Enhancing access to research data during crises: lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic

The workshop will address the main challenges that have been faced in terms of making data findable, accessible, interoperable, reusable (FAIR) and open and will explore what this will mean for future policy-making decisions. The workshop will also look at initiatives that have been undertaken nationally and internationally to address the challenges that have been identified. 

The workshop is a co-located event with the RDA Plenary 17 and will include case studies from different fields of research relevant to the COVID-19 pandemic as well as moderated panel discussions with representatives of research agencies, funders, and international organisations. It is open to all delegates of the OECD Global Science Forum and members of the Research Data Alliance. Prior registration is required via Zoom at the following link.

Dr Natalie Harrower, the director of the Digital Repository of Ireland (DRI), will be providing introductory remarks on the RDA COVID-19 Recommendations and Guidelines for Data Sharing, published in June 2020 as a result of a coordinated effort led by the RDA COVID-19 Working Group (CWG). These guidelines outline how data from multiple disciplines inform response to a pandemic, combined with guidelines and recommendations on data sharing under the present COVID-19 circumstances. Read more about the development of these guidelines here.

Carthage Smith, Head of the OECD Global Science Forum, will introduce OECD’s work on research data access. The workshop sessions feature a fantastic line-up of expert speakers who will explore key challenges and good practices for enhancing research data access in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and will identify lessons for science policy in the future. 

For more information on the workshop programme and the session speakers, please visit the OECD website.