German Alliance for Marine Research (DAM)
Research data – data generated during the planning, execution and documentation of scientific projects – are a valuable asset. They form an essential foundation of scientific work and document its results. The German Alliance for Marine Research (DAM) – which brings together 23 leading German marine research institutions – aims to improve the coordination of research data management in the field of marine research.
The often complex and cost-intensive data collected in German marine research is to be made available for further analysis in order to promote innovation, among other things. Existing as well as emerging research data infrastructures (e.g. the National Research Data Infrastructure NFDI) should be taken into account.
The focus of the DAM core area “Data Management and Digitization” is to prepare and offer marine research data FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable), open and freely accessible – as a basis for the application of modern analysis methods such as AI/machine learning. The bundled data is made available in a user-friendly way via the German Marine Research portal (www.marine-data.de).
In the area of research data management, MDI-DE and DAM have opened the following levels of cooperation:
- Exchange: Mutual exchange of information and experience between research institutions and federal or state authorities, as well as regular exchange on future strategies and international initiatives.
- Networking: Mention of each other’s alliances via references in documents and on websites to increase mutual visibility.
- Linking: Possibility of mutual “harvesting” (program-based collection and skimming) of metadata on data and established services.
- Harmonization: Harmonization and opening of data relevant to the respective collaborations, e.g., regulatory data for research (marine monitoring) or research data for use by agencies or bodies (e.g., MSFD reporting).
- Project-based collaboration: Joint applications and project work under future funding calls and initiatives.
Further synergies of cooperation arise in the topic of human activities and ideas for modern portal technologies.
