A Roadmap for Research Data Management in the Geosciences: Responding to Community Needs

Many researchers are overwhelmed by challenges of FAIR data requirements by journal publishers, institutional guidelines or legacy data. The GeoDataNode project, funded by the Federal Ministry for Research and Education (BMBF), conducted a survey of data management practices at the Helmholtz Centre Potsdam GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ). The aim was to assess the state of current practices and needs, and their alignment to institutional and national guidelines for data management. The target audience included scientific and technical employees at all levels. A response rate of 24% of the demographic target was achieved.

The survey revealed a general need for improvement and structuring of research data handling. This includes the provision of adequate storage space, back-up schedules, and the familiarization of young researchers with good scientific practice.

Using the knowledge gathered by the survey, we present the next steps for the project and the GFZ. This includes more intuitive ways for researchers to orient themselves at any stage of the data life cycle. Key element in addressing this challendes is the development of a “FAIR Data Roadmap” including an online data readiness "decision tree" as a central guidance for researchers at every stage of data management activities. Additional activities are the promotion of data publications, IGSN and other PIDs as best practice for data sharing. For example, databases listing information regarding scientific instruments used in a study (including persistent identifiers; PID’s) ensure globally unique identification of instruments and provide important metadata (e.g., calibration information).