Evolution of eResearch Services at the University of Canberra
Kyle Hemming1,2, Anesh Nair1 1University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT, Australia2Intersect Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Abstract
Background
eResearch is the interface between information technology and research. Research is increasingly reliant on eResearch tools and technologies. For instance, data is increasingly stored, shared and published online, requiring secure tools and management practices; data analysis increasingly involves statistical and computational technologies, which require technical skills to use.
Problem
Previously, eResearch services at the University of Canberra (UC) were not well publicised or structured. Researchers could not easily locate or access support for using UC-supported tools. Consequently, eResearch services were not well utilised and researchers may have instead been using inappropriate tools or spending longer than necessary troubleshooting technical issues.
Actions
The eResearch Team at the University of Canberra (UC) has reimagined its eResearch tools and marketing strategies to support UC researchers. The team has remastered its webpage services, developed an online support channel for technical troubleshooting, and actively showcases these services to faculties. From a single online source, researchers can now access information on data management planning, data storage, common analytical tools, high performance computing, and training. Through a Research support channel, researchers can post research queries relating to these areas, monitored by a research community and UC’s eResearch team, for bespoke, timely support.
Results
Through these reimagined services, UC researchers can now more easily access and get up to speed in using eResearch tools, to help them during the different stages of their research journey, which should help increase researchers’ “time for science” to support their research outputs.
Biography
Dr Kyle Hemming is a Digital Research Analyst at Intersect based full-time at the University of Canberra. Kyle works between Intersect and UC to assist in UC’s strategic in eResearch initiatives, such as the Institutional Underpinnings. Kyle also provides eResearch support for UC researchers, focussing in training across a range of tools, and technical R support, which he used for his PhD.
Dr Anesh Nair is the Manager of Research Ethics, Integrity and eResearch at University of Canberra. In this role, the team has been involved in several eResearch initiatives. Dr Nair is currently spearheading the University’s participation in ARDC’s Institutional Underpinnings program and was a member of the editorial committee that developed the ARDC’s Research Data Management Framework for Institutions. He has a keen interest in research data management and works closely with Kyle Hemming.