Across two open calls, FAIR-IMPACT ran five support programmes providing guidance and support for Research Performing Organisations, Repositories and Data Service Providers, and National Level Initiatives. Six months after the conclusion of the first rounds of these programmes, we followed up with participants to see the impact of the programme on the longer term. Participants were also invited to share their experiences at the FAIRfest in a session focusing on supporting FAIR implementation. This blog gathers these different inputs to present some lessons learned and advice to the community.
At the end of the support programmes, participants identified which actions remained for them on the longer term. Most participants have continued to formulate their actions and update their objectives for the future, some even continuing to use (adaptations of) the FAIR Implementation Action Plan template provided by FAIR-IMPACT. Many have also continued to seek out structured support, for example in the financial support actions, or have created or joined projects to continue dedicating time to developing their capabilities. Formulating objectives and creating specific plans to achieve them is ultimately the most effective way to keep up progress. However, progress is realistically slow and steady as it costs additional effort alongside daily workflows and responsibilities. Unexpected changes can occur at any time, shifting priorities and pushing additional objectives to the background. The biggest challenge across all stakeholders is to persist and not lose sight of the objectives even when circumstances change. This takes patience, focus, and flexibility. Finding community and connection is a great way to lower barriers, find creative solutions, and keep important topics on your radar.
Another significant challenge is engaging other stakeholders and bringing them along in your objectives. Input, support, and approval is often needed from others within your organisation, but this takes time, education, and convincing. Materials from the support programmes have helped participants to teach colleagues about FAIR and the importance of specific FAIR-enabling practices. Moreover, emphasising participation in a support programme with a limited duration can help others to prioritise their involvement. However, it is important to plan additional time to achieve objectives where more stakeholders are involved, and often timelines will need to be flexibility updated to accommodate this.
Tips for anyone looking to become more FAIR-enabling
| Go to more conferences to learn new things and speak to others in the community. - Rory MacNeil, RSpace |
| Don’t be afraid to try something! Not everything will work out, but you will learn something from the process in any case. - Vaidas Morkevicius, Lithuanian Data Archive for Social Sciences and Humanities |
| Start with something small first. And don’t be afraid to ask others for help! - Dieuwertje Bloemen, KU Leuven |
| You get better by participating in communities, not on your own. Things aren’t always as difficult as they seem, especially when you can use other people’s expertise. Don’t be intimidated - start the conversation and you will realise you can understand more than you thought. - Beth Knazook, Digital Repository of Ireland |
| Establishing culture change in an organisation is challenging in many ways, but peer exchange helps. Identify and understand your most pressing challenges, and connect with people who may have solutions. This can be difficult if you don’t know whom to reach out to, which is where programs like FAIR-IMPACT become invaluable. - Mateusz Pawlik, Paris Lodron University of Salzburg |
| Improving your own organisation can have an impact on other levels as well, for example the national. - Clara Boavida, Iscte - University Institute of Lisbon |
| Keeping a focused scope and a practical pace of work is not only important at the start of the journey, but also further along the way. As you start making progress on the path to open science, more issues and challenges will undoubtedly arise, since open science is a very multifaceted concept. It's important to prioritise and know what to tackle and what to leave for later to keep moving forward. - Julian Lopez Gordillo, Naturalis Biodiversity Center |
| Be realistic about the amount of time needed for research and thinking, and be clear about what you are trying to achieve and why. Use the resources provided and ask for input on what you have done, for example from your mentors. - Catherine Jones and Peter Holt, UKRI-STFC |
| Expect the unexpected! Flexibility and adaptability are just as important as careful planning. While having a clear roadmap is essential, unexpected challenges - whether institutional, technical, or external - can arise and impact progress. Even when circumstances slow things down, maintaining momentum through small but steady progress is key and persistence is essential. Building a strong network and staying engaged with the broader FAIR and Open Science community can also provide support, fresh perspectives, and potential solutions when challenges arise. Lastly, patience is crucial. Transforming systems and improving FAIRness is a long-term process that requires continuous learning, collaboration, and iteration. - Tanja Zubic and Tanja Tosic, University of Novi Sad |
