Share data to fuel discovery | VTx

Academic libraries provide expertise in planning, managing, and publishing data to fuel discovery and future research. Recently, the library launched a new version of its research data repository platform, powered by Figshare.

Accessible from anywhere, Figshare is a cloud-based platform for storing, sharing and citing research data. Virginia Tech researchers can upload their research data and receive a Digital Object Identifier (DOI) to cite the data in publications and meet sponsor requirements for freely available data. Data uploaded to the Virginia Tech research data repository is detectable in search engines, including Google Scholar and Google Dataset Search. Research engagement and impact can be tracked through views, downloads, citations, and Altmetric usage tracking.

“University libraries have a long history and expertise in preserving and providing access to information,” said Jon Petters, university libraries deputy director of data management and curation services. “Helping researchers at Virginia Tech to share data and other findings publicly fits perfectly with this framework. “

The reason university libraries chose the Figshare platform for the university data repository is because it makes it easy to download and publish data. Figshare provides well-written tips on how to work within the system, which is linked to the Virginia Tech Data Repository Guide. Faculty and students can use this guide to work within the system or contact the Data Services team for assistance.

Nina Stark, Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Anthony and Catherine Moraco Fellow at the College of Engineering, and her graduate students have published their raw and processed data in the repository. They also published how they handled the data.

“Publishing and maintaining data is difficult and we – my research group – are not subject matter experts,” Stark said. “Therefore, I appreciate the support of the university libraries, who are working with us to make this happen. It makes it easier for us and makes my life easier so that I can send students to them. I know the students will be supported, and we’ll end up with a well-organized data product. “

Stark believes that sharing knowledge and data within research communities propels the advancement of knowledge. “I also believe that sharing data openly promotes trust, communication and collaboration among researchers as well as with stakeholders and the public,” Stark said. “I also increase my visibility as a researcher through data publications.

Ashley Dayer, assistant professor in the Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation at the College of Natural Resources and the Environment and affiliated with the Global Change Center and the Center for Coastal Studies, both housed at the Fralin Life Sciences Institute, said that the published data allowed other researchers to build on his research. The University Libraries Data Services team helps faculty share data appropriately when it comes to human subjects, especially at the individual level.

“Transparency is a key aspect of open data – so that others can replicate our research or perform additional analysis. It is also possible that the responses to our research survey will be part of other new studies, thereby maximizing the benefits of the time respondents spent completing the survey without taking up their time, ”said Dayer. “While the social sciences have been slower to transition to open data, more journals and funders are recognizing the benefits and that it can be done. “