DISC-UK DataShare Project: Building Exemplars for Institutional Data Repositories in the UK

by Robin Rice* Introduction DISC-UK (Data Information Specialists Committee United Kingdom) is a forum for data professionals working in UK Higher Education who specialise in supporting their institution's staff and students in the use of data for analysis (primarily statistical and geo-spatial). This partnership, led by EDINA, is carrying out the DISC-UK DataShare project (March 2007 March 2009)1 that aims to explore new pathways to assist academics wishing to share their data over the Internet. With three institutions taking part – the Universities of Edinburgh, Oxford and Southampton – plus the London School of Economics as an associate partner, a range of exemplars will emerge from the establishment of institutional data repositories and related services. It is part of a wider programme to develop institutional repositories funded by the UK’s Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC).