The Realities of Academic Data Sharing (RADS) Initiative, spearheaded by the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) in collaboration with the Data Curation Network (DCN), has released two comprehensive reports shedding light on the expenses associated with making research data publicly accessible. These reports provide invaluable insights into the financial implications of data management and sharing (DMS) services across academic institutions.
In recent years, the demand for public access to research data has surged, driven by the imperative to accelerate scientific progress and address real-world challenges. To meet this demand, research institutions have invested in services and infrastructure to support data management and sharing. However, the distributed nature of these services, often housed in various administrative units, has posed challenges in understanding the true costs of ensuring public access to research data.
In response to this need for clarity, the RADS Initiative embarked on a research project funded by the US National Science Foundation (NSF) EAGER grant. The project aimed to analyze expenses and develop models for public access to research data across five disciplinary areas: environmental science, materials science, psychology, biomedical sciences, and physics.
The RADS Initiative has unveiled two reports:
Making Research Data Publicly Accessible: Estimates of Institutional & Researcher Expenses: This report presents analyzed expense data collected from institutional units, including libraries, IT departments, research offices, and other institutes and centers, for the fiscal year 2021–2022. Additionally, retrospective data on expenses incurred by federally funded researchers over the grant life cycle were analyzed. The report reveals that the average combined overall cost of DMS activities is approximately $2,500,000, with total institutional expenses ranging from approximately $800,000 to over $6,000,000.
Realities of Academic Data Sharing (RADS) Initiative: Research Methodology 2022–2023 Surveys and Interviews: This supplemental report outlines the methodology employed by the RADS Initiative in conducting surveys and interviews to gather data for the research project.
The RADS Initiative, made possible by NSF EAGER grant #2135874, aims to provide actionable insights into the financial aspects of academic data sharing. By shedding light on the expenses associated with DMS services, these reports will inform strategic decision-making and resource allocation within research institutions.
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