A wide range of publicly funded Research Infrastructures (RIs) in Europe are organised in five major Science Clusters, grown out of five collaborative projects funded by the European Union in 2018-2019 and playing a key role in linking ESFRI and other world-class RIs to the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC). Each cluster brings together the research infrastructures within a specific domain: Astronomy and Particle Physics, Life Sciences, Neutron and Light Sources, Social Sciences and Humanities, and ENVRI, the Environmental Sciences.
The Science Clusters invite scientific communities to come together and improve science in Europe and make it more competitive by creating and supporting interdisciplinary projects and ideas and connecting scientific communities. As an example, data management practices that enable their interoperability will be established by connecting the respective data catalogues across disciplines. The Science Clusters are uniquely positioned to address the challenges facing scientific communities that are promoting open research data and data federation, because they simultaneously represent data producers and consumers. The joint work programme also involves working closely with the EOSC Association to ensure that the EOSC strategy, implementation roadmap, and governance address the thematic needs of scientific communities.
The OSCARS project
OSCARS (Open Science Clusters’ Action for Research & Society) is a four-year Horizon Europe project that will foster the uptake of Open Science in Europe by consolidating the achievements of world-class European RIs in the ESFRI roadmap and beyond into lasting interdisciplinary FAIR data services and working practices across scientific disciplines and communities. The goal is to strengthen the role of the Science Clusters (SCs) in the European Research Area (ERA) by developing Community-based Competence Centres (CCCs) and Composable Open Data and Analysis Services (CODAS), data processing and management solutions, and by fostering the implementation of Open Science projects and services funded through a cascading-grant mechanism.
As one of the five Science Clusters, ENVRI is strongly involved in OSCARS. Besides collaborating with the four other clusters and advancing of the experiences gathered through the projects ENVRIplus and ENVRI-FAIR, the Community is also encouraged to contribute to the Open Calls by proposing their ideas to take up open science and foster the involvement of scientists in EOSC.
(ENVRI) Cluster Competence Centre
The OSCARS project has introduced the CLuster Open science Competence Centre (CLOCC) as a virtual hub dedicated to fostering research excellence through training and knowledge transfer. The CLOCCs are community-based initiatives supported by a collaborative network of people in the context of the Science Clusters providing expertise, best practices and services in relation to Open Science, and the promotion of cross-disciplinary collaborations.
As such, the ENVRI Competence Center is being established as a pivotal part of the ENVRI-Hub, closely aligned with the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC), and serves as the central hub for expertise, tools, and resources tailored to the needs of the environmental research infrastructure community. We are dedicated to helping scientists, data managers, and research infrastructures implement and maintain cutting-edge data services, ensuring alignment with the highest standards of data management and the FAIR principles. Our goal is to foster a sustainable, efficient, and interoperable research data ecosystem across environmental sciences.
What We Offer:
- Training and Workshops:
We offer training sessions, workshops, and webinars on a variety of topics, including data management best practices, metadata standards, and open science frameworks. These sessions are designed to help participants build the skills necessary to improve data quality and accessibility. (link)
- Expert Consultancy Services:
Our team provides one-on-one consultation for research infrastructures and data managers, helping them to navigate complex data challenges. This includes tailored support for integrating new data processing pipelines, implementing FAIR principles, and adopting international standards in environmental research data.
- FAIR Data Support:
We help research infrastructures achieve compliance with FAIR principles, guiding them through the processes of data preparation, sharing, and preservation. Our experts provide specific advice on improving data findability, accessibility, interoperability, and reusability.
- Metadata Standards and Interoperability:
Ensuring that data can be effectively shared and used across systems is a top priority. We provide guidance on selecting and applying the appropriate metadata standards and ensuring interoperability between different research infrastructures and data repositories.
- Networking and Collaboration Opportunities:
We connect stakeholders across the environmental research community, offering a platform for collaboration, resource sharing, and joint problem-solving. The Competence Center encourages the creation of new partnerships and fosters interdisciplinary initiatives that leverage collective expertise.
- Integrated Data Services:
As part of the ENVRI-Hub, we provide seamless access to data processing, analysis, and visualization tools. These services help you integrate and manage your environmental data effectively.
Who We Serve:
We cater to a broad range of stakeholders, including:
- Environmental Research Infrastructures
- Data Managers and Data Stewards
- Scientific Researchers
- Policy Makers and Research Funders
Our Vision:
At the ENVRI Competence Center, we envision a future where environmental research data is seamlessly shared and utilized to solve global environmental challenges. By offering tools, training, and expertise, we aim to create a more connected and collaborative research community, enhancing the societal impact of environmental science.
Contact Us:
For more information on our services or to request support, please reach out to us on manager@envri-fair.eu