4 December 2025
The NODC was in Turin (Italy) last week to attend the "5° in-person meeting of the Italian Data Steward community (IDSC)". On this occasion Chiara Altobelli from the NODC explained why Open science and data management are key terms in the OGS action plan to reform the research evaluation system.
The IDSC was born in Rome on November 7, 2023, during the first in-person meeting of the Italian Computing and Data Infrastructure (ICDI) Competence Center. The Community aims to better define, recognise and valorise the role of the data steward who is still little known in Italy. In general terms, a data steward is a data professional supporting researchers and other professionals in the management of data and related products in compliance with "the open science guiding principles" and the FAIR-by design approach. The latter is a methodology that integrates the principles of FAIR data (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) into the initial stages of a project to ensure data and resources are FAIR from the ground up. To learn more about the Community read its "Manifesto" and visit its community on "Zenodo"
During the presentation given by OGS on 28 November, Altobelli focused on the actions that OGS are going to take to improve open science practices in the period from 2024 to 2029. The actions are included in the OGS action plan to implement the Agreement for Reforming Research Assessment (ARRA) defined by Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA).
On 5 March 2024, the OGS joined the CoARA and signed the ARRA. The Agreement, published in July 2022, provides a framework for reforming the current research evaluation system. CoARA is a global coalition of organisations that fund, conduct, or evaluate research, as well as other relevant bodies. ARRA signatories are committed to reforming research evaluation methods based on common principles, within an agreed timeline, to facilitate collaboration and mutual learning. The aim is to dismantle current evaluation methods, which are publication-based and do not recognise the diversity of research contributions from different professional backgrounds. On 7 July, the Action Plan of the OGS was published on "Zenodo". It outlines the measures OGS will take until 2029 to implement the commitments of the agreement. To support the implementation of this reform, the President of OGS established the OGS-CoARA Working Group, a voluntary body composed of representatives from all key areas of the institute; the NODC participates in the group. The OGS plan defines seven strategic actions for implementing the ten commitments established in the ARRA.
The NODC was primarily involved in defining Action 4 (Support the adoption of best practice, particularly open science) and Action 5 (Review the criteria for the assessment of research in career evaluation procedures). During her presentation, Altobelli outlined the OGS Action Plan, focusing on the actions the Data Centre intends to take to promote open science in OGS and its recognition, and to improve the recognition of data stewards.
More information are available on the "presentation given by the NODC"
