One of the pitches given at our second research data spring sandpit workshop on 13 July 2015.

1. Research data spring
Collaboration for Research Enhancement by Active Metadata14/7/2015

2. The long view …
»Research becomes more effective, agile and timely:
› Guidelines and exemplars to demonstrate value of
active use of metadata
› Research data curated to provide the information
researchers require to make value judgements
› Potential for reuse, reproducibility, reinterpretation,
and validation
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“Standing on the shoulders of others”

3. Team
» University of Southampton
– Simon Coles, Jeremy Frey, Colin Bird, CerysWilloughby
» University of Edinburgh
– Mike Mineter, Magnus Hagdorn
» University of the Arts London
– ThanasisVelios
» STFC
– Brian Matthews,Tom Griffin
» Nine by Nine
– Graham Klyne
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4. CREAM
Deliverables
Methodology
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Collect
examples
Model in
Annalist
Find core
elements
Guidance
Basic
Principles
Exemplars
Existing
schema and
vocabularies
Metadata
exchange
Gaps and
extension
points
CREAM
Partners
• STFC
• Artivity
• GeosMeta
• Generic Digital Research
Notebooks (DRN)

5. Valuation.1
» CREAM recognises the
potential ubiquity, relevance,
and value of metadata that is
used actively:
– Active metadata is the assemblage
of metadata and annotations that is
used actively within the process
that generates it and is capable of
being reused by another process.
» CREAM demonstrates how to
collect and use metadata actively
to capture tacit information and
enhance research
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6. Valuation.2
»CREAM will establish the basic principles and provide
best practice guidance (with exemplars):
– How to recognise, characterise, curate… active metadata
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7. Valuation.3
» Key stakeholders adopt CREAM principles
› STFC (~8000 facility users)
» Best practice will cross disciplines
» International uptake (sustainability)
› Research Data Alliance
› CODATA
› IUPAC
» Funding, such as EU Horizon 2020
› Nano Factories and Fine Analysis (STFC)
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8. Progress
»Collated examples and experiences from all partners
»Deployed Annalist with representative data records
»Investigated potentially relevant standards and
specifications
– Provenance: Planning and Enactment (P&E); PROV
»Characterising tasks that use metadata actively
»WordPress website:WIP
»‘Growing’ network and publicising (TaPP conference)
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9. Next phase
» Plans and deliverables:
– Scope spectrum – from hard science to arts
– Structural outline for metadata guidelines
– Exploration of active metadata use in other disciplines
– Select appropriate standards, specifications, and solutions
» Milestones
– Month 2: Detailed STFC, GeosMeta and Artivity models in Annalist
– Month 3: Preliminary report on deliverables above
– Month 4: Publish evaluation of achievements
» Success?
– Becomes part of RDM culture (uptake of guidelines)
– Adoption within wider community (RDA, CODATA, IUPAC)
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10. Funding
» Personnel
› Southampton: Colin Bird & Cerys Willoughby (£8k)
› Nine by Nine: Graham Klyne (£6k)
› STFC:Tom Griffin (£6k)
› Edinburgh: Magnus Hagdorn & Mike Mineter (£6k)
› UAL: Iris Garrelfs (£6k)
» Travel (£8k)
› RDA meeting (Paris Sept 23rd – 25th)
› Project f2f meetings
» Value for money
› Leverage from other projects / on-going activities
ITaaU, S88, Allotrope, Artivity, ICAT & RDA groups, GeosMeta, Annalist
› Gratis contributions from:
– Simon Coles,Thanasis Velios & Jeremy Frey
» Total Request = £40k (ex FEC)
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11. Not for the pitch, but please fill in
»Contact person: Simon Coles and/or Colin Bird
»Social media presence:
Blog/Website/Outputs platform:
https://blog.soton.ac.uk/cream/
Twitter: @colessj
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