Simmons GSLIS is offering a Scientific Research Data Management class, 532G-01, this upcoming fall semester at Simmons’ Boston and Simmons West (Mt Holyoke) campuses simultaneously via videocasting on Saturday mornings from 9-12 pm. The class will be taught by a team of librarians that includes Dr. Elaine Martin, Rebecca Reznik-Zellen, and Donna Kafel from UMass Medical School, Andrew Creamer from Brown University, and Regina Raboin from Tufts University. The instructors will alternate between the two campuses; one week teaching at the Simmons’ Boston campus and videocasting to the students at Mt. Holyoke, and the alternate week vice versa. The class is open to enrolled Simmons students as well as interested librarians. (Registration for non-Simmons students begins in August). The first class begins on Sept. 6th.
This course, LIS 532G, Scientific Research Data Management, uses the case study method to prepare students from all academic backgrounds for roles in scientific research data management. It explores the current and emerging roles for information professionals in managing large or small volumes of research data sets. The course provides students with the skill set relevant to that of a data librarian whose job involves helping researchers manage and curate research data sets. The course examines the data practices of researchers in scientific fields such as biomedicine and engineering as examples of how researchers produce data and how they use these data for purposes of inquiry. Students learn about the purposes and tools of research data production and data reuse, data lifecycles and data reference interviews, data management practices, and the strategies of offering data consultancy services to researchers. Current issues regarding citing datasets, Open Access policies, and embedding the librarian as a member of a research team will also be addressed. The course will feature guest lectures by data scientists, data librarians and data archivists. Assignments include a series of readings, case study assignments, data reference interviews with researchers, and the development of data reference interview tools and data management plans for real research projects.
Full tuition for this 3 credit class is $3486, plus a $50 activity fee. Auditing the class (no credit or grade earned) is a less expensive option and is half the current tuition ($1743 for non-Simmons grads, $400 for any Simmons grads). For further details, see Simmons Forms and Policies.
If you’re interested in the class, please contact the Admissions Office at Simmons at gslisadm@simmons.edu and discuss with the Admissions Office your preference for enrolling for credit or auditing. The office will send you an application. An official copy of your master’s degree transcript is a required component of the application.
New England librarians (or those outside of NE who don’t mind a long drive!) who are interested in learning more about e-Science librarianship and the management of scientific research data may want to consider enrolling in or auditing this class.
