Connecting the Caribbean: Inside the DCDC Network - by Esther Plomp
The DCDC Network connects researchers, institutions, and professionals in Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten who are dedicated to open data, collaborative research, and building digital capacity within our region. We launched in October 2025, and our primary focus is currently on Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten, as local DCDC Network coordinators are based on these islands (0.3 FTE each). However, the intention is to expand this to St Eustatius, Saba, and Bonaire where possible. I serve as both the project leader and the local coordinator for Aruba within the DCDC Network. This means I ensure the progress of the network as a whole, while also building local awareness and establishing and maintaining contacts in Aruba. It is highly varied work – for instance, over the past few weeks we have been busy with our onboarding survey for the Network, as well as preparing an introductory poster for the SURF Research Day and the Dutch Caribbean Research Week. We are currently building towards our formal kick-off conference in November (10–12 November). During this kick-off conference, the emphasis will shift towards how Network members work towards shared goals regarding data and open science. The connecting factor in this work is the needs and challenges of the professionals on the islands, and as the word 'network' suggests, it involves a lot of people-focused work!
I think that is also the finest similarity with TU Delft – even though it often revolves around technical processes or data, the most rewarding aspect is sitting around the table with people to achieve goals. The biggest difference is that Dutch universities have far more resources at their disposal. Whereas at TU Delft I was a Data Steward and also had policy duties, the work at the University of Aruba is more comparable to what would typically be handled by an entire research support department at a library and/or faculty. I combine my work for the DCDC Network with another upcoming TDCC project (ECOSCALE) and my role as a research developer at the Research Centre. So, there are many balls to keep in the air!
The DCDC Network started in October 2025, but we have already shared many wonderful milestones since then: a logo that the entire Core Team could rally behind, the launch of our website with our first newsletter coming soon, strengthening the connections between our various universities and countries, and our very first programming workshop at the University of Aruba! In connection with the DCDC Network, we are currently working on new TDCC applications (SSH) focused on Papiamento/u language models and open election data on the islands. Personally, I also hope to soon begin research in Aruba into trust in science and journalism!
