ac.ukwww.dcc.ac.uk digitalcuration@ed.ac.ukdigitalcuration@ed.ac.uk Digital Archiving Consultancy: www.d-archiving.comwww.d-archiving.com support@d-archiving.comsupport@d-archiving.com JISC Preservation and RM Programme: www.jisc.ac.uk/index.cfm?name=programme_preservation e-Science Report: www.jisc.ac.uk/uploaded_documents/e-ScienceReportFinal.pdf