Welcome to the News Digest – RDM in Natural Science. Each week, I explore the latest developments in research data management, focusing specifically on natural sciences, and provide a concise overview. Let us dive right in.
NFDI4Earth
Machine-actionable metadata
Flagging this for all people interested in and working with the technical aspects of machine-actionable metadata and using the FAIR Digital Objects Model. In the report, Robert Brylka et al. explain the idea of FAIR Digital Object as well as the technical solutions and how these are integrated in the NFDI4Earth ecosystem. Very interesting and recommend for everyone interested in the technical aspects and how these can be realised.
Link to the Project Deliverable in Zenodo with DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.21380089
Preparing data for archiving
There is a new version of the "Guidelines for the preparation of data for archiving (NFDI4Earth Deliverable D2.4.4)" by Peter Valena and Tim Schürmann available. The first version was from 2024 and recommended back then to have a closer look at the document and share it with your Earth System Science researchers. The authors explain basics like the difference of bitstream preservation vs. content preservation, offer a Checklist for the Preparation of Data for Archiving, and even provide a list with sustainable file formats for data archiving. All of this information is also useful beyond the Earth System Sciences, so check it out.
Link to the Project Deliverable in Zenodo with DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.21098677
Metadata schemes across domains
If you need an update on the latest developments regarding metadata schemes and their harmonisation across domains, specifically in the context of the NFDI but also beyond, I highly recommend checking out the report by Michael Finkel et al. Since it is from NFDI4Earth it is slightly focused on Earth System Science relevant developments, but it is still a great overview. Maybe before you give the next workshop on metadata and metadata schemes, have a look at this overview. I am quite sure you will find something useful to add to your collection.
Link to the Project Deliverable in Zenodo with DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.21364475
Using synergies
Over the past years, the consortia of the NFDI have established their services and tools, and now it is more and more about how to best connect and use these. In a workshop NFDI4Earth, NFDI4Biodiversity, Base4NFDI and some institutional services discussed exactly these synergies. You can new find the report by Christin Henzen et al. in Zenodo.
Link to the Report in Zenodo with DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.21353254
Outro
That's it for today. Thanks for reading, and see you next week.
Benjamin
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