The University Libraries has launched a new research data repository, SANDY: Stewarding Nebraska Data. University of Nebraska–Lincoln researchers may now deposit data in the system, the underlying architecture of which powers data repositories used at the European Organization for Nuclear Research and other research-intensive environments.
According to Scout Calvert, associate professor and chair of the libraries’ research partnerships unit, the name is inspired by the Sandhills of Nebraska, a distinctive feature of the state, a place of biodiversity, and a region that demonstrates the impacts of purposeful stewardship of resources.
“The University Libraries has been a leader in championing research data stewardship and access at UNL for more than a decade, through investments in both people and systems," said Liz Lorang, dean of libraries. "This upgrade to a world-class research data repository infrastructure demonstrates our commitment to the care work — which is also intellectual work — required to advance world-changing research agendas.
SANDY one of the first major outcomes of the campuswide Comprehensive Research Data Strategy Task Force’s work, Lorang said. Calvert added that it adheres to the FAIR data ecosystem standard and meets federal government expectations for repositories to share research outputs from federally funded research.
The new repository will provide researchers with statistics of views, downloads, and clicks on their data sets, and will provide persistent identifiers so data can be cited and shared easily.
Jen Nelson, interim vice chancellor for research, expressed excitement for how SANDY will advance the impact of Nebraska research through a sophisticated platform for sharing and accessing Nebraska-generated research data.
"The repository is a critical piece of how UNL is aligned with federal research funding agencies on the importance of sharing research data," Nelson said. "I am proud of how this new resource was born out of strong collaboration among the University Libraries, the Office of Research and Innovation, and the UNL faculty engaged in the Research Data Task Force."
SANDY will also create another connection between data librarians and researchers.
“Once a faculty member deposits their research data, we will contact them with any questions as our team reviews the set, making sure the files open, everything is accounted for, and it ends up in a nice, coherent, functional data package for the public,” Calvert said.
Calvert and the faculty in her unit plan to include a session introducing the repository in their workshop series starting in January, and incorporate information on how to submit datasets into the sessions already offered on how to make a data management plan.
Calvert and Leslie Delserone, professor, research data services and science librarian, who will be the primary lead on the system, both expressed “nerd joy” over how this upgrade brings massive improvements for stewarding and sharing research data.
Calvert hopes all researchers in the Nebraska system will be encouraged to deposit their data once they see the new repository and understand its potential.
Learn more about data management and the research workshops offered by the University Libraries online.
