FAIR Data Accelerator Pilot: Cultivating cultures of data sharing
This research project explored how digital infrastructure is changing research practices in science communities to make hidden social and cultural challenges and barriers to data sharing visible.
About the project
This project ran from November 2023 to June 2025 and was funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and the UK Government Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).
Team
Project lead
Members
- Professor Allison Littlejohn
- Professor Eileen Kennedy
- Dr Francisco Duran Del Fierro
Background
The way science communities undertake scientific investigation is changing due to the introduction of new Digital Research Infrastructures (DRIs). These facilities provide services and resources to science communities in ways that generate new knowledge in novel ways e.g. by producing exabyte levels of data, and transforming how data is gathered, used and shared.
The challenges of implementing exascale DRI facilities extend beyond technical issues and include human, cultural and social aspects that need to be recognised and further examined – i.e., how scientists respond to changes in their context and how non-human entities (e.g. state-of-the-art supercomputers) mobilise their agency and produce norms, knowledges and visions.
In that context, this project explored how DRI is changing research practices, ways of working and ways of knowing in science communities. The project provided new understanding of the social and cultural conditions that enable the creation of cultures of data sharing and co-designed ways for more inclusive epistemic cultures. We uncovered unseen challenges experienced by communities of scientists and then used these insights to support science communities in the co-design of simple and effective forms of professional development activities.
Dr Louise Chisholm worked on this project in the capacity of her UKSRC work.
Methodology
This study brought together sociology, educational research and digital research infrastructure expertise to explore how science communities using Digital Research Infrastructures (DRIs) change their ways of working and research practices (e.g. data sharing).
We combined two approaches using a 'Co-laborative ethnography' perspective (Niewöhner 2016; 2019; Bieler et al. 2021): digital ethnography (online interviews and online and in-person participant observation) and participatory co-design of professional development (group discussions, practical design activities).
In Phase 1 we used digital ethnography to make hidden challenges to cultures of data sharing visible. These outcomes inform Phase 2, the co-design of evidence-based interventions tailored for the respective research community’s needs.
Project insights informed community engagement and career development activities within and across existing and new DRI services.
Outputs
Reports
- Chisholm, L., Durán del Fierro, F., Littlejohn, A., & Kennedy, E. (2025). FAIR Data Accelerator Pilot: Cultivating Cultures of Data Sharing. Project Overview. Zenodo
Publications
- Durán del Fierro, F., Littlejohn, A., & Kennedy, E. (2024). Sociotechnical Imaginaries of Sharing and Emerging Postdigital Meaning-Making Practices in the Astronomy Community. Postdigital Science and Education
Presentations
- Duran del Fierro, Francisco (2025, July 10). Digital Research Infrastructures as a Scientific Reform Movement: Shaping Epistemic Cultures From Within? ISA Forum 2025, Rabat
- Duran del Fierro, Francisco (2024, July 22). Identity and meta-work in a digitalised science community: the case of the Astronomy community, EARLI SIG 14 Conference, Finland
- Littlejohn, Allison (2024, July 21). Digital Technology and Professional Learning. Keynote, EARLI SIG 14 Conference, Finland
- Duran del Fierro, Francisco (2024, June 20). Social and Cultural Barriers to Data Sharing Across Research Communities. From Policy to Practice: UCL Open Science Conference 2024
- Chisholm, Louise (2024, June 11). Developing the digital research infrastructure ecosystem to explore the early universe. Festival of Digital Research & Scholarship, UCL Advanced Research Computing Centre, London, United Kingdom
- Duran del Fierro, F., Littlejohn, A., Kennedy, E., & Chisholm, L. (2024, July 24). Identity Negotiation and Professional Development in the Context of the Digital Transformation of Research Communities. Festival of Digital Research & Scholarship, The Cloisters and vicinity Gower Street London WC1E 6BT United Kingdom. Zenodo
- Durán del Fierro, F., Kennedy, E., Littlejohn, A., & Chisholm, L. (2024, May 1). FAIR Data Accelerator Pilot – social and cultural barriers to data sharing. Zenodo
Tools and resources
Related links
- FAIR Data Accelerator Pilot – UK SKA Regional Centre Project
Contact us
UCL Knowledge Lab
Department of Culture, Communication and Media
UCL Institute of Education
University College London
23–29 Emerald Street
London WC1N 3QS
