RDA NL– An inspiring day of open science, collaboration, and innovation

19 𝘕𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 2024
What an engaging day filled with insights and interaction! Enthusiastic speakers and interactive workshops offered an inspiring perspective on current topics in research, open science, and data management. Here are the highlights:

Four Inspiring Stories from the RDA Community

The day began with four speakers sharing their involvement in RDA groups:

• Paul Bosalie: Paul Bosalie, Chief Open Science at Utrecht University, shared insights from his talk “Academia in Motion – The Global Open Science Transformation.” He emphasized the importance of embedding open science into the collective imagination of communities and highlighted the RDA’s role in fostering teamwork and diverse participation. Bosalie urged universities to reflect on the “why” and “how” of open science and called for transformative action to meet their ambitions, with RDA-NL as a key supporter in this journey.
• Dan Rudman: Dan highlighted the project ‘Policies in Research Organizations for Research Software (PRO4RS)’. This initiative supports research organizations worldwide in developing, aligning, and implementing policies around research software.
• Louise Bezuidenhout: Louise enthusiastically shared activities of the CODATA-RDA School of Research Data Science, which has trained over 600 students from 40 countries. With the curriculum expanding to include modules like AI, data ethics, and cloud computing, the program promises exciting developments ahead.
• Alexandra Delipalta: Alexandra presented the activities of RDA Europe and RDA TIGER, emphasizing the importance of recommendations, outcomes, and implementation stories within the RDA.

All four speakers shared a common message:
Interested? New members are always welcome!

Workshop: Research Support and Open Science

The next session, led by Andrew Hoffman (CWTS) and James Smith (Leiden University), was an interactive workshop on the intersections of research/grant support and open science.

The discussion focused on gaps in support, such as for unfunded projects and pre-award activities. Participants discovered that these aspects are often overlooked or unsupported, potentially because data management is primarily seen as a funder requirement.

Solutions?
Better collaboration! Strengthening the connections between research/grant offices and data stewards can lead to more relevant advice and greater recognition within institutions.

Hunter Game: A Living Lab in Kathmandu

After lunch, it was time for an innovative experience: ‘The Hunter Game’. This card game simulates decision-making in data management through a real-life challenge—creating inclusive and resilient urban clusters in Kathmandu, Nepal.

In groups of four, participants assumed specific roles: researcher, data steward, legal/privacy advisor, or ethics expert. The game highlighted unique challenges, such as religious beliefs influencing participation.

Creativity was in full swing. For instance, our ethics expert jokingly proposed halting the entire research project, while the data steward stuck strictly to GDPR guidelines. Later, the scenario became even more challenging when a new president restricted freedom of expression.

A Day to Remember

From inspiring stories to lively discussions and creative solutions, this day offered a fresh perspective on the future of open science and collaboration in research. The key takeaway? Collaborate, learn, and keep exploring new ways to make science more inclusive and effective.

Interested or want to contribute? Everyone is welcome!