A recent CHORUS workshop summarized practical approaches for adopting the Research Data Framework (RDaF), a resource developed by NIST to strengthen research data management across the full data life cycle. The workshop reviewed the RDaF structure, implementation models, and institutional lessons from early adopters.
Speakers described the RDaF as a consensus-based guide rather than a formal standard. It is organized across five components: the framework foundation, life cycle stages, methodology, generic profiles, and key organizations. The life cycle spans Envision, Plan, Collect, Process, Analyze, Share, Reuse, and Preserve/Discard. The methodology reflects stakeholder input gathered since the steering committee began work in mid-2019, along with three iterations of the RDaF.
Examples from the Digital Research Alliance of Canada and the University of West Virginia illustrated how institutions have used the RDaF to assess progress and support self-serve data management guidance. The Alliance mapped activities to RDaF 1.0 and created scorecards, while West Virginia integrated the framework into a website supporting questions about data management. SUNY demonstrated another approach through a research data repository and an RDaF explorer prototype that enables users to capture work across life cycle stages and export information for analysis.
The workshop emphasized the need for executive backing, collaboration among stakeholders, strong metadata practices, and sustained data preservation. Participants noted challenges involving preservation policies, sensitive biomedical data, and the need for simplified tools for researchers. Panelists also discussed managing data actions aligned with federal guidance and the importance of building a culture of data sharing.
The session concluded with a call for deeper collaboration and adaptation of the RDaF to institutional contexts. Participants were directed to an RDaF spreadsheet designed to help assess responsibilities and areas of influence across topics and subtopics. AIP Publishing and STM were acknowledged for supporting CHORUS events, and the webinar recording and presentation are available on the event page.
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