Rich digital data underlie modern research work at every step, and how these data are handled, structured and shared has a major impact on the pace of scientific progress. New technologies that generate massive datasets, interconnect lab devices, and enable automated experiments, challenge traditional methods for disseminating scholarly knowledge. The FAIR and open data science movements present complementary visions for more transparent, reproducible and digitally-savvy future for our research. These movements recognize that for complex research data to be shared and used effectively, we need powerful infrastructures, as well as community-supported reporting standards and well-designed exchange formats for data and metadata. At the same time, success requires not only an investment in infrastructure and formats, but also a change in the culture of data generation and sharing among researchers.
This symposium will address the many ways that data transparency contributes to the research progress. Attendees will learn from leaders in the FAIR and open data movements who are advocating for better practices in their fields and demonstrating their commitment in their own work.