To help support the USask research community, Kevin Read (RDM & Open Science Librarian), has created a Data Management Plan (DMP) Creation Guide which can be used by faculty, staff, and students when developing their own DMPs.

What is this and why is it important?

Research data management (RDM) – the planning, maintenance, and documenting of data throughout the lifecycle of a research project – is a growing area of interest. Studies have found that as soon as a manuscript is published, the data underlying that manuscript immediately starts to lose value. Saving data in unusable formats, not having sufficient information to understand the data, and storing data in unsafe places are all reasons why data may lose value, and funding agencies have begun to take notice.

In 2019, the Tri-Agencies introduced the Tri-Agency Research Data Management Policy to respond to the RDM challenges researchers face. While still in its implementation phases, the policy asked Canadian research institutions to develop an RDM strategy (see USask’s here), and coming very soon will require researchers to submit data management plans (DMPs) when applying for Tri-Agency research grants. A DMP is a living document that is designed to help researchers plan how their data will be collected, documented, stored, preserved, and shared across the lifecycle their research. DMPs are becoming essential tools for ensuring that research data is organized, protected, and preserved long term.

The University Library and OVPR collaborated over the Spring/Summer 2024 term to host a Summer RDM Training Program. The training program provided general RDM training, as well as specific training on developing DMPs, and was targeted to faculty and their Highly Qualified Personnel (HQP). Additional training was offered to Librarians and Research Administrative Staff on how to evaluate DMPs. Both training opportunities will be offered again.

In addition to the DMP guide, more resources can be found on the USask Library’s RDM Libguide.

Mark your calendars! The University Library will be hosting Love Data Week 2025, February 10-14. We have just begun planning and will release more details in the next few months.

The program received nearly 200 registrations from across campus. 67 faculty members registered a total of 132 of their students/staff! When reaching out to participants after the program was over, each said they would develop a DMP again for future research and noted the benefits of creating a DMP in their feedback.

The Summer RDM Training Program will be offered again in 2025.

We are pleased to announce that our RDM Implementation Team’s Governance Structure has been finalized and approved. The Governance Structure outlines the four main teams: Sponsor’s Group, Steering Committee, Working Group, and End-User Advisory Group. The Structure was developed in such a way as to remove historical barriers between units. We have left room and flexibility for other stakeholders to be involved as the opportunities arise.

The Sponsor’s Group, Steering Committee, and Working Group are up and running. The Working Group has begun working on the RDM Recommendations! We are still in the process of establishing the End-User Advisory Group. Unfortunately, this is taking longer than initially anticipated due to competing priorities. However, we have a rolling recruitment for folks to volunteer to participate. Please contact the RDM Coordinator at colleen.cochran@usask.ca if you have any questions about participating!

The RDM Executive Sponsors Group is set to re-establish itself and Terms of Reference are being drafted. The RDM Steering Committee has been meeting monthly and has recently finalized its’ Terms of Reference. A Governance Structure for the Implementation Team has been developed and approved by the RDM Steering Committee. The RDM Working Group’s composition has been established and kicked off its’ first meeting in May! The RDM Coordinator is in the process of formally establishing the RDM End-user Advisory Group, which will begin to take shape in Summer 2024.

The RDM End-user Advisory Group will be comprised of researchers, research support staff (e.g., lab managers, study coordinators), and graduate students & postdoctoral fellows. This group will serve as an advisory body to the RDM Working Group and will provide crucial input and feedback on plans for strategy implementation and delivery of the USask RDM Recommendations.

The RDM End-User Advisory Group will play a pivotal role in the future of RDM services at the University of Saskatchewan.

If you are interested in participating in the RDM End-user Advisory Group, please contact the RDM Coordinator (colleen.cochran@usask.ca).

The University Library and OVPR collaborated to host a Summer RDM Training Program that was targeted to trainees, research support staff (e.g., lab managers, study coordinators), and researchers. The Program introduces RDM broadly and Data Management Plan (DMP) development training specifically. We are excited to share that we had tremendous interest with 200 participants enrolled and even had a waitlist! We also developed a side-training component for upskilling Librarians and Research Administrative staff on how to evaluate DMPs to better serve our research community.

Unfortunately, we had to cancel the program in its current form due to unforeseen events.

Due to the demand from the community (thank you!), we have pivoted and instead offered a recorded introductory session and three self-guided workshop activities. Registered participants are welcome (but not required) to submit a DMP for feedback. Once the revised Program has been completed, we will be making the recording(s) available to the community. Information on where to access the recordings will be distributed once available. Keep an eye out!

We will be developing more RDM training opportunities and will be hosting the Summer RDM Training Program again next summer.

The RDM Coordinator is committed to engaging with the USask community. The RDM Coordinator has been meeting with units from across campus to hear directly from staff within them about their questions, concerns and needs in relation to RDM. The RDM Coordinator has been and will continue to give presentations on what the institution is doing for RDM. If your unit or department is interested in hearing one of these presentations, please contact (colleen.cochran@usask.ca). 

As always, please feel free to connect with the RDM Coordinator should you have any questions or concerns related to Research Data Management.

Developed in response to the Tri-agency Research Data Management Policy, the RDM Strategy provides a roadmap outlining how USask will support researchers at all levels in complying with funder and publisher data policies, conducting high-quality, responsible research, and applying best practices in RDM.

The next phase of the USask RDM evolution is to (1) develop a multi-year implementation strategy of the roadmap, (2) to coordinate existing RDM supports and their integration into the roadmap, and (3) to develop a system by which USask RDM supports can be monitored and improved as needed. To this end, we are pleased to announce that an RDM Coordinator, Ms. Colleen Cochran, has been hired and began in the role in November 2023. 

The RDM Coordinator is responsible for ensuring the success of this multi-year endeavour which includes the three above noted goals. She will be coordinating an RDM Working Group(s) comprised of colleagues across campus to assist in completing the recommendations outlined in the Strategy and Roadmap. A USask RDM Steering Committee has been formed and will provide oversight to the USask RDM Working Group(s) and Focus Groups, which are currently being formed as of January 2024.

This phase will include engagement with the USask community (faculty, staff, and students), via a number of different avenues. We understand that not everyone can participate in a working group, or focus group, due to numerous factors. We still want to hear from you! The USask Communities’ input on the future of Research Data Management is crucial. Faculty, staff, and students are encouraged to contact the RDM Coordinator (Ms. Colleen Cochran) with their questions, concerns, suggestions, and/or ideas. Please direct these comments to rdm.inquiries@usask.ca.

If you are interested in participating in a working group or future focus group, please direct your email to colleen.cochran@usask.ca.  

• USask's Research Data Management Strategy and Roadmap