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Introducing CaSDaR ! Dr Samantha Pearman - Kanza University of Southampton CaSDaR Hybrid Townhall Launch 18th September 2025
Principal Investigator Primcipal Enterprise Fellow School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering University of Southampton Co-Investigator Professor of Digital Humanities Director of Digital Humanities School of Humanities University of Southampton PROFESSOR JAMES BAKER DR SAMANTHA PEARMAN-KANZA PROFESSOR SIMON COLES Co-Investigator Professor of Structural Chemistry School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering University of Southampton PROFESSOR SIMON HETTRICK Co-Investigator Professorial Enterprise Fellow School of Electronics and Computer Science University of Southampton MS ISOBEL STARK Co-Investigator Head of Research Data Management University Library University of Southampton DR LOUISE SAUL Network+ Coordinator Enterprise Fellow School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering University of Southampton CaSDaR Team & Details Advisory Board: Prof Christian Bokhove (University of Southampton & UKRN), Dr Sarah Callaghan (University of Oxford), Tao Chang – Arts & Humanit ies Research Council, Prof Jeremy Frey (University of Southampton & AIChemy Hub), Professor Tony Hey (STFC), Dr Guy Jones (Spring er Nature), Dr Emma Karoune (Alan Turing Institute), Dr William Nixon (Research Libraries UK), Professor Andy Stanford - Clark (IBM UK), Dr Marta Tepe rek (University of Cambridge & Open Science NL), Dr Becca Wilson (University of Liverpool)
The need for Data Stewards across the research data lifecycle •Ensure that data is suitably documented, described and licensed for re - use. •Possess skills required to facilitate data re - use. •Understand data and research requirements for proposed work. •Support creation of viable iterative Data Management Plans. •Influence collection and capture processes for data. •Tailor these to the nature of the research and data. •Understand the principles of responsible research and integrity, and when ethics is required. This image is based on Jisc's Research Data Lifecycle taken from - https:// www.jisc.ac.uk /guides/research - data - management - toolkit •Given appropriate recognition for their role in the research process. •Aid with the preparation of data for publication, including identifying appropriate licenses. •Advise on best practices and tools for collaboration, e.g. secure storage processes, data transform mechanisms. •In depth knowledge of identifying and using repositories for long - term data preservation. •Advise on packaging up datasets with relevant (machine - readable) metadata and documentation. The role of Data Stewards
Understand the Role We cannot expect every researcher to also be a data steward, this is a highly skilled role within its own right and needs to be recognised as such. Why do we need a Network+? 1 Recognise Contribtion Data stewardship tasks are often carried out by staff in libraries, research data management, or project teams without formal recognition. 2 Establish Career Paths Many institutions still don’t formally recognise the role or provide clear career paths, and many are unaware Data Stewardship is a potential career. 3 Encourage Collaboration Stronger partnerships between data stewards and researchers are essential to embed good data practices and improve research outcomes. 4 Build a Community We need to build communities of data stewards to ensure that this vital skillset and career path is supported. 5
01 Funded by the UKRI DRTP Call 02 Led out of the University of Southampton 1st April 2025 - 31st March 2029 03
Build a Community 1 Develop Career Pathways 3 Enabling Sustainability 5 24 Establish Data Stewards Recognition & Cultural Change Empowering Data Stewards for Research Excellence Create a supportive, diverse, inclusive, self sustaining community for data stewards. Run flagship events to bring the community together and allow them to drive us. Establish clear and accessible career pathways, with entry level routes, progression opportunities, taking into account the different skill requirements. Promote the recognition of data stewards, highlighting their critical role in managing and preserving research data. Establish a culture that values and supports data stewards. Develop sustainable models for data stewardship. Establish Data Steward Association that will empower our community to be self managed both during and after the grant. “Learn by doing”. Fund data stewards as “researchers on the ground” to understand roles and challenges across different institutions and (under - represented) disciplines. CaSDaR Roadmap & Aims
Formal association with mission, governance, and membership criteria. Institutional Framework Resource Repository Skills Assessment CaSDaR Analysis Report Grant Awards Data Stewardship Association Models for roles, responsibilities, competencies, and career progression. Online database of job descriptions, career resources, and best practices. Report on UK data stewardship skills gaps to inform and enable tailored training. Impact analysis of CaSDaR activities on data stewardship and the community. Support Data Steward positions across different domains & UK research institutions. CaSDaR Deliverables
Conference Series Training Workshops Community Workshops Hackathons & Datathons CaSDaR Events https://casdar.ac.uk/events/ Launch event with interdisciplinary experts, to seed initial ideas, plans and to help us shape our roadmap, first funding call and workshop plans Large scale Data Steward Conferences to facilitate knowledge sharing and networking on an international scale Targeted training workshops to address specific data stewardship needs and skill development Biannual workshops to bring the community together for discussion, networking and knowledge sharing Interactive activities to foster collaboration and the ability to work on real world problems that require data stewardship. Townhall Launch
CaSDaR’s Core Values & Commitments 1. Data Collection 2. Performance Metrics 3. Analysis Tools 4. Reporting •Embed EDI principles across all activities •Provide inclusive, flexible support for all activities •Accessible Venues for Meetings & Hybrid Events •Code of Conduct to ensure inclusive supportive events •Bursary fund for event attendance: casdar.ac.uk/casdar - bursaries/ •Foster a sense of belonging for all data stewards •Promote teamwork and knowledge sharing within the data stewardship community •Promote and upskill researchers in responsible and ethical data stewardship practices •Recognise and credit all contributions to research data •Targeted support for early career researchers for progression and acknowledgement •Ensure long - term sustainability of data stewardship •Support long - term preservation and accessibility of research data 5. Optimization Inclusivity Collaboration Integrity Recognition Sustainability
