RDM Weekly - Issue 041 A weekly roundup of Research Data Management resources.

Issue 41 of #rdmweekly is out! 📬

➡️ Scrapers, Pipelines, and AI, Oh My! Tools to Accelerate Data Rescue - Workshop @datarescueproject.org
➡️ How to…Write a Lab Handbook @mehr.nz
➡️ SQL Murder Mystery
➡️ It Depends - A Comical Data Steward Replacement
and more!

rdmweekly.substack.com/p/rdm-weekly...

The programme will run through the summer on Thursdays at 16:00 (GMT) and will include topics such as: becoming a successful Chief Data Officer; having the right technology, tools and team; leading the change; strategy, culture and ethics. Register 👉 carruthersandjackson.com/summer-schoo...

Join #DPConnect Aus this Friday for an informal catch-up with the community in Australasia & Asia-Pacific🎉No agenda, no slides, just #digipres conversation!

💬 Share what you’re working on
🧩 Talk through challenges
👋 Or simply drop in and say hello

📅 Friday 17 […]

[Original post on digipres.club]

🔹 Tech competence – Familiarity with data platforms, version control, ontologies, and automation tools.

Data Stewards are no longer behind-the-scenes. They are collaborators, strategists, and enablers of responsible data use.

#DataStewardship #ResearchData #FAIRData #DigitalSkills

🔹 Policy fluency – Navigating legal and ethical frameworks like GDPR, open data mandates, and domain standards.

🔹 Interdisciplinary agility – Working across research, IT, legal, and governance teams.

🔹 Data literacy – Understanding data structures, types, and flows.

🔹 Metadata mastery – Structuring and standardising metadata for maximum reuse.

🔹 Communication skills – Translating technical detail into stakeholder-friendly language.

As data continues to grow in complexity and value, the role of the Data Steward is evolving fast. In 2025 Data Stewards are enabling trustworthy, actionable, and FAIR data.

Here’s what a modern Data Steward needs in their toolkit:

We're SO looking forward to this yey!

Thrilled to announce Sheffield's collaboration with brilliant colleagues @casdarnetwork.bsky.social, @researchdataall.bsky.social Data Stewards Career Tracks Working Group, @step-up.bsky.social , and @uclopenscience.bsky.social on two hybrid workshops in April: co-creating data steward personas.

PeerLadder 2026 applications are now open for peer-mentoring PeerLadder is a peer-mentoring programme for digital Research Technical Professionals (dRTPs). Applications close 27 April 2026.

📆 Key dates to share:

16 April – Virtual webinar and Q&A about PeerLadder
27 April – Applications close
2 June – In-person workshop in Manchester (with allyship training from OLS)

Register here: elixiruknode.org/opportunity/...

PeerLadder is funded by DisCouRSE Network+ and supported by ELIXIR-UK.\: elixiruknode.org/event/discov...

It's designed to help dRTPs build leadership confidence, skills and peer networks – and we'd love your help reaching eligible people in your networks and organisations.

Curious about her work? Want to know her favourite food?
Wondering what life as a Data Steward is really like?
Just want to talk data… or say hi?

Drop into the Discord and ask Cassie anything! Use this link to join in discord.gg/Bmd2pchNyA

She can’t wait to meet you and chat with the community.

On Friday, 17 April 2026, Cassie will be hanging out on our Discord server all working day (because maintaining a healthy work–life balance is important, especially for everyone’s favourite Data Steward!) and she’ll be ready to answer all your questions.

We caught up with Cassie over a nice cup of coffee. ☕️

We discussed a bit about FAIR data and she said, "FAIR data is a lot like a really good cup of coffee. You can drink whatever is in the pot, but when it’s properly sourced, filtered, and served, everything just works better!"

Are you subscribed to our YouTube channel? 👉 www.youtube.com/@CaSDaRnetwork

If you don't subscribe to our YouTube channel, it means you hate us and that makes us so sad! 😭😭

You can check out Dr. James Steele's Data Stewart stories talk there as well 👉 www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3er...

The @daphnejacksontr.bsky.social fellowships have an emphasis on specific advanced research, scientific, engineering and/or creative techniques, alongside mentoring and training that fully equips those undertaking them to return to a technical professional career.

📍 All details here: t.ly/ehbF9

Lamentamos mucho haber perdido su respuesta. Esperamos que hayas podido obtener respuesta a tu pregunta.

The 2026 Data Mandate: Is Your Governance Architecture a Fortress or a Liability?

"𝗜𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗲𝘀𝘁 "𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗿" 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗜 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 - 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗹" writes Sravani Alle for Towards Data Science

🔗 Read the full article: towardsdatascience.com/the-2026-dat...

ADAPT ExoHack Edition III (a DisCouRSE Network+ funded project)

Register your Interest – fill in this form to register your interest and a member of the team will be in touch with further details 👉 forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/respon...

Details: casdar.ac.uk/event/adapt-...

This webinar (organised by BioFAIR UK & the Digital Curation Centre) is part of a series showcasing digital research infrastructure projects and communities in the U.K. and beyond.

🗓️ Details:

- 11 March 2026
- 14:00-15:00 GMT; 15:00-16:00 CET
- Register: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/digital-re...

Presentation by Dr Samantha Pearman-Kanza, PhD on "Making our Future FAIRer: Data Stewardship, Digital Tools & Ethical AI in Academia" for SCI Event: The Art of the Possible: Data, Digitalisation & AI in Practice.

👉 Link to the slides: zenodo.org/records/1786...

#TBT when team CaSDaR was at the University of Oxford's Love Research Data 2026!

Both Haribo and Dr. Louise Saul are always thinking about data! 💭

Thank you for capturing the picture Damon Strange!

The 9th Artificial Intelligence in Chemistry Symposium's Speaker list is out!

Event details here: t.ly/1QlTJ

We are excited to announce that Layla Hosseini-Gerami, Chief Data Science Officer at Ignota Labs, will be speaking at the event! Book your spots!

🚨 Direct registration link 👉 t.ly/BG7nA

As we move towards automation and AI-driven data management, the human element remains irreplaceable. FAIR data may be the goal, but fair practice is what sustains it.

💡Let’s remember: good data begins with good people.

Data Stewards are the translators between raw information and meaningful knowledge.

They enforce standards, negotiate context, ethics, and trust.

They ask the right questions, align expectations, and bridge the gap between researchers, systems, and policies.

Beyond FAIR: The Human Element of Data Stewardship 🧍

We often talk about data being Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable (FAIR), but behind every dataset that meets these standards is a person or a team who makes it possible.

Cassie-ception!

Cassie wishes everyone a very happy weekend! 🙌

👉 Register here: us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

Join us for a thought provoking online meeting to share knowledge around the practicalities, benefits, and success stories of ERN adoption!

A two-day workshop for professionals who who want to act as multipliers and share Research Data Management knowledge in their organizations.

🎟️ Get your tickets: www.eventbrite.be/e/rda-europe...

Monday blues are hitting us all hard... Cassie and friends are dealing with it as well as the rest of us 🫠