Cartooning the Data Champions at the University of Cambridge

Data Champions (DCs) are volunteers who advise members of the research community at the University of Cambridge on proper handling of research data. In this, they promote good research data management (RDM) and support FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Re-usable) research principles. DCs can be researchers (including graduate students), data managers, IT professionals, librarians, or data scientists. The programme is therefore an innovative way of cultivating good data practices across the University, including at the Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry where there is effectively a DC ‘hub’. Ultimately the DCs aim to influence a change from the existing, more closed research culture at the University to an open one. One example of trying to influence this change has been through an innovative and fun project to create DC cartoons for use as an advocacy tool for good practice in RDM. DCs undertook a stakeholder analysis exercise to try and work out: a) why RDM is of value to different stakeholders; b) their possible objections to RDM; and c) what responses a DC could formulate to these objections. The idea behind this was that if a DC was stuck in a lift, or sat next to someone at a college dinner or a meeting for example, and is having a conversation with them about RDM, and that person raised an objection to it, this could be rebutted with a suitable response prepared in advance. This presentation discusses the project timeline, and the challenges involved in creating a range of postcards featuring cartoon scenarios where DCs have an opportunity to advocate good practice in RDM