Developing Strategies to Strengthen Stewardship and Sharing of Water Science Data in Canada
Abstract
Water science data represent an immensely valuable asset that both underpin an original research project and contribute to new research questions. Proper management and the ongoing availability of these data are highly important given the increasingly complex water issues faced globally. Canadas Action Plan on Open Government and the recently released Tri-Agency Research Data Management Policy seek to strengthen Canadian research through deliverables aimed at improving access to research data generated by federally funded scientific activities. In addition, many journals and organisations have implemented data policies that require datasets supporting publications to be archived and often encourge alignment with FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable), CARE (Collective Benefit, Authority to Control, and Ethics), and OCAP (First Nations principles of ownership, control, access, and possession) guiding principles. Incorporating data management standards at the outset of a water science research project has the immediate benefit of enabling researchers to efficiently locate their data, analyze them, and use them throughout the lifecycle of their project. It also ensures the data will continue to be of value beyond the life of the project. Sharing water-related data help form communities of practice and expedites the development and adoption of the data management standards that can guide data curation over time and space. Common misapprehensions about data management, and practical advice to help water science researchers and students employ data management best practices and tools in their work will be discussed. We will also highlight some of the freely available resources and training opportunities made available through the Portage Network, Gordon Foundations DataStream, Compute Canada, and university libraries, and illustrates how these have been adapted to support data management within the Global Water Futures Programme.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2021
- Bibcode:
- 2021AGUFMIN35A..04P