Partners
Support for Establishment of National/Regional
Social Sciences Data Archives

University of Essex, United Kingdom Data Archives

The UK Data Archive is curator of the largest collection of digital data in the social sciences and humanities in the United Kingdom. With several thousand datasets relating to society, both historical and contemporary, our Archive is a vital resource for researchers, teachers and learners. The Archive specialises in management of distributed services & projects; distribution of official statistics; portal & repository development; training provision. It is a designated place of deposit for UK public records; it uses the following standards & classifications: DDI, thesauri, OAIS (Open Archival Information System) reference model, Data Seal of Approval. Main tasks in SERSCIDA: Workpackage Leader WP4 and Task Leader T4.2

The UK Data Archive has extensive experience of involvement in EC-funded projects, from Nesstar (Framework Programme 4), through FASTER, LIMBER, MADIERA and Cluster and Networking Activities. The Archive was Leader of CESSDA-Preliminary Phase Project 2008- 2010 and until 2010 held the Presidency of CESSDA.

Matthew WOOLLARD is the Director of both the UK Data Archive and the Economic and Social Data Service. His key responsibilities are to: provide effective leadership and strategic direction of the UK Data Archive developing and enhancing the organisation's national and international reputation; ensure the effective management, operation and development of the Archive as an umbrella organisation hosting multiple national services relating to the acquisition, curation and dissemination of digital data; and strengthen the Archive's relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders and collaborators. He also retains his previous responsibilities of the development of the UK Data Archive's digital preservation policy and its implementation and maintenance framework.

Louise CORTI is an Associate Director at the UK Data Archive, having strategic and line management responsibilities for the sections of ESDS Qualidata, Outreach & Training and Research Data Management Support Services. She is also Principal Investigator on three awards - two ESRC and one JISC - on research data management and a co-investigator on the ESRC/EPSRC TEL Ensemble project. She is currently leading the rebranding work for the UK Data Archive and is leading the Archive's work on qualitative data metadata standards as part of an international working group.

Hilary BEEDHAM is a member of the senior management group at the UK Data Archive. She leads the Resources and Management Services team which is responsible for the smooth running of UK Data Archive's routine activities, for example: human resources; finance; contracts; and licences. She has extensive experience of European developments in data services, gained through her management of a series of EC-funded projects, including the CESSDA Research Infrastructure Preparatory Phase Project.

Veerle Van den EYNDEN manages the activities of the Research Data Management Support Services (RDMSS) section and the Data Support Service for the Rural Economy and Land Use programme (Relu-DSS). The RDMSS provides support, information and training on data management to researchers in order to promote good data practices and optimise data sharing possibilities. The Relu-DSS provides data management guidance to Relu research teams and co-ordinates archiving of Relu data at both the Archive and the Environmental Information Data Centre for longer-term data sharing.

 

 


 

 

CONTACT DETAILS

Hilary Beedham, Head of resources & management services
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UK Data Archive
University of Essex
Wivenhoe Park
Colchester
Essex, C04 3SQ

Tel. +44(0)1206 872570
Web. http://www.data-archive.ac.uk/

 

 

Open Access

'Open Access' refers to the practice of granting free Internet access to research publications and data. As all research and innovation builds on earlier achievements, an efficient system for broad dissemination of and access to research publications and raw data can accelerate scientific progress. The OECD Declaration of 2008 states "that open access to, and unrestricted use of data promotes scientific progress and facilitates the training of researchers," as well as maximizing "the value derived from public investments in data collection efforts." SERSCIDA will address the need for improved and open access to and dissemination of primary data collected through research in social sciences while at the same time trying to support reinforcement of the existing national strategies and structures, and to contribute to development of new ones.