Data management terminologies: from challenges to community recommendations

Recorded: Thursday 16 October 2025
Title: Data management terminologies: from challenges to community recommendations
Presenter: Sensitive Data Interest Group, Professionalising Data Stewardship IG (Romain David, Anne-Sophie Bage, Nektarios Liaskos, Paul Millar, Alison Specht, Pedro Correa)

DESCRIPTION
This session will present a collaborative paper in preparation, to be submitted as an RDA output at Plenary 25. The paper is based on the work initiated during Plenary 23, building on the challenges and insights shared by the community during that session. All interested participants were and are invited to contribute as co-authors.

The session focuses on the standardisation of data management terminologies, with an emphasis on FAIR principles and the enhancement of data management quality. Ambiguous or overlapping terms—such as Data Steward vs. Data Custodian, Dissemination vs. Archiving, or Repository vs. Data Lake—often lead to confusion, inconsistent practices, and reduced interoperability.

By aligning and clarifying terminology, we aim to improve the reliability, reproducibility, and usability of research data. The session will also address terminology governance and identify gaps in existing glossaries to support high-quality, sustainable data management across disciplines.

AGENDA
Chair: Romain David (facilitated via Radical Collaboration method)

Opening & Context
Content of the paper and objectives of the session — 15 min
(Romain David)

Round Table: Statements, Challenges & Solutions — 30 min
(Each speaker presents briefly on their thematic area – approx. 5 min each)

Anne-Sophie Bage: Terminologies for Data Management Plans

Romain David: Terminologies for Competence Centres

Paul Millar: Terminologies for Data Services

Nektarios Liaskos: Terminologies for Virtual Research Environments (VREs)

Alison Specht: Terminologies for Data and Multilingual Challenges

Pedro Correa: Terminologies for Data in Machine Learning

Open Discussion — 30 min
Strategies for harmonised terminology across data management tools supporting FAIR principles

Governance models for maintaining consistency and usability

The role of standardised terminologies in enhancing data quality, cataloguing services, and skills development

Prioritisation of Recommendations (Interactive via Slido) — 10 min

Wrap-Up & Next Steps for the paper

https://www.rd-alliance.org/groups/se...

This is a recording from IDW 2025: https://internationaldataweek.org/idw...

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