The International Data Week was held in Salzburg from 23 to 26 October 2023 with in-person and virtual components. The event attracted about 800 international data scientists, informatics experts and policymakers and highlighted the necessity of a worldwide infrastructure for data sharing in the light of global challenges.
Jens Dierkes introduced the topic “NFDI4Health - Data Stewards and FAIR data training in biomedical research” to an audience of about 150 people. In his talk, he provided insight in the role of data stewards and new training concepts for data literacy in the NFDI4Health project. Data stewards are committed to supporting users in making their study data FAIR*, develop publication guidelines and deliver research data management training to local researchers. In the trainings, they teach the FAIR principles and emphasize the relevance of global standards in our world of complex data structures. He added, that data stewards also a connecting point to scientists and data holding organizations and are open to direct feedback.
Although the concept of data stewards is not new, their importance is becoming increasingly apparent. The characterization of specific roles of data stewards and an area-wide offering of data literacy training might lead us to a FAIR data landscape in health research.
-------------------------------------
FAIR*: F = Findable, A = Acessible, I = Interoperable, R = Reusable
Learn more about the role of data stewards in NFDI4Health: youtube