Uplifting FAIR and CARE across Earth and Environmental Science (E&ES) Data. A Discussion Paper to inform the Data Targeted Discussion of the National Digital Research Infrastructure Strategy

Outcome 3 of Australia’s 2024 National Digital Research Infrastructure (NDRI) Strategy aims for consistent standards for data collection, curation, and access by 2030 through a cross-sector data management framework that supports adopting the FAIR and CARE principles. This discussion paper was prepared by the Australian Research Data Commons’ (ARDC) Planet Research Data Commons to identify core challenges and recommendations for the Earth and Environmental Sciences (E&ES) in delivering Outcome 3.

The scope of this discussion paper focuses on how the machine-actionability of data - aligned with the FAIR Guiding Principles for Scientific Data Management and Stewardship Principles - may be uplifted across Environmental & Earth Sciences (E&ES) National Research Infrastructures (NRIs), institutes and National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS) Facilities. In the context of the CARE Principles for Indigenous Data Governance, the paper's focus is on those elements of implementing the CARE Principles that can be supported by improvements in FAIR data capability, specifically by improving machine-actionability of data and metadata across E&ES research.