112 research outputs found

    Gathering evidence of benefits: a structured approach from the JISC Managing Research Data Programme

    Get PDF
    The work of the Jisc Managing Research Data programme is – along with the rest of the UK higher education sector – taking place in an environment of increasing pressure on research funding. In order to justify the investment made by Jisc in this activity – and to help make the case more widely for the value of investing time and money in research data management – projects and the programme as a whole must be able to clearly express the resultant benefits to the host institutions and to the broader sector. This paper describes a structured approach to the measurement and description of benefits provided by the work of these projects for the benefit of funders, institutions and researchers. We outline the context of the programme and its work; discuss the drivers and challenges of gathering evidence of benefits; specify benefits as distinct from aims and outputs; present emerging findings and the types of metrics and other evidence which projects have provided; explain the value of gathering evidence in a structured way to demonstrate benefits generated by work in this field; and share lessons learned from progress to date

    Issues for the sharing and re-use of scientific workflows

    Get PDF
    In this paper, we outline preliminary findings from an ongoing study we have been conducting over the past 18 months of researchers’ use of myExperiment, a Web 2.0-based repository with a focus on social networking around shared research artefacts such as workflows. We present evidence of myExperiment users’ workflow sharing and re-use practices, motivations, concerns and potential barriers. The paper concludes with. a discussion of the implications of these our findings for community formation, diffusion of innovations, emerging drivers and incentives for research practice, and IT systems design

    Source-to-Output Repositories – Phase Two Summative Evaluation Final Report

    Get PDF
    This document presents the final results of the phase two summative evaluation of the UKDA-StORe project’s portal repository system. After the completion of the regular funding phase of StORe under the JISC Digital Repositories programme in 2007 the project was granted an extension until mid-2008 to further refine the portal under the name UKDA-StORe. For the regular project a phase one summative evaluation assessed “the technical structure, functionality, design and quality of the demonstrator system, and the appropriateness of the ‘common model’ approach, using workshops to test the system with representative repository users”. It was agreed to conduct a phase two summative evaluation to further assess the development of UKDA-StORe and to complement the findings of the first evaluation phase. The phase two summative evaluation is based on a series of five expert user interviews to evaluate the StORe system in use. In the phase one evaluation it is stated, that “it is probable that a second complementary evaluation phase will be conducted in the future also based on the approach introduced here”. This endeavour could be realised in general, but under other specifications: As the UKDA-StORe extension did not consist of a user base for the evaluator to draw on the approach had to be modified – from user evaluation workshops to qualitative evaluation interviews with domain experts – with the task to evaluate the system in regard to barriers and facilitators to use and usability issues unchanged

    Scoping and business models report

    Get PDF
    The aim of this work was to scope the community for needs, raise awareness and encourage adoption of new social simulation models and tools developed in the National e-Infrastructure for Social Simulation (NeISS) and gather findings, establish contacts, and build capacity for future activities

    About Trees and People. What Works for Development, Employment and the Environment in the Brazilian Amazon?

    Get PDF
    El presente artículo contribuye a la controversia sobre los modelos de desarrollo en la región Amazónica, aprovechando los descubrimientos de los modelos macroeconómicos de alta resolución. Una Matriz de Contabilidad Social para el bosque amazónico y un Modelo Computable de Equilibrio General revelan nuevos hechos y perspectivas para la formulación de políticas. Muchas más personas de lo que se pensaba se ganan la vida en base a los bosques de la Amazonia. Más de 525.000 trabajadores (de trabajo a tiempo completo) encontraron empleo directo en la cosecha y la fabricación de productos forestales en 2005 y 115.000 en la pesca de río. Los cultivos agrícolas y la cría de ganado tienen mayor tasa de empleo en la Amazonia que los bosques, pero los tres sectores ofrecen ingresos muy bajos. Estas actividades tampoco son mejores que la forestal para estimular el crecimiento económico. Un ejemplo de esto es que el coste de una política de deforestación cero para alcanzar las metas brasileñas de cambio climático provocaría pérdidas de solo el 0.62% del PIB nacional acumulado en 2030. Estas pérdidas, no obstante, recaerían en la frontera agrícola, en los trabajadores de baja calificación y en las familias pobres. Esto requiere medidas para lograr una transición justa tal como la estipulada en el Acuerdo del Clima de París, que fue promovido por la OIT. Las políticas deberían estimular el desarrollo económico local, aprovechando el alto potencial del uso sostenible de bosques y de la pesca de río para agregar valor a lo local. El aumento de la productividad del uso del suelo y del trabajo, además de la transformación de las respectivas cadenas de valor, serán fundamentales para mejorar la renta y lograr que el potencial de la región prospere como una economía verde.O presente artigo contribui para com a controversa sobre modelos de desenvolvimento para a Amazônia brasileira, aproveitando descobertas de modelos macroeconômicos de alta resolução. Uma Matriz de Contabilidade Social para a floresta amazônica e um Modelo de Equilíbrio Geral Computável revelam fatos novos y perspectivas para a formulação de politicas. Muito mais pessoas ganham a sua vida no uso da floresta amazônica do que se pensava. Mais de 525.000 trabalhadores (equivalentes de trabalho a tempo completo) estavam empregados na colheita y fabricação de produtos florestais e outros 115.000 na pesca de rio. Cultivos agrícolas e a pecuária são empregadores maiores na Amazônia que a floresta, mas os três setores oferecem rendas muito baixas. As outras atividades também não são melhores para estimular o crescimento econômico. Um desdobramento disso é que uma politica de desmatamento zero para cumprir as metas brasileiras de mudança climática provocaria uma perdida de apenas 0.62% do PIB nacional cumulativo ao 2030. Essas perdas, porém, recaem na fronteira agrícola, nos trabalhadores menos qualificados e em famílias pobres. Isso requer medidas para alcançar uma transição justa tal como estipulada no Acordo de Paris sobre o Clima e promovido pela OIT. As políticas deveriam estimular um desenvolvimento econômico local, aproveitando o alto potencial do uso sustentável da floresta e da pesca de rio de agregar valor localmente. Aumentos da produtividade do uso do solo e do trabalho tal como a transformação das cadeias de valor relacionadas serão fundamentais para melhorar renda e realizar o potencial da região de prosperar numa economia verde.This paper contributes to the controversy about development models for the Amazon region, using insights from high-resolution macro-economic models. A Social Accounting Matrix for the Amazon forest and a Computable General Equilibrium Model reveal new and surprising facts and perspectives for policy making. Many more people earn their livelihood from forests in the Amazon than previously thought. Over 525,000 workers (full-time equivalents) were directly employed in forest products harvesting and processing in 2005, and 115,000 in fishing in rivers. Farming and cattle rearing are bigger employers in the Amazon than forests, but incomes are very low for workers in all three sectors. Those activities are also not better than forestry in terms of stimulating growth. One corollary is that even a zero-deforestation policy to meet Brazil´s climate targets would only lead to 0.62% losses of national GDP accumulated until 2030. The losses would, however, be concentrated in the agricultural frontier and in low skilled workers and poorer families. This calls for measures to achieve a just transition as stipulated in the Paris Climate Agreement and promoted by the ILO. Policy should stimulate local economic development, building on the high potential of sustainable forest use and river fishing for local value addition. Improvements in the productivity of land-use and labor as well as transformations of related value chains will be paramount to improve incomes and realize the potential of the region to prosper in a green economy

    De árvores e pessoas. O que funciona para o desenvolvimento, trabalho e meio ambiente na Amazônia brasileira?

    Get PDF
    El presente artículo contribuye a la controversia sobre los modelos de desarrollo en la región Amazónica, aprovechando los descubrimientos de los modelos macroeconómicos de alta resolución. Una Matriz de Contabilidad Social para el bosque amazónico y un Modelo Computable de Equilibrio General revelan nuevos hechos y perspectivas para la formulación de políticas. Muchas más personas de lo que se pensaba se ganan la vida en base a los bosques de la Amazonia. Más de 525.000 trabajadores (de trabajo a tiempo completo) encontraron empleo directo en la cosecha y la fabricación de productos forestales en 2005 y 115.000 en la pesca de río. Los cultivos agrícolas y la cría de ganado tienen mayor tasa de empleo en la Amazonia que los bosques, pero los tres sectores ofrecen ingresos muy bajos. Estas actividades tampoco son mejores que la forestal para estimular el crecimiento económico. Un ejemplo de esto es que el coste de una política de deforestación cero para alcanzar las metas brasileñas de cambio climático provocaría pérdidas de solo el 0.62% del PIB nacional acumulado en 2030. Estas pérdidas, no obstante, recaerían en la frontera agrícola, en los trabajadores de baja calificación y en las familias pobres. Esto requiere medidas para lograr una transición justa tal como la estipulada en el Acuerdo del Clima de París, que fue promovido por la OIT. Las políticas deberían estimular el desarrollo económico local, aprovechando el alto potencial del uso sostenible de bosques y de la pesca de río para agregar valor a lo local. El aumento de la productividad del uso del suelo y del trabajo, además de la transformación de las respectivas cadenas de valor, serán fundamentales para mejorar la renta y lograr que el potencial de la región prospere como una economía verde.This paper contributes to the controversy about development models for the Amazon region, using insights from high-resolution macro-economic models. A Social Accounting Matrix for the Amazon forest and a Computable General Equilibrium Model reveal new and surprising facts and perspectives for policy making. Many more people earn their livelihood from forests in the Amazon than previously thought. Over 525,000 workers (full-time equivalents) were directly employed in forest products harvesting and processing in 2005, and 115,000 in fishing in rivers. Farming and cattle rearing are bigger employers in the Amazon than forests, but incomes are very low for workers in all three sectors. Those activities are also not better than forestry in terms of stimulating growth. One corollary is that even a zero-deforestation policy to meet Brazil´s climate targets would only lead to 0.62% losses of national GDP accumulated until 2030. The losses would, however, be concentrated in the agricultural frontier and in low skilled workers and poorer families. This calls for measures to achieve a just transition as stipulated in the Paris Climate Agreement and promoted by the ILO. Policy should stimulate local economic development, building on the high potential of sustainable forest use and river fishing for local value addition. Improvements in the productivity of land-use and labor as well as transformations of related value chains will be paramount to improve incomes and realize the potential of the region to prosper in a green economyO presente artigo contribui para com a controversa sobre modelos de desenvolvimento para a Amazônia brasileira, aproveitando descobertas de modelos macroeconômicos de alta resolução. Uma Matriz de Contabilidade Social para a floresta amazônica e um Modelo de Equilíbrio Geral Computável revelam fatos novos y perspectivas para a formulação de politicas. Muito mais pessoas ganham a sua vida no uso da floresta amazônica do que se pensava. Mais de 525.000 trabalhadores (equivalentes de trabalho a tempo completo) estavam empregados na colheita y fabricação de produtos florestais e outros 115.000 na pesca de rio. Cultivos agrícolas e a pecuária são empregadores maiores na Amazônia que a floresta, mas os três setores oferecem rendas muito baixas. As outras atividades também não são melhores para estimular o crescimento econômico. Um desdobramento disso é que uma politica de desmatamento zero para cumprir as metas brasileiras de mudança climática provocaria uma perdida de apenas 0.62% do PIB nacional cumulativo ao 2030. Essas perdas, porém, recaem na fronteira agrícola, nos trabalhadores menos qualificados e em famílias pobres. Isso requer medidas para alcançar uma transição justa tal como estipulada no Acordo de Paris sobre o Clima e promovido pela OIT. As políticas deveriam estimular um desenvolvimento econômico local, aproveitando o alto potencial do uso sustentável da floresta e da pesca de rio de agregar valor localmente. Aumentos da produtividade do uso do solo e do trabalho tal como a transformação das cadeias de valor relacionadas serão fundamentais para melhorar renda e realizar o potencial da região de prosperar numa economia verde

    Development of a pilot data management infrastructure for biomedical researchers at University of Manchester – approach, findings, challenges and outlook of the MaDAM Project

    Get PDF
    Management and curation of digital data has been becoming ever more important in a higher education and research environment characterised by large and complex data, demand for more interdisciplinary and collaborative work, extended funder requirements and use of e-infrastructures to facilitate new research methods and paradigms. This paper presents the approach, technical infrastructure, findings, challenges and outlook (including future development within the successor project, MiSS) of the ‘MaDAM: Pilot data management infrastructure for biomedical researchers at University of Manchester’ project funded under the infrastructure strand of the JISC Managing Research Data (JISCMRD) programme. MaDAM developed a pilot research data management solution at the University of Manchester based on biomedical researchers’ requirements, which includes technical and governance components with the flexibility to meet future needs across multiple research groups and disciplines

    Towards a generic research data management infrastructure

    Get PDF
    Until recent years, a focused and centralized strategy for the annotation, storage and curation of research data is something that has not been widely considered within academic communities. The majority of research data sits, fragmented, on a variety of disk structures (Desktops, network & external hard drives) and is usually managed locally, with little interest paid to policies governing how it is backed up, disseminated and organized for short or long term reuse. Recognition of how current practices and infrastructure present a barrier to research, has resulted in several recent academic programmes which have focused on developing comprehensive frameworks for the management and curation of research data1-3. Many of these frameworks (such as the Archer suite of e- Research tools1), however, are large and complex, and have an overreliance on new and novel technologies making them unwieldy and difficult to support. The paper discusses the development of a simpler framework for the management of research data through its full lifecycle, allowing users to annotate and structure their research in a secure and backed up environment. The infrastructure is being developed as a pilot system and is expected to work with data from approximately a dozen researchers and manage several Terabytes of data. The technical work is a strand of the MaDAM (Manchester Data Management) project at The University of Manchester which is funded by the JISC Managing Research Data Programme.
    corecore