Research Data Management Program Pilot : Report and Recommendations

Abstract

The Research Data Management Program Pilot (RDMPP) was a six-month focused effort to devise and model a programmatic, sustainable approach to managing research data at the Smithsonian. The pilot included staff from the Smithsonian Libraries (SIL), Smithsonian Archives (SIA), and the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO). The primary deliverable of the pilot is this report, which includes detailed recommendations on what technical infrastructure to adopt; what services to offer; how to structure a RDM program; and draft policies and best practices. The recommendations in this report are distilled from previous SI studies related to research data, interviews with SI researchers, a review of comparable policies and programs at Federal agencies and Universities, and a review of current literature around RDM. Specifics for implementation are provided in the appendices.