This session shares where RDA-US stands today and where it’s headed. We will cover our organizational evolution, a new model for building US engagement in RDA, and an open community conversation about what comes next.

We’ll open with an update from RDA-US bridge team on the establishment of a member-led governance structure with Code for Science & Society as fiscal sponsor, and the evolution of our Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with RDA Global to suit the challenges of today. Attendees will gain a clear picture of what opportunities the new organizational model opens for US members going forward.

The session will then focus on the inaugural RDA-US 2026 Cohort Program, which features 14 data professionals paired with experienced RDA mentors and supported by two in-person convenings. We will review the program’s goals, outcomes from the first convening, and its future direction. This section will also include an open call for other regional nodes to explore and replicate this engagement model within their own local ecosystems.

A panel of cohort members will then share their experience: what brought them to RDA-US, what they’ve learned, and what they’re working toward in London. The program mentors will offer a complementary perspective on what structured onboarding makes possible for US engagement in RDA.

The session closes with an open community discussion on priorities for RDA-US in 2027 and beyond, including ideas for regional resources and partnerships, as well as potential funding directions. All attendees are encouraged to come with ideas and opinions.

1. Welcome (5 min)

Brief framing of the session: where RDA-US has been, where it is now

1. RDA-US organizational update (15 min)

An overview of the evolution of the RDA-US from interim governance to an association with Code for Science & Society as fiscal sponsor. Introduction of co-chairs, secretary, and treasurer. Update on the MOU process with RDA Global and what opportunities the new organizational model opens for US members going forward.

1. Introducing the RDA-US 2026 Cohort (10 min)

An overview of the inaugural RDA-US 2026 Cohort Program: competitive selection (14 from 50+ applicants), Sloan Foundation funding administered through Code for Science & Society, mentor matching, the DC convening, and what the program is designed to do for US engagement in RDA. The program’s future: intentionally lightweight and designed to be repeatable, with efforts underway to secure funding for a second cohort.

1. Cohort panel (25 min) A panel Q&A with selected cohort members. Panelists will reflect on what brought them to RDA US, what they’ve learned so far, and what they’re working toward in London.
2. Mentor perspective (10 min)
3. Open discussion: what’s next for RDA-US (15 min) [Facilitated discussion] Community input on priorities for RDA-US in 2027 and beyond. Framing questions:
   1. When should the nomination window open for annual leadership nominations?
   2. What should the future of RDA-US leadership, research, career building, and member activity look like?
   3. What regional resources or partnerships should RDA-US develop over the next two to three years?
   4. How can RDA-US sustainably fund its work and continue to grow?
4. Next steps and thanks (5 min)

US-based RDA members and prospective members; regional RDA partners and national node representatives; early-career researchers and data professionals interested in structured RDA engagement; Working Group and Interest Group leaders looking to strengthen US participation; research funders and institutional stakeholders interested in open science and data infrastructure.

This session will particularly benefit those curious about pathways into active RDA participation, those interested in the RDA-US Cohort model as a template for regional engagement programs, and anyone invested in the long-term health of the US regional RDA community.