Call for Nominations for the RDA Technical Advisory Board (TAB) 2021
RDA is seeking candidates for the annual TAB election, to be held in November 2021. TAB Terms are for three (3) years. We encourage participation from RDA members at all stages of their careers. Please note that current members of RDA’s Council, Secretariat, Organisational Advisory Board and Regional Advisory Board are not eligible for TAB membership.
The Technical Advisory Board (TAB) is an essential and crucial governance board within the Research Data Alliance (RDA), providing the organization with invaluable technical oversight, vision, guidance and advice. A volunteer position, TAB membership is a rewarding experience, offering an opportunity to engage with colleagues worldwide and understand the activities and visions in the field of FAIR data, open research and open science.
Nominations will be accepted until 23:59 UTC on 1 October 2021. Please see below for more detail. For additional questions related to the TAB, please contact enquiries@rd-alliance.org
What does TAB do?
TAB is responsible for the technical direction of the RDA and provides technical expertise and advice to the Council, as well as helping to develop and review RDA Working and Interest Groups to promote their impact and effectiveness. Among other tasks, TAB Members:
- engage with the RDA membership and feed their ideas and TAB perspectives into RDA processes and strategies;
- evaluate proposed Working Groups and Interest Groups;
- act as liaisons to endorsed Working and Interest Groups;
- facilitate relevant communication and coordination across the various WGs and IGs; and
- work with RDA Working Groups to promote adoption and effectiveness of their Outputs.
But that’s not all.
The Technical Advisory Board also provides strategic insight into the current and future direction of RDA, and each member’s own strengths are drawn upon regularly. Expertise and advice could take the form of reviewing new Working Groups or Interest Groups, responding to RDA membership input, working with Council, or any number of other ways.
Much more information is available in the document TAB: What we do and how we do it on the RDA Web site.
Why are we looking for new TAB Members?
RDA conducts TAB elections on a yearly basis, coinciding with the year's even-numbered Plenary. At these times, a set of TAB members rotates off after their 3-year-terms come to an end.
Five of the RDA TAB members’ terms are ending in 2021. All five TAB members stepping down have just completed their first term on TAB and are eligible to re-stand for election.
Interested? Here’s how to apply!
Any current RDA member may self-nominate or be nominated by others.
Not sure if you are an RDA member? Do you have an account on our website (rd-alliance.org)? Yes? Then you’re a member! If not, sign up now!
Know someone who would be perfect for the role? Encourage them to apply!
To apply, please fill in the candidacy form at https://rd-alliance.org/tab-elections-2021-call-nominations.
Each candidate must have a minimum of three (3) RDA members willing to second their nomination. Seconders must send a simple one-sentence statement to the RDA Secretariat (enquiries@rd-alliance.org) stating that they support the nomination of the candidate.
Applications and seconds are due by 23:59 UTC on 1 October 2021.
For each candidate with a complete nomination package, i.e., completed candidacy form and supporting statements from 3 seconders, their statement and photo will be posted on the RDA website. Note that the seconders will not be posted.
Elections will open on 16 November 2021, and close on 30 November 2021 (two weeks later). All RDA members will be asked to vote.
Still have unanswered questions?
Current TAB members will be happy to discuss the time commitments, working procedures, and other elements of TAB membership. Find a list of current and past TAB members here: https://rd-alliance.org/about-rda/our-leadership/rda-technical-advisory-board.html
Additional information is available from the RDA Secretariat at enquiries@rd-alliance.org.