DANS Open Day 2024

Open Data, Open Science

On Thursday 14 November, we are pleased to welcome the research support community, policymakers and researchers to The Hague for the DANS Open Day. This inspiring event is dedicated to promoting the principles of Open Data and Open Science. Besides thought-provoking lectures by renowned speakers, the day offers engaging workshops and plenty of opportunities to connect and collaborate with your peers.

Programme

Morning programme
09.15 – 10.00  Walk-in (visit our our Open Market*)
10.00 – 10.45  Round 1: Lecture & Workshops
10.45 – 11.15  Coffee break*
11.15 – 12.00  Round 2: Lecture & Workshops
12.00 – 13.00  Lunch break*

Afternoon programme
13.00 – 13.45  Round 3: Lecture & Workshops
13.45 – 14.15  Coffee break*
14.15 – 15.00  Round 4: Lecture & Workshops
15.00 – 16.30  Networking drinks*
*There’s also an Open Market (information stands) you can visit throughout the day.

Lectures

Picture of the three speakers at DANS Open Day

Lecture Kalpana Shankar, Achieving openness: What progress have we made and what challenges are we facing?

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The open science movement, enabled by the transformational potential of digital technologies, is relatively new, but the values of openness and transparency in research are not. However, the increasingly complex research and innovation ecosystem encompasses stakeholders with values that are often at odds with openness. These include but are not limited to research security, international competitiveness, intellectual property protection, and commercial potential. While the role of commercial publishers in open access is well known, we should pay even more attention to the role of commercial/private sector actors in open science, including open data. Drawing on recent research on tensions in open science in university-industry collaborations, I will reflect on accomplishments to date, and outline some of the challenges, including the underexplored role of the private sector, we are collectively facing.

Lecture Sarah de Rijcke, Reimagining Research Assessment in the Era of Open Science

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In this lecture, I will explore the evolving landscape of research assessment in the context of open science practices. The talk will address key questions facing the research community today, including what role open data and open research information play in redefining research quality, and how to ensure that evaluation practices align with the goals of transparency, reproducibility, and collaboration central to open science. I will share insights from my involvement in global initiatives on research assessment reform, including my work with UNESCO on open science recommendations. The talk aims to stimulate discussion on how the research community can collectively work towards evaluation practices that foster innovation, integrity, and openness in academia. It will provide a forward-looking perspective on maintaining progress in research assessment and open science while navigating the complexities of the current academic environment.

Lecture Mariëlle Prevoo, From reusable to reused – Circular science as the ultimate goal of the UM Open Science policy

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Maastricht University adopted its first Open Science policy in 2019. However, the 2022-2026 policy was the first one to encompass the complete range of Open Science topics. Ultimately, this policy aims for circular science, by not only encouraging UM academics to make their data and other research products reusable, but also to actually reuse available data and other materials. At the DANS Open Day, Mariëlle Prevoo reflects on the advantages, milestones, and challenges to reach that goal.

 

 

Workshops

Workshop Search & Data discovery, Ricarda Braukmann

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An important aspect of making data FAIR is providing tools for the search and discovery of datasets. In this workshop, we will present several projects in which DANS is involved, focusing on making data and related research outputs findable. We will showcase domain-specific solutions, such as our Data Stations and the ODISSEI Portal, as well as cross-domain discovery tools for finding datasets. We will also discuss how enrichments of (meta)data improve search results and highlight new developments and future directions in the search and discovery initiatives that DANS is part of.

Workshop Research Ecosystem Approach (REECO), Andrea Scharnhorst

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REECO was developed and implemented as part of the European Polifonia Project to track of data, tools and other documentation throughout the project. Its uniqueness lies in the machine readable description of key components such as data, tools, and reports during the research process. It is implemented on GitHub and provides a flexible annotation scheme for these components, which has been tested in various workflows. It represents a machine-executable data management system combined with a human-oriented navigation approach. The workshop will give an overview of the main components, followed by an interactive part where participants can design (on paper!) their own REECO. Separating the design process from the actual programming in GitHub enables participants without programming skills to engage with the concept. If there is a significant demand, we will also provide a live GitHub demonstration.

Workshop What lies beneath? A closer look at the PID ecosystem, René van Horik

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Persistent identifiers (PID) are essential to making data objects FAIR. Several PID systems exist to facilitate the unique identification of research objects, such as databases, publications, organisations, researchers, software, etc. PIDs act as the glue that creates robust relationships between research objects. However, PIDs are not persistent and unique by magic. In this workshop, we will examine the actors and roles that make up the PID ecosystem and discuss how to ensure that PIDs deliver on their promise: providing a long-term, globally unique identifier for a research object.

Workshop Data Deposit Pipelines, Jetze Touber

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DANS is developing deposit pipelines that allow data stewards to deposit research data into repositories, directly from the environment where research activities were conducted and data were generated. These pipelines provide functionalities customised to specific research disciplines. They integrate DANS repository services within virtual research environments, allowing target repositories to be selected and providing guidance on repository selection, semi-automated curation services, and customised metadata schemas for specific use cases. DANS is working on several projects to extend the applicability of these pipelines to different use cases, including metadata-only deposits, combined data and software deposits, FAIR assessment of data on deposit, and file format transformation.

Workshop Unlocking potential with the Dataverse Data Platform, Slava Tykhonov

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In this workshop, participants will explore how the Harvard Dataverse Data Platform facilitates open access to datasets, enhances research collaboration, and supports the FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) principles. The session will cover key features such as data publishing, long-term preservation, and citation management, highlighting how these elements contribute to research transparency and reproducibility. In addition, participants will learn about new developments, including the integration of AI services and machine learning for automated metadata enrichment.

Workshop Pattern training ‘how to use materials in trainings’, Deborah Thorpe

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The European-funded PATTERN project is developing and piloting training activities to promote Open and Responsible Research and Innovation. Leading a consortium of research institutes from across Europe, DANS is creating training materials on ‘FAIR Research Data Management (RDM)’. These materials, ranging from beginner to intermediate levels, cover topics such as: an introduction to the FAIR Principles, creating Data Management Plans (DMPs), file formats for sharing and reuse, and intellectual property, copyright, and licensing. Trainers can easily adapt these open materials to match their institutional settings and preferences. They are suitable for both in-person and online sessions and include slide decks, exercises, and interactive opportunities. In this session, we will showcase the materials, engage in discussion, and invite the audience to consider adapting and reusing them for their own training purposes.

Workshop The matter of formats, Valentijn Gilissen

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The use of accessible, sustainable, and interoperable file formats is a key factor in making your dataset reusable in the long term. DANS provides file format guidelines for depositors, and submitted files may also be curated by data managers. DANS is involved in national and international initiatives to gain further insight into file format issues. During this workshop, policy issues on file formats, current debates, measures, methods and available tools will be discussed.

Workshop Making your work more accessible, Kim Ferguson

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Accessibility is about design that is inclusive and specific to disabled users, such as your colleagues, students, customers, or peers. If you make grant proposals, slide decks, or communications materials, do you know how to make them accessible? Increasing the accessibility of presentations and documents is important, but can be overwhelming – where to begin? Luckily, within the Microsoft Office suite (Word, Powerpoint, Excel), there are built-in Accessibility Checkers and in this session we will show you how to use them efficiently. We will also cover other applications, such as the Google suite of programs.

Open Market

For the Open Day, the DANS office has been transformed into a vibrant festival-like venue. Several Open Market stalls will be available, offering direct Q&A opportunities with DANS experts and staff. You can get hands-on support for live data deposits or seek advice on selecting appropriate licences. Engage with our Expert team and Data Station Managers, and dive into the world of FAIR data management.

The DANS Open Day is supported by: