Getting to know... Maarten Hoogerwerf

In our 'Getting to know' series, we introduce the members of the LCRDM Advisory Board. Who are they, what drives them, and what is their vision for research data management? This time we speak with Maarten Hoogerwerf, architect for Advanced Solutions for Research at SURF.

Why did you choose to become a member of the LCRDM Advisory Board?

"I was asked to join the advisory board to represent the infrastructural aspects of RDM. I accepted this position, as I had already participated in a few LCRDM task groups and find it important that we encourage and support RDM colleagues to share and align their work."

What are your tasks as a member of the board?

"In the advisory board we inform each other about what is happening in the various national and international RDM-related networks. This helps us to align that work, and to advise on topics that LCRDM can address via its task groups or events."

What is your daily job, next to being a member of the Advisory Board?

"I work at SURF as an architect for the unit Advanced Solutions for Research. One of our objectives is to align the rich but fragmented data infrastructure landscape. The larger part of my work is to build a common understanding across the many institutes and consortia how we can improve seamless access to the different infrastructures, and how we can collaboratively build and sustain it, as commons."

Can you cross a bridge to the Open Science community?

"Most people within my network are committed to making research data, information, or infrastructure open. I’m currently trying to cross a bridge from open science to communities with sensitive data. We help them to make these sensitive data FAIR by providing facilities for controlled and secure access."

Do you have any resolutions or points of improvement for the board for this year?

"Many of us have to do more work with less people, due to budget cuts. We should look for shared RDM challenges where we can benefit from working together in a task group."

Willem Jan Knibbe asked you the following question:

"How do you feel about LCRDM in the international context of research data management?"

"I think that the local and national scope of LCRDM is very important because this is where RDM is practiced. In LCRDM we share a national context of policy, funders, infrastructure, etc. Here we can learn from each other and develop best practices. The international context is built upon such regional or thematic efforts."

What would you like to know from the next person in this ‘getting to know’ item?

"In line with my previous answer: Is there a new challenge that you see where we can save time by working together in a task group?"