VU’s Research Survey and eResearch training (an early look) Dr Lyle Winton Associate Director, Office for Research

eResearch... Is “Technology” a hassle? Or a tool? digital storage, USB, backup online resources, search reference management documents, reports data / file retention (5+ years) What about more interesting stuff?... Working with technologists! short eResearch videos: advanced technologies... HP computing / simulation remote instrumentation mobile / tablet / iPad advanced AV / visualisation analysis tools

Identity Management Community/ Project Management Resource Sharing (Docs, Data) Group/VO Management Custom Services (eg. Compute, Remote access, Database) External Resources (eg. Labs, Facilities, Instruments, Repositories) Digital Storage High Throughput, Instrument & Facility, Desktop Access Record Keeping, Preservation, Reuse & Sharing online collaboration environments bespoke development work remote & diverse systems Digital Archive Hosted Infrastructure Connectivity (core, access & mobile networks)

Identity Management Community/ Project Management Resource Sharing (Docs, Data) Group/VO Management Custom Services (eg. Compute, Remote access, Database) External Resources (eg. Labs, Facilities, Instruments, Repositories) Digital Storage High Throughput, Instrument & Facility, Desktop Access Record Keeping, Preservation, Reuse & Sharing online collaboration environments bespoke development work remote & diverse systems Digital Archive Hosted Infrastructure Connectivity (core, access & mobile networks) NeCTAR (cloud) IVEC, VPAC, VLSCI … RDSI (ReDS) RDSI (nodes) ANDS RDSI (DaSh) NCI ASSDA/ ASeSS Facilities (NCRIS, SSI, Landmark, Synchrotron) AAF VERN, SABRENet … NeCTAR (VL) AREN VeRSI, Intersect, QCIF, eRSA... NeCTAR (tools)

Enough about eResearch... What do researchers need? General observations: – Increasingly enterprise storage for research – Increasingly online collaboration environments – Increasing use (or awareness) of external facilities Researchers asking: – How do I simplify? – Where can I put my data and materials? – Where do we store data long term? – Questions about data policy? – What about ethics/privacy/security? 5

What do researchers need? (survey) VU “Research Data and Collaboration” survey – 2009 VU based on APSR survey – 2011 VU based on VeRSI/Intersect survey collab with VeRSI (Anna Shadbolt), VU OfR (myself), VU Lib (Jenny Cameron) 20% response rate researchers 45% HDR students, 23% early career, 16% mid, 13% senior – Results yet to be released... an early look, preliminary results, many need checking 6

VU Survey results Using information, communication, technology tools? – VU use: databases 80%, qual softw. 60%, quant softw. 70% – VU collab: 55% international, 70% around Australia < 20% use video conferencing, web collab tools, file sharing 66% face-2-face, 80% , 34% phone (potentially smart) 31% need more support with “technology tools” – statistics, qualitative, transcription, video, unknown, geospatial 31% need more support with “collaboration technologies” – collaboration environments, video conferencing, sharing files, training 7

Results... What data is out there (generated, collected, managed)? – 57% docs &reports (most data)– 37% spreadsheets – 36% transcripts– 34% – 32% fieldwork data– 29% databases – 28% websites ?– 20% digital audio files – 26% computer generated, 20% instrument generated, 8% video >26% mostly non-digital data (mostly surveys), >59% have some non-digital data – 48% have considered digitising but not done (36% of total surveyed) Requirements in managing data, themes (50-70% resp.): security, confidentiality, linked and coded – 60% felt they could meet requirements. 20% felt definitely not. 8

Results... Size of digital data: 80% < 100 GB (< 10 GB in 2009) Primary Data Stores – Internal HD, USB and external drives – >60% indicated backing up – 83% current situation meets needs Do you have a formal data management plan – 76% no or not sure Providing access to your data – 48% allow privately negotiated access – 42% “submit data for publishing when publishing in eJournals” (???) – 30% publish data online (???) – 21% deposit data in a repository – 50% willing to share beyond project/group Limiting factors: not allowed, time, technology – 54% interested in being able to cite their data (ANDS!) 9

Thoughts on Training Definite needs: awareness, support, improve Levels of approach: – Training & Workshops (not for everyone) – Online materials (work/life/location bleed) – Leveraging social networks (colleague support) Support staff are in these already... so... Abilities?: Awareness, Support, Improve 10

Quick ice breakers... Where do you backup your data to? – You can use VU research storage for backup. – Or use as your main storage, back happens automatically. How secure is your data? – Is your computer or USB storage locked up? – Is your USB storage password protected? – VU research storage is! Where are you going to keep your data after the project? – The Uni and you are required to keep for 5+ years beyond end of project. – Consider the VU research storage. 11

Expert vs. Empowerer Keep it or not? Valuable or Record? Where & how to keep. 12

Questions? 13 Copyright (c) 2012, Victoria University (Lyle Winton) This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia License. To view a copy of this license visit: Sections of this work are based on works of the Victorian eResearch Strategic Initiative (VeRSI).