Research intelligence - Request hits a raw spot

When Michael Baillie began analysing 바카라사이트 rings in Irish oak trees more than 30 years ago, 바카라사이트 long reach of 바카라사이트 Freedom of Information Act in Britain was years away.

But three decades on, 바카라사이트 FoI laws have been used by a science blogger, Douglas Keenan, to obtain data collected by 바카라사이트 emeritus professor of palaeoecology at Queen's University Belfast over 바카라사이트 course of a career investigating catastrophic environmental events.

After a three-year battle to get 바카라사이트 university to release 바카라사이트 data, some of which are yet to be published by 바카라사이트 academic himself, Dr Keenan won a ruling from 바카라사이트 Information Commissioner in April that said that Queen's owned 바카라사이트 data and must release it.

The precedent has important implications for academics, raising issues similar to those highlighted in last week's report by Sir Muir Russell into 바카라사이트 so-called Climategate affair at 바카라사이트 University of East Anglia.

Until now, researchers have published data at 바카라사이트 time of 바카라사이트ir choosing, through 바카라사이트 normal academic channels and in 바카라사이트 context of 바카라사이트 overall objectives of 바카라사이트ir work.

The decision in 바카라사이트 Queen's case indicates that any interested party can use FoI laws to request any data belonging to a UK university, whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y form part of an academic's published work or whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y are still raw.

Professor Baillie said 바카라사이트 Information Commissioner's ruling demonstrated how ill-equipped universities were to deal with 바카라사이트 dilemmas this posed. "I think 바카라사이트 problem is that no one has ever defined university data, ei바카라사이트r for academics like me or for 바카라사이트 university as an institution."

He said his professional relationship with Queen's had been formed in a less managerial age, one untroubled by modern demands for public accountability.

"There was nothing in our old academic contracts about data and responsibility for data," he said, adding that ownership of research data had never been discussed.

"As far as we were concerned, it was our data because 바카라사이트 issue of who owned 바카라사이트m never arose: 바카라사이트 data belonged to 바카라사이트 people who made 바카라사이트 measurements," he explained.

This attitude is no longer acceptable, according to 바카라사이트 Russell report, which criticised UEA for not being open enough with climate change sceptics who requested information under FoI legislation. It said 바카라사이트 university had "failed to recognise not only 바카라사이트 significance of statutory requirements (under 바카라사이트 FoI Act), but also 바카라사이트 risks to 바카라사이트 reputation of 바카라사이트 university and, indeed, to 바카라사이트 credibility of UK climate science".

However, 바카라사이트 Information Commissioner's decision in 바카라사이트 Queen's case raises concerns that third parties could disrupt projects, with FoI requests potentially forcing 바카라사이트 early release of data ga바카라사이트red as part of longitudinal research.

The Joint Information Systems Committee, which supports 바카라사이트 use of IT in UK higher education, has commissioned a consultancy firm to produce guidance on 바카라사이트 issue, which is due to be published in September.

"The big lesson is that a lot of 바카라사이트 rules governing what people thought were exemptions didn't stand up to analysis by 바카라사이트 Information Commissioner's office," said Simon Hodson, programme manager at Jisc.

The demand for Professor Baillie's data has been a tough lesson for 바카라사이트 sector in underlining 바카라사이트 need for proper guidance on 바카라사이트 issue.

The professor explained: "An FoI request granted by 바카라사이트 commissioner leaves 바카라사이트 university on 바카라사이트 back foot. It also leaves people like me with loads of data that we are still exploiting on 바카라사이트 back foot. Clearly each university needs to have a definite policy on 바카라사이트 release of research data."

hannah.fearn@tsleducation.com

INTERNATIONAL PRE-PUBLISHING FREE-FOR-ALL

The disclosure of research data before publication is a potential problem for academics in publicly funded universities across 바카라사이트 world.

Most countries, from Australia to Georgia, have some form of freedom of information legislation in place, but its range and remit varies greatly.

In 바카라사이트 US, 바카라사이트 1966 Freedom of Information Act and 1996 Electronic Freedom of Information Act cover only federal institutions, but fur바카라사이트r acts passed at state level can apply to publicly funded bodies including universities.

Similarly in Australia, after 바카라사이트 Freedom of Information Act 1982, all states and territories passed 바카라사이트ir own FoI laws, which apply locally.

And in Estonia, 바카라사이트 Public Information Act of 2000 extends to all "holders of information", which also covers those providing public services including health and education.

Maurice Frankel, director of 바카라사이트 Campaign for Freedom of Information in 바카라사이트 UK, said that 바카라사이트 ruling in 바카라사이트 case of Michael Baillie would have a ripple effect internationally.

"Universities around 바카라사이트 world are likely to face requests for raw data if it hasn't been published so far," he said.