Details of Award
NERC Reference : NE/R012474/1
data tree: data training and engaging end-users
Training Grant Award
- Lead Supervisor:
- Ms V Lucas, University of Reading, Meteorology
- Grant held at:
- University of Reading, Meteorology
- Science Area:
- Atmospheric
- Earth
- Freshwater
- Marine
- Terrestrial
- Overall Classification:
- Atmospheric
- ENRIs:
- Biodiversity
- Environmental Risks and Hazards
- Global Change
- Natural Resource Management
- Pollution and Waste
- Science Topics:
- Information & Knowledge Mgmt
- Abstract:
- 'data tree' will be an accessible and modular online training portal featuring data management and sharing data with endusers. Aimed at environmental science PhD students and early career researchers, their preferences will be the drivers for content, look and feel. The audience will resonate with the materials, pitched at the right level and practical for them to implement. The data tree project offers three unique selling points: great content, fun stuff to attract and retain learners and a userfriendly portal. CONTENT - the content will be provided by those with first-hand knowledge of early researcher needs and NERC requirements. The direct guidance of a DTP director will ensure relevance to cohorts. The business focus of the Institute for Environmental Analytics will provide authoritative industry-relevant applications of data. In-kind contributions will be provided from OeRC, NCEO and Henley Business School and, via the IEA's Partners, more will contribute. The impact of the content will be students and early career researchers gaining expert training, tailored to their preferences, including real-life cases on the use of data for policy, business and the public, delivered by peers or end-users for authenticity. To align with the industrial strategy, satellites, advanced modelling and supercomputing will feature, and the underlying themes of the training will be: i. Data sharing drives economic growth, efficiency and innovation; ii. The benefits of working with end-users; iii. Reproducability of data and scientific research. FUN STUFF - the training will attract and involve learners in a number of ways, from establishing Champions in DTPs and CDTs, to offering virtual badges for module completions. The content will be offered via a number of methods/media to appeal to different learning styles. Animations and puzzles will offer entertaining elements, and video will show early researchers their peers describing what they do and why they do it. Part of the fun stuff will be a great promotional campaign, including appealing merchandise, social media and a competition, deliberately multi-faceted to provide high visibility. A marketing agency may be employed to ensure the correct pitch for 20 to 25 year olds and different methods for supervisors and/or DTP directors. Communication and networking will feature throughout, including inter-DTP and -CDT. The 'public and media' content will be led by a professional journalist and stress the importance of finding new audiences and communicating with them in a language they understand. To align with reaching wide audiences, in addition to the face-to-face events, webinars will be offered, including capturing the new cohorts in autumn 2018. The impact will be the development of a motivated and networked community, allowing the training to not only thrive in 2018 but, with assistance of supervisors, directors and Champions, endure in the years beyond. PORTAL - the provider, Stats4SD, are an exciting organisation with their roots in the academic world, who have shown flare to become a not-for-profit company providing statistics and data management training. Stats4SD will develop an open-licence portal using well-established open source software. They understand that users will want to use the portal both as a structured training tool as well as for immediate problem solving. The content will be in building blocks, each with a clear learning outcome, and the content highly searchable for quick reference. 'data tree' will operate on a mobile phone so content can be grabbed on the bus journey to work. Stats4SD will use a highly automated system for backups, maintenance and updates to ensure the portal is active with minimal intervention until the end 2022. The impact will be a user-friendly and enduring portal, clearly labelled for ease of learning, using a proven open source learning system and produced by an organisation with audience and subject experience.
- NERC Reference:
- NE/R012474/1
- Grant Stage:
- Completed
- Scheme:
- Doctoral Training
- Grant Status:
- Closed
- Programme:
- NPIF Training
This training grant award has a total value of £212,440
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| Total - Other Costs |
|---|
| £212,440 |
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