status: Recognised & Endorsed
Chair (s): Nadica Miljković, Julien Colomb
Group Email: [group_email]
Secretariat Liaison: [field_secretariat_liaison]
How to get involved with this interest Group?
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Join the RDA group and be part of the mailing list to get updates
The design and production of research hardware i.e., physical artefacts, including mechanical, electrical and software components, have always been an integral part of scientific research. Research hardware can refer to application-oriented development prototypes, as well as to research equipment such as custom-made scientific laboratory build-ups. The open science hardware community has been encouraging the dissemination of research hardware design information under free and open licenses upon scientific publication - in addition to other research outputs like data and software. It has been fostering the idea of "open hardware (OH) from academia". For dissemination of OH, information products such as bills of materials (BOMs), Computer-Aided Design (CAD) files, assembly instructions and other types of digital assets (e.g., 3D printable models for additive manufacturing) are commonly used (Bonvoisin et al., 2017). This may also comprise a software component required for the application of hardware.
However, guidelines for enhancing reusability of research hardware are missing and need to be encouraged (Ezoji, Boujut, & Pinquié, 2021). Good practices from research data include FAIR principles (Wilinson et al., 2016) aiming at increased findability, accessibility, interoperability, and reusability of data by both humans and machines. Recent advances through the work of the Research Data Alliance (RDA), the FAIR for Research Software group (FAIR4RS WG), the Research Software Alliance (ReSA), and others highlighted the importance of adapting the FAIR principles for research software. We believe that the redefinition of FAIR principles for the domain of research hardware can facilitate and improve OH dissemination practices. Moreover, so-called "closed hardware" or "partially-closed hardware" may also benefit from the application of reoriented FAIR principles.
In this group, we would like to build on previous work (Miljković, Trisovic, & Peer, 2021) and aim at defining FAIR principles for research hardware. We will follow the example of the FAIR4RS WG: Our work will focus on unique characteristics of hardware in relation to existing FAIR principles for data and software. We will emphasise the importance of research hardware documentation, available technology, knowledge and components (or lack thereof), and specific demands for hardware licensing. Also, complex dependencies to other hardware and software components will be discussed.
This interest group aims to collaborate with the OH community (GOSH, OSHWA), scientific research projects involving OH (Open.Make, OPENNEXT), maker communities, and the RDA community to facilitate open discussions on FAIR principles for research hardware. Please join us in this endeavour!
Posts
october meeting
Dear all, This is a reminder about our meeting next Wednesday 2023-11-15, at 9 am CET (winter time is indeed back !). Please send me an email if the time does not work for you, se we will change it for december (***@***.***-berlin.de). We want to discuss the research hardware definition and finalise the document. We still need to clarify how the physical object and the "documentation package” relates to “research hardware”. I will also give some feedback from the RDA plenary and would then like to make a roadmap for 2024.0 | Add new comment
RH definition, october meeting
Dear all, The Research hardware definition is waiting for comments and feedback: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dJAy5A0hJtISYpC9Z3aNUVi5U15VsAYa8TH0... Research Hardware Definition v2.0-JC docs.google.com !!! DEADLINE !!!: we will finalise the document during our next meeting ( 17.10 9h CEST), please add your comments and put yourself in the author list before that date. 0 | Add new comment
RH definition and next meeting
Dear all, We have a new working document for the RH definition, the text has been reorganised and awaits your review: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dJAy5A0hJtISYpC9Z3aNUVi5U15VsAYa8TH0... Research Hardware Definition v2.0-JC docs.google.com It would be great if you could read it through, add some comments and be there at the next meeting to finalise the document: Wednesday 27th of September 9am CEST time.0 | Add new comment
Research Hardware Extended Definition + Executive Summary ... final comments
Hi everyone, I hope you are all having a great summer. I’ve aggregated the different aspects into an extended definition and drafted an executive summary: https://docs.google.com/document/d/14vQR_24OXVOLGcEB1frAYqKbRZ_Gc8Dtk6bG... This is the poll for the meeting to solve any final issues before submission to the RDA.1 | Add new comment
August meeting and berlin conference
Dear all, As we forgot to set up a meeting for August, I took the liberty to make one next Wednesday, 9:00 CEST. We may look at the development of the research hardware definition, see the etherpad as usual: https://etherpad.hu-berlin.de/ep/p/g.b9vQvzly2nMJWI6l$FAIR4RH-1 Note that we do not have a session for the next RDA plenary, but I will probably go in Salzburg anyway.0 | Add new comment
Re: [fair4rh] R: [fair4rh] FAIR4RH july meeting
Dear Sara, If I may Would it be possible before you leave to speak with you about your insights relevant for improving the use of FAIRprinciples in the context of OShardware research ? I would really appreciate your time Best Freyja ________________________________ Van: ***@***.***-groups.org <***@***.***-groups.org> namens sara.coppini via FAIR Principles for Research Hardware <***@***.***-groups.org> Verzonden: dinsdag 4 juli 2023 10:380 | Add new comment
reminder: FAIR4RH july meeting
Dear all, This is a reminder for our meeting tomorrow 14h CEST. I would like to welcome new members hoping they will make it, despite the short notice. Please have a look (and comment if you have time) the RH definition document https://docs.google.com/document/d/14vQR_24OXVOLGcEB1frAYqKbRZ_Gc8Dtk6bG... Best regards.0 | Add new comment
R: [fair4rh] FAIR4RH july meeting
by Sara Coppini
Hello everybody, I had the pleasure of meeting some of you at one of your past meetings, and I would have liked to continue working on the group's documents, but my professional role has changed over the past period, so I don't think I have the possibility to contribute anymore. actively involved in the production of the group's documents, although I will continue to follow your outputs and your publications concerning FAIR research hardware. Thank you for all the very important work you are doing, Sara Coppini Sara Coppini Data Steward0 | Add new comment
FAIR4RH july meeting
Dear all, We set the next meeting and unless there are some complains, we would keep the first Wednesday of the month 13h UTC (14h CEST, Berlin time) for our 2023 meetings. Good news, the research hardware definition is close to ready and we will now look into publishing it (as a RDA output, and maybe as a paper). Thank you a lot for your inputs, congratulation to the RH definition subgroup.4 | Add new comment
FAIR4rh-05
Dear all, Sorry for the very late notice, this has been a very hectic month for me. We will have a meeting tomorrow at 14h. Agenda (will update it soon) as usual in the etherpad: https://etherpad.hu-berlin.de/ep/p/g.b9vQvzly2nMJWI6l$FAIR4RH-1 See you tomorrow, Julien FAIR4rh-05 Scheduled: 1. Jun 2023 at 14:00 to 14:45, CEST0 | Add new comment