Open access publication Scientific Data has launched online, publishing its first eight Data Descriptors across fields including neuroscience, ecology and epidemiology. Scientific Data is the latest open research initiative from Nature Publishing Group.
Data Descriptors, Scientific Data's article type, are peer-reviewed, scientific publications that provide detailed descriptions of experimental and observational datasets, designed to maximise reuse and enable searching, linking and data mining.
Scientific Data gives credit, through a citable publication, for sharing research data in a way that enables reuse, discoverability and understanding of the dataset. Data Descriptors are accessible and searchable via the Scientific Data online platform, under a Creative Commons license. The data files are stored in one or more public, community-recognised data storage systems. Where a community recognised repository does not exist, Scientific Data supports the deposit of the data into a more general repository such as Dryad and figshare. All Data Descriptors are open access and free to access at point of publication.
Susanna-Assunta Sansone, Associate Director and Principal Investigator at the University of Oxford e-Research Centre is the Honorary Academic Editor of Scientific Data. She and the in-house team work closely with an Advisory Panel of senior scientists, data repository representatives, bio-curators, librarians, and funders who guide the policies, standards, and editorial scope.
