[ASA] National Digital Research Infrastructure (NDRI) survey now open

[Shona Madoc]

Dear all,

The Department of Education is currently developing a National Digital Research Infrastructure (NDRI) Investment Plan (IP) which will be funded and implemented through the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS). A total of $850m is available to be invested across NDRI, Research Translation, and Collections. To assist in determining how this funding should be allocated, an NDRI survey has now been released by the Department of Education on its website: NDRI Investment Plan Consultation Surve<https://submit.dese.gov.au/jfe/form/SV_9o7xnUAHngezZqu>y. It consists of questions drawn directly from a series of targeted discussions<https://www.education.gov.au/national-research-infrastructure/national-digital-research-infrastructure-ndri/ndri-targeted-discussion> hosted by the NDRI Working Group and feedback is sought from all NDRI experts, users and other stakeholders, including joint responses on behalf of organisations and groups. The survey will close on Thursday 24 October 2024 at 5:00pm AEDT.

The Department's full NDRI strategy is available on its website: National Digital Research Infrastructure Strategy<https://www.education.gov.au/national-research-infrastructure/resources/national-digital-research-infrastructure-strategy>.

We encourage everyone who is interested in the future of NDRI to complete the survey (noting that you can skip over any questions which are not relevant to you). To assist in preparing responses, a preview of the survey<https://www.education.gov.au/national-research-infrastructure/resources/preview-national-digital-research-infrastructure-ndri-investment-plan-consultation-survey> has also been made available.

AAL would also appreciated it if you could drop a quick note to programs at astronomyaustralia.org.au<mailto:programs at astronomyaustralia.org.au> to let us know when you have completed the survey. This will assist us in assessing community engagement. Please note that AAL does not have access to any survey responses.

Any questions, please ask.

Kind regards,

Shona



The following extract from the strategy (pages 16-17) will be required to respond to 'Data' question 2:

Challenge - Rapidly increasing rates and volumes of data are being generated across all research fields in formats that are not FAIR and CARE.

Data is at the heart of ‘digital’ and is both a critical enabler of research and a crucial asset to empower and inspire future discovery. Data is also an intrinsic element of research itself. Data shapes the scientific questions and impacts the design of focussed experiments and monitoring programs. Data also influences the conduct of research itself, including testing theories, development of algorithms and models, and presentation of the evidence that will drive research translation. Access to and use of data, together with full contextual metadata, stimulates and empowers collaboration within and across disciplines. Access to data also empowers other activities, such as informing policy development. Consequently, access to high quality data is a fundamental driver of excellence in research and innovation. The enabling power of data also represents an investment in future research opportunities, both to extend the scope and timeline for responding to as yet unposed science questions and collaborations, and to test the validity of future hypotheses.
This Strategy highlights the intrinsic value of data as an integral component of digital infrastructure. It is an opportunity to recognise data beyond the mechanisms to access, share and process it, but to also consider it considering the policies, tools and skills needed to manage, store, and sustain this vital asset for collaboration and inspiration. Key identified barriers are:
·        poor data management practices, including restrictive or local access conditions.
·        the ever-increasing complexity of data being generated and handled.
·        incompatible metadata standards and formats.
·        incompatible or siloed information systems.
·        a lack of archiving mechanisms that ensure that data is available for reuse (including in new ways).
·        challenges faced in discovering relevant research.
These issues are compounded by the exponentially rising volumes of data created through modern research practices, from both publicly funded research and private and commercial research entities. Significant amounts of data are generated and held in government administrative datasets and by private-sector organisations, which may not be accessible to the broader research community. Large volumes of data can be easily and rapidly generated from diverse applications. This creates immense potential for value for the use, reuse, and new application of data across domains and disciplines. However, this potential is only achievable with careful consideration of the data’s whole-of-lifecycle needs.
Many research infrastructure facilities rapidly generate large datasets (for example, from high-resolution instruments), which increases demand for storage and would be unsustainable without data management frameworks – and clear prioritisation of data assets. In addition, it is often unclear with whom the responsibility for the long-term storage of this data lies. In the research sector, collaboration often maximises returns on investment, therefore digital research infrastructure needs to provide access to diverse creators and users of data across research, government, and industry. This creates challenges in relation to the differing access needs between the types of datasets, for example, between open access research and commercially confidential projects. Compounding these challenges is that the uptake of new and disruptive technologies will require continued review of any established standards, to ensure ongoing applicability and that these standards are fit-for-purpose.

______________________________________________

Shona Madoc

Program Manager

Astronomy Australia Ltd

E: shona.madoc at astronomyaustralia.org.au

W: astronomyaustralia.org.au<https://url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/lES6Cp81lrtQYY866FPf1FGWAWu?domain=astronomyaustralia.org.au>



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AAL endeavours to be an environmentally sustainable organisation built upon equity, diversity and mutual respect for its staff and stakeholders.

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