October 25, 2024, Norman, OK — The University of Oklahoma hosted a pivotal event to discuss the current landscape and future needs of data curation and long-term archival storage for research and creative activities. This event marks the third in the series. Spearheaded by a panel that included Jessica Davila and Mark Laufersweiler from University Libraries, Henry Neeman from the OU Supercomputing Center for Education & Research (OSCER), and Andrew H. Fagg from the School of Computer Science and the Data Institute for Societal Challenges (DISC), the session served as a forum for faculty, researchers, and students to explore and debate strategies for preserving data effectively and meeting federal mandates for data accessibility.
The event covered essential topics, from the latest federal requirements on open-access policies and data management to OU’s expanding resources for secure, reliable data storage. Attendees learned about OU’s current data storage solutions, such as OURdisk and OURRstore, which provide researchers with expansive and secure options for storing valuable data assets. Additionally, OU's partnerships with platforms like Dryad and Zenodo were highlighted, offering accessible publishing and preservation options tailored to researchers' unique needs.
With federal mandates from agencies such as the NSF and NIH shaping the landscape, the discussion emphasized OU’s proactive measures to stay ahead of the curve. These include plans to elevate SHAREOK, OU’s digital repository, to meet the rigorous standards of industry-trusted repositories. Participants were particularly encouraged by OU’s commitment to supporting their data management and sharing plans through Globus—a high-speed, secure data transfer solution backed by institutional licensing. This addition exemplifies OU’s dedication to equipping researchers with tools to enhance their data’s accessibility and longevity.
Through these discussions, the event highlighted OU's continued investments in a secure, expansive data ecosystem that empowers researchers and supports compliance with evolving national standards.
