Stories of data sharing

I was invited to contribute to a Nature Water Viewpoint article on the challenges and benefits of publishing datasets. Viewpoint articles solicit contributions from experts around the world on a particular topic. The total contribution is 400-500 words. It is anticipated that this collection will come out in January 2025.

Impact/Purpose

Publishing data in accordance with open and repeatable science principle is critical to advancing water resources research. Requiring the publication of accompanying data is quickly becoming the standard in scientific publication and of governments. However, publishing datasets can be challenging. I was invited to provide a short, 400 to 500-word, contribution to a “Viewpoint” article in the journal Nature Water that seeks contributions from researchers from around the world discussing the challenges and rewards of publishing data. In my commentary, I noted that the reuse and combination of published digital datasets is providing significant new insights into drivers of water quality. I discuss the challenges that come with publishing data, especially large datasets like EPA’s StreamCat and LakeCat. Finally, I mention ways that researchers can avoid pitfalls in data publishing by using the FAIR principles; that shared data must be Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable. This commentary will highlight ORD’s dedication to adhering to these principles to produce open and repeatable science in a premier scientific publication.

Citation

Hill, R., S. Lin, E. Grape, Y. Zhang, O. Schilling, AND D. Voiry. Stories of data sharing. Nature Portfolio, Berlin, GERMANYs44221-024-00375-7, (2025). [DOI: 10.1038/s44221-024-00375-7]

DOI: Stories of data sharing