Introducing The FAIR Phantom: Why Data Without Stewardship Haunts Reproducibility

Presentation by Dr Samantha Pearman-Kanza on: Introducing The FAIR Phantom: Why Data Without Stewardship Haunts Reproducibility, for Lab Innovations 2025.

Abstract: FAIR principles promise findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable data—but they assume the data is worth sharing in the first place. In reality, truly FAIR data requires more than good intentions; it demands thoughtful planning, skilled stewardship, and support across the entire research lifecycle. This talk explores why FAIR alone can’t banish the ghosts of poor data practices. We’ll uncover how issues of reproducibility and reusability often arise at the moment of data creation, and why expecting researchers to handle it all is a monstrous mistake. Instead, we must summon data stewards—those with the time, tools, and expertise—to guide researchers and ensure high-quality, shareable data from the start. Join us as we shine a lantern on the dark corners of data management and make the case for data stewardship as the true magic behind FAIR.