Category: Open Data

First Lancaster University Open Research Café 21 November 2018

Why have an Open Research Café?

During Data Conversations our researcher community demonstrated an interest in discussions that move beyond open data to broader discussions around open research paradigms and practices. The library explored possibilities with our Psychology department’s PROSPR (Promoting Open Science Practices) group about how we might provide a forum for those discussions. Enter the Open Research Café.

The Open Research Café is co-designed by PROSPR and the Library and will be a regular event built around the following principles:

  • Informal
  • Interdisciplinary
  • Community-led
  • Open to researchers and support staff from all levels
  • Facilitates discussions on different aspects of Open Research

What happened?

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6th Data Conversations: Keep it, throw it… or lock it in the vault?

As the doors opened on our sixth Lancaster based Data Conversations and the smell of pizza drifted out, new and old faces joined our conversation about real life research data stories. We were lucky enough to have four engaging speakers, all of whom explained their experience of using data in different fields, and explored the long term value of their data which led to the question: ‘Keep it, throw it… or lock it in the vault?’

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Open Research Update

A lot is happening in the world of Open Research at the moment! Here are a few words on what is important to us in the Library at Lancaster University.

Open Science versus Open Research?

Let’s start with the slightly confusing terminology. One of the “Goals of research and innovation policy” of the European Commission is Open Science which defined as “an approach to the scientific process that focuses on spreading knowledge as soon as it is available using digital and collaborative technology.” Moving to the useful FOSTER site they have an Introductory Course on Open Science which is very good and concise summary.

Meanwhile, the Wellcome Trust is advocating for Open Research, a way of “unleashing” the full potential of research. The publisher SpringerNature claims to be “a pioneer in the field of Open Research”.

Open Science = Open Research? It seems to be the case. Our colleagues at Cambridge state that both terms are interchangeable. We at Lancaster University will stick with Open Research as it seems to be the more comprehensive term including all fields of research.

Plan S – A gamechanger for Open Access?

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Impressions from Liber Conference 2018 in Lille

I was lucky enough to attend this years 47th Liber Annual Conference from 4-6 July in the French city of Lille. The theme was “Research Libraries as an Open Science Hub: from Strategy to Action” which is very much close to my heart. I want to highlight a few interesting presentations and talks I attended. If you want to find out more, presentations are available at https://liberconference.eu/2018-presentations/ and Zenodo.

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International Archives Day

Today is International Archives Day where everyone involved in preserving archives, records, data – whatever your take – celebrates the work that is happening worldwide to ensure the preservation of our memory and heritage and the protection of our rights by documenting decisions and building the foundations for good governance.

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5th Data Conversations – Stories from the Field

We recently held our fifth Data Conversations here at Lancaster University Library. These events bring researchers together and act as a forum to share their experiences of using and sharing data. The vibe’s informal and we provide our attendees with complementary coffee, cake and pizza…

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3rd Data Conversation – Software as data: summary and slides

We had our third Data Conversation here at Lancaster University again with the aim of bringing together researchers to share their data stories and discuss issues and exchange ideas in a  friendly and informal setting.

Data Conversations Agenda

We had a bit of a change this time, however, as we had a special guest speaker, Neil Chue-Hong of the Software Sustainability Institute talking about Software as “a different kind of research object“.

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2nd Data Conversations 4 May 2017 – Data Security and Confidentiality

The 2nd Data Conversations had the theme of Data Security and Confidentiality. More than 20 Lancaster researcher attended. It was nice to start with a slice of pizza and a brew.

Always nice to start an event with food!

As at the 1st Data Conversations we had five lightning talks:

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