Research Board Clarifies and Updates GoMRI Data Compliance Policy
– September 10, 2015
Dr. Rita Colwell, Research Board Chair of the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI), released a memorandum to the GoMRI science community that provides clarification and updates to the GoMRI Data Policy.
“The present time lag between publications and data availability is a matter of great concern to the Research Board,” said Dr. Colwell. “In the spirit of meeting the Master Research Agreement and the Research Board Data Policy, we must have more timely submissions of data supporting any GoMRI publication.”
The Research Board reaffirms in writing that:
- All research publications should include direct links to its supporting data, and
- All data should be in the GRIIDC system at the time of publication or within one year of collection, whichever is sooner.
The memorandum includes an explanation of the role of data compliance in upcoming funding and contractual decisions.
Dr. Colwell noted that the expectations regarding data availability are part of a national trend. “The Research Board’s and your efforts in the area of data sharing are, thus, not arbitrary,” Colwell explained, “but are in front of the curve in ensuring data transparency.”
The GoMRI data legacy is critical to advancing society’s ability to understand, respond to, and mitigate the impacts of petroleum pollution and related stressors on marine and coastal ecosystems.
For details, read the Memorandum on Clarification and Update of GoMRI Data Policy.
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The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) is a 10-year independent research program established to study the effect, and the potential associated impact, of hydrocarbon releases on the environment and public health, as well as to develop improved spill mitigation, oil detection, characterization and remediation technologies. An independent and academic 20-member Research Board makes the funding and research direction decisions to ensure the intellectual quality, effectiveness and academic independence of the GoMRI research. All research data, findings and publications will be made publicly available. The program was established through a $500 million financial commitment from BP. For more information, visit https://gulfresearchinitiative.org/.
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