This post was authored by Trisha Adamus, Research Data Librarian at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
As the newest curator to attend the Data Curation Network (DCN) All Hands Meeting (AHM) at Duke University in May 2024, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Some of the schools represented had been part of the initial cohort and some had joined more recently, such as my institution, the University of Wisconsin – Madison. I wondered: “would it be difficult to integrate into this community with people that had been working together for years, through a global pandemic and back out again?” Wonderfully, and not surprisingly after spending several days with the other curators, the community was welcoming to a new curator. Having the DCN AHM as an in person meeting supported a welcoming environment and the building of community.
I understand that this was the first fully in person event since the pandemic: DCN AHM was scheduled at Princeton University in June 2023, but unfortunately many people needed to attend virtually due to canceled flights across the country. Since this was the first fully in person meeting for the DCN in some time, I believe that working together in the same room for several dedicated days was likely an important aspect of the meeting for all participants. Not just me as the newest curator in the room. The DCN is a community strengthened by in-person interactions.
On the first day (Tuesday, May 14th), I was welcomed by curators waiting for the bus ride to Duke. Yes, we had a chartered bus that safely delivered all the curators to and from Duke’s Perkins library each day of the meeting. I was able to sit with different people each trip, and learn something about each one of them and their institution. Surprisingly, community building can start with a bus ride! Once at Duke, our meeting ice breaker was to answer the question “What would your walk-up song be if you played baseball?” We each shared our song, and why that particular song would be a great song to introduce ourselves to a stadium of cheering fans (or in this case, colleagues in data curation). This list ranged from recent Eurvision competition songs to classical and even video game background music. These songs became our playlist for the week, and really infused a sense of community from the start.
We were provided small signs with a +1 icon and were encouraged to hold them up when something said resonated with you. This worked because it represented a good practice happening in virtual meetings and added a level of engagement to an in person meeting. Thanks to Sandi Caldrone for providing them! Using our multi-colored +1 signs to engage with the speakers, we listened to updates from the institutions represented and DCN Special Interest Groups.
Wednesday, May 15th started with lightning talks, led by Sandi Caldrone and her presentation “What I learned on my trip to The University of Minnesota”. Rather than lose out on earmarked travel money, Sandi Caldrone embarked on a trip to UMN. While there, she talked to people in person, and actually touched media containing analog data, fully immersing herself in all the experiences being in person can offer. Sandi summed up her presentation with this quote “The best part of visiting in person is what you don’t plan.” It was after this presentation that I began to realize just how valuable my presence in the room was for my institution, my colleagues, and my own professional development. Vision boarding, a presentation on the specialized curation workshops and a reception with Duke Libraries Executive Group and Duke Research Leadership rounded out the day.
Thursday, May 16th we attended a workshop on Human Centered Data Discovery. Again, in person engagement was highlighted, as our facilitators Laura Koesten of the University of Vienna and King’s College (London, UK) and Kathleen Gregory Centre for Science and Technology Studies (CWTS) at Leiden University flew to Durham, North Carolina to share their research. First, we were introduced to the various components of the data discovery process. Next, data stories from various researchers were shared, and we heard about the ups and downs of data discovery from several case studies. Then Kosten and Gregory lead us in an activity on data needs, first discussing in small groups and sharing out to the larger group. I personally found this workshop to be extremely informative, and it gave me many ideas to share with my colleagues at UW-Madison. The day finished with more discussion in groups with Birds of a Feather topics, and a project update from “The Realities of Academic Data Sharing” (RADS) with Phase I Accomplishments and Phase II Plans. An optional tour of the Perkins library was well attended and a nice, relaxing way to finish the primary AHM content. Curators were invited to attend the DCN business meeting the following day (Friday, May 17th). Unfortunately my travel plans did not allow for me to attend.
With a return to in-person engagement and building community with the Data Curation Network, I am pleased that this meeting will be held at my home institution, the University of Wisconsin – Madison, in 2025! I am looking forward to seeing all the curators I met this year and meeting new curators. Research Data Services (RDS) at UW-Madison is happy to host the DCN AHM, and I am excited to be part of the planning process. We will showcase our curation efforts across the DCN, and RDS members will introduce the DCN curators to the wonder that is Madison in June. Let’s continue building our community for the next academic year virtually, while we wait in anticipation of once again meeting in person in Madison, WI June 2025.
Save the date! All Hands 2025 will be held June 23-27, 2025. We cannot wait to see you there!