Using open science principles for open science advocacy

The eeFDM project that aims at developing components for an effective and efficient research data management (RDM) was funded by the BMBF in 2017. As for most RDM projects, a significant amount of energy is put into outreach and teaching initiatives. We planned the creation of promotional and informative videos in order to raise the awareness researchers on the most important aspects of RDM. To ensure the efficacy of the videos, we have been analysing RDM outreach activities. Using the principles of open science and data management, we started by writing a data management plan and developing a strategy to work in the open.
On the one hand, we have been using existing technologies (R - RStudio, rmarkdown, blogdown- Github, zenodo, netify, dpmtool, dat, googlesheets, email) to collectively gather and list material, strategies and best arguments used for RDM promotion and teaching. On the other hand, we have been presenting the data and its analysis on a website, available both on the web and on dat (https://rdmpromotion.rbind.io, dat:rdmpromotion.hasbase.io). While the technological part was relatively easy and fast to set-up, building an online community is a tough enterprise. We have been reaching out to existing communities or RDM specialists hoping they will contribute to and make use of our tool.
A preliminary analysis of the information gathered so far showed a discrepancy between the topics brought forward by data stewards and managers (data storage, safety, citation, and FAIRness) versus researchers (data preparation for analysis). We have therefore focused our efforts on showing the advantages of good RDM for data analysis and efficient research processes. The artistic framework of our videos is a mashup of clips that entered the public domain. The most recent version of the produced video will be screened during the oral presentation:  Better research in less time *


* slogan modified from Lowndes et al., DOI:10.1038/s41559-017-0160