Where to preserve research data?

The WUR data policy requires data underlying publications to be preserved for at least 10 years. Where to preserve data, depends on its sensitivity. For example, when data cannot be published in a repository due to legitimate restrictions, they need to be archived at WUR (e.g. W-drive, Yoda@WUR, tape storage).

Have a look at the Data sharing infographic and the options below to determine where you can preserve research data.

  • In a data repository

Data and related documentation and metadata can be deposited in a public data repository. There are no WUR guidelines on which repository to use, but the following points should be considered when choosing a repository:

- Disciplinary vs. multi-disciplinary repositories
Disciplinary repositories know how to handle and curate specific data types, they provide specific metadata standards improving interoperability and the data is easier found by peers within your research field. If there is a disciplinary repository for your field of research that can accommodate the data, that should be your first choice. For example, disciplines like bioinformatics have a long tradition of publishing their data in NCBI, EBI, etc. If there is no disciplinary service for your field, you can choose a multidisciplinary repository, e.g. the DANS Data Stations, 4TU.ResearchData, Zenodo.

- Data repositories supported by WUR Library
The WUR data librarians (contact data@wur.nl) can publish data for you at the DANS Data Stations, 4TU.ResearchData or Zenodo. Open Access to the data is encouraged in these repositories, but restricted access is also possible. Check this page on how to publish in these repositories.

- A data repository supported by a journal
Many journals have an agreement with a data repository, e.g. Dryad or Figshare, where you can deposit data during the publication process of your article. It may be convenient to choose that service, but this is not obligatory. Usually only Open Access is possible.

Do you need help choosing a repository? Have a look at the WUR Repository Finder.

  • Yoda@WUR

Yoda is a research data management service that enables WUR researchers and their partners to securely deposit, share, and preserve large amounts of research data during all stages of a research project. For more details see here and the WUR Repository Finder.

  • Tape storage

Tape storage service is a low-costs archive solution for research data that is not used on a daily basis anymore (at a maximum of once a month). This service is applicable to research data only. Tape storage service uses a combination of iRODS and Fujifilm tape storage to store the data, keep track of the rightsholdership, and manage the data transfers and data integrity. Due to lower electricity consumption, tape storage is much more environmentally friendly. More details can be found here or in the WUR Repository Finder.

  • On a project website

This is suitable when you want to make data that is still evolving available to others. If you wish to publish an article about this data, you can publish a version of the data in a data repository. Also remember to deposit the final / latest version of the data in a data repository when the website ceases to exist. Make sure to add a licence to the data on the website stipulating what can be done with the data and how to cite the data.

  • On a shared WUR server

When data should remain closed or when restricted access options follow from the WUR data sharing guidelines you may archive the data on a shared WUR server (W-drive). Make sure that only people with the appropriate rights can access the shared folder. If you need help, ask the Data Desk. Note, however, that restricted access may also be possible for WUR Library supported data repositories (see above and this page). Additionally, one could still decide to publish the metadata about the data even though the actual data is not openly available.

  • As supplementary information to your research article

Supplementary information files may be uploaded with the manuscript to the publisher's website. Supplementary information may contain tables and figures that are too large to incorporate in the article itself, or extra information on methods or materials. Regardless of the content of the supplementary information, check whether you aren't transferring copyrights to the publisher when you upload supplementary information files. Also, note that data becomes less findable and cannot be cited separately when put in the supplementary information. It is recommended to publish data in a data repository (no matter the size of the data).

  • As a data article (i.e. a description of the data) in a data journal

Large data used for another purpose than their original purpose, may be suitable for a data article. A data article is a peer reviewed article describing openly accessible data or a group of datasets for future reuse. In contrast to a common research article, the primary purpose of a data paper is to describe data and the circumstances of their collection, rather than to report hypotheses and conclusions. Most well-known publishers publish a data journal. Wageningen Environmental Research and WUR Library publish a data journal for the agricultural sciences: Open Data Journal for Agricultural Research (ODJAR).

Support

Questions? Don't hesitate to contact data@wur.nl.