U of G Research Data Repositories

All datasets submitted for review undergo curation to ensure they meet standards for accessibility, interoperability, and long-term preservation.

The term curation comes from Latin, meaning “to care”. In the context of data, curation involves selecting, organizing, describing, cleaning, enhancing, transforming, and preserving datasets. This process adds value, maximizes access, and promotes long-term preservation, ultimately enhancing the FAIRness (Findability, Accessibility, Interoperability, and Reusability) of your data.

Curation helps you ‘care for’ your dataset ensuring that it can be shared, accessed, and reused beyond the life of your research project, well into the future.

Please note that Data Repositories curators do not assess datasets for quality, accuracy or reproducibility. That responsibility lies with the depositor/data creator(s).

Data Repositories curators aim to provide feedback within 3 to 5 business days. This timeframe may vary depending on the number of datasets in the review queue, as well as the size, complexity, and preparedness of the submitted dataset(s).

Once a submitted dataset has been curated, the following steps occur:

1. If edits are required, your dataset will be returned with a message outlining the required changes. For minor edits, the curator may make the changes on your behalf and will notify you before the dataset is publicly released.
2. If your dataset is returned, review the feedback and make any required or recommended edits.
3. After making the required edits, resubmit your updated dataset.
4. The curator will review the updated submission and once satisfied with the changes, will make the dataset publicly available.

When a dataset is submitted, a Data Repositories curator reviews it following a documented data curation workflow based on international models, such as the Digital Research Alliance’s CURATION guide. This guide outlines the eight steps in the data curation process: Check, Understand, Recommend, Augment, Transform, Include, Optimize and Note Down.

1. Check

The curator performs a dataset inventory to ensure it meets the Digital Repository Policy and includes all necessary components:

• Confirm the dataset’s content meets the acceptable content standards.
• Verify required components are included (metadata, supplemental documentation, and all referenced files).
• Check for legal, ethical, and licensing issues. (e.g., no confidential data, or copyright, licensing or intellectual property issues).

2. Understand

The curator examines the dataset to ensure it is well-structured, organized and documented for others to evaluate, interpret, reuse and even reproduce the research results.

• Ensure the dataset is well-described, complete, and organized.
• Check for file naming conventions and directory structure for multi-file datasets.
• Assess readability, structure, and reusability.
• Evaluate the reproducibility of the dataset. (Note this is not part of the Data Repositories service.)

3. Recommend

The curator works with the depositor to improve the FAIRness of the dataset.

• Make recommendations for edits to the dataset.
• Collaborate with the depositor to make required and recommended edits.

4. Augment

The curator works with the depositor to enhance the dataset.

• Enhance the metadata to meet domain-specific standards.
• Add links to related materials (e.g., articles, data sources).
• Make edits to the supplemental documentation as needed.

5. Transform

The curator assesses, and where possible, converts files to improve sustainability, interoperability, and reusability.

• Convert files to recommended or accepted file formats.
• For proprietary files, identify available viewers and document them the metadata.

6. Include

The curator ensures the dataset includes elements that support proper reuse and attribution.

• Verify inclusion of researcher identifiers (e.g., ORCID).
• Ensure the dataset has a digital object identifier (DOI) and appropriate terms of use (e.g., Creative Commons license, CC0 Public Domain Dedication waiver, custom terms).

7. Optimize

The curator evaluates the dataset against international standards.

• Assess the dataset for alignment with the FAIR, OCAP, and CARE principles.
• Work with the depositor to resolve any outstanding issues.

8. Note Down

Throughout the entire curation process, the curator documents changes made to, or suggested for, the dataset.

• Document all changes made to the dataset by the curator or depositor using a consistent template (e.g., Curation Report Template).