The benefits of more effective research data management in

UK universities

Neil Beagrie

Charles Beagrie Limited

MRD Programme Conference

Birmingham March 2011

Purpose of AssessmentAs a Programme we want to pull together

evidence to:

• build an evidence base to improve effectiveness of practical interventions and help target investment;

• contribute towards making a case for sustaining the initiatives;

• To help secure support for future programmes and projects.

The JISC MRD Programme

• 8 research data infrastructure projects in assessment of changes and benefits;

• Using a case study approach to illustrate benefits.

Case Study Templates

Case Studies: what was produced?The case studies include:

• The background to the project;

• The established practice/ changes/ challenges it is seeking to address;

• The benefits the project has/will deliver that address these challenges and how they can be measured or illustrated;

• Summary of the overall impact.

Some Key Benefits Identified• Improved research effectiveness (faster

information/data access [reduced latency], support for data publication & citation, new research/research funding, data training materials, improved research tools);

• Research support efficiencies (cost savings such as increased service productivity or data re-use, freeing up researchers from support tasks e.g. back-up).

Examples from Case Studies• Two Project Case Studies presented next:

– I2S2 (Physical Sciences – multi- institutional)

– Madam (University of Manchester)

I2S2 Benefits - Background• Project aims:

– Understand and identify requirements for a data-driven research infrastructure in the Structural Sciences;

– Show how effective cross-institutional research data management can increase efficiency and improve the quality of research;

• Based on two use cases:

– Prof Martin Dove, Earth Sciences, University of Cambridge – researcher perspective;

– Dr Simon Coles, National Crystallography Service, Southampton –service perspective;

• Methods used:

– I2S2 Research Activity Model and KRDS Benefits Taxonomy;

– Charles Beagrie Ltd. Value Chain and Impact Analysis Tool;

– Value and Impact elaborated for each perspective by Neil Beagrie working jointly with Martin and Simon.

I2S2 Some Key Benefits IdentifiedImpact and value for researcher: • research effectiveness – reduced time latency

for accessing data sets (24hrs+ down to 5-10mins);

• disseminating research methods – documented datasets accessible for remote training and learning by (many) new users;

• enhanced research tools – more quality datasets for developers testing and improving tools (software, algorithms, methodologies etc).

I2S2 Some Key Benefits IdentifiedImpact and value for central service:• research and facility efficiency – time savings

aggregated over many samples /experiments /researchers at facility;

• visibility and security of datasets – increased citation and effectiveness of research in the long-term;

• less likelihood of errors – in data exchange chain between researchers and various facilities (e.g. safety and administrative information).

Benefits of Centralised RDM Infrastructure for the University of Manchester

MaDAM Benefits - BackgroundFor pilot group at U. of Manchester MaDAM aims to:

•Provide trusted secure storage to reduce risks of data loss;

•Provide a mechanism to make metadata visible and searchable;

•Facilitate easier, more secure owner-controlled data sharing;

•Reduce redundancy by making existing resources easier to discover.

Benefits of Centralised RDM Infrastructure for the University of Manchester

MaDAM - benefits for the Researcher•“I can put my hands straight on my data, through one application”

•“I can easily share & find data within my research group”

•“I have support in data management planning”

•“I can publish my data, under my control, with the wider community”

•“I’m not repeating experiments unnecessarily”

•“I’m freed up from some of my data management duties to concentrate on my research”

RESEARCHERS SPENDING LESS TIME MANAGING DATA, GETTING MORE VALUE FOR THEIR EFFORTS AND FREEING MORE TIME FOR RESEARCH

Benefits of Centralised RDM Infrastructure for the University of Manchester

Benefits to the institution Researcher time spent on research;

“Bulk-buying” across the Institution leads to cost benefits in storage (MaDAM moving towards UoM Virtualised Storage system) and an ability to buy storage on demand;

Energy/equipment efficiency through centralisation;

Easier costing for data management needs in proposals;

Enhanced Reputation for the University;

Easier compliance with funder & legal obligations.

Summary• Projects illustrate a range of positive benefits that

have/would accrue from implementations;• Researcher and Service perceptions of benefits

can be different but complementary;• Impact cannot always be measured within

timeframe of projects – where appropriate we have established benchmarks against which future progress can be measured;

• Final Benefits Synthesis Report and 8 accompanying project case studies will be available this summer.

Acknowlegements• Project slides contributed by:

– Manjula Patel (I2S2)– June Finch (MaDAM)