Building a flexible and inclusive to all Data Mentoring Programme

The purpose of the Early Career and Engagement Interest Group (ECEIG) is to provide a focal point for Early and Mid-Career Researchers and Professionals, including those involved in various RDA-related fellowships and Early Career programs.

RDA members recognized that there is a need to create a space in RDA for those who are at the beginning stages of their careers. Specifically, that Early Career Researchers and Professionals usually need additional support for: (a) networking amongst themselves to learn about other Early Career scientists and their research, i.e., establishing a “network of peers”, and (b) receiving mentorship from senior RDA members who are interested in mentoring Early Career Researchers and Professionals.

Designating time on each RDA plenary schedule for this IG is important to recognize and develop the means which will effectively support this “next generation of RDA”, who is equipped with unique talents and strengths, impacting the future of RDA in their own way. Additionally, this is an opportunity for RDA to act proactively by building a strong network of mentors who lead on data mentorship within and outside the RDA.

For that, the ECEIG has developed a Mentoring Programme that calls people to join either as mentors or as mentees or in some cases both, according to their needs, willingness and  time restrictions. The Mentoring Programme was initially based on monthly teleconferences where representatives from both channels (mentors and mentees) could connect and discuss challenges faced regarding current research endeavours, seek collaboration, and get a better understanding of specific aspects of Research Data Management in other contexts, countries and continents besides where they are located. These teleconferences are known as Ask-Me-Anything calls or AMA calls and though they proved to be engaging, they were still lacking in structure. That is why since October 2018 the AMAs became more subject-specific. By now, Open and FAIR data topics that have been addressed by guest speakers and experts presentations include: Research credit and recognition; Text mining; Best Practices on Open Source Software; Machine Learning, etc.. In order to enrich the Mentoring Programme with added-value activities that cover other important areas that early career researchers and practitioners may need guidance or advice on, three Task Forces (TFs) were recently formulated. The TFs namely are:

a. Mentoring Programme - organising and running AMAs (monthly activity), contacting mentors/mentees, communicating news through ECEIG social channels; potentially also work on a case study about mentoring programmes.

b. Newsletter - collecting information on topics of potential interest, generally informing people of activities/actions, jobs, trends etc, creating a structure for the newsletter (template), writing and sending newsletters.

c. Practice Presentation Skills - give or get advice for issues related to research communication.

Each Task Force focuses on supporting diverse needs of early career researchers and collectively building into a strong and safe environment for early career researchers to rely on for research data quests.