The changing research data paradigm

(Data Intensive Science and a Clarification of Our Data Policy) Numerous advisory groups to the National Science Foundation (NSF) expressed concern about immediacy of the crisis in data-intensive science. Research data, its access, integrity, curation, exponential growth, and longevity are important points of discussion with the National Science Foundation (NSF) and throughout the government. The importance of this issue has prompted NSF to clarify its long standing policy of on data sharing. The NSF expects funded investigators to share their research results with other investigators, including data resulting from the funded activities. In January, 2011 a new NSF data policy will take effect. New procedures which will assist NSF with enforcing its policy will be enforced. In part, there will be a new requirement that will require that all proposals describe plans for data management (access enabling) and sharing of the products of research or assert the absence of a need for such plans. The required plan should be appropriate to the specific technical, disciplinary, and scientific contexts of the project as determined by peer review panels and cognizant NSF programs. Details of the new requirements will be discussed as well as new NSF procedures associated with the policy clarification.