Learn how to set up and run a data service

There are still places available on the UK Data Archive's two-day event on How to Set up and Run a Data Service: The Challenges of Social Science Data.

Held on 28 and 29 November 2013 at the University of Essex (Colchester), this is a once-a-year opportunity to go behind the scenes and learn first-hand from specialists at the UK Data Archive. The Archive has over 40 years’ experience in selecting, ingesting, curating and providing access to data. UKDA are a designated Place of Deposit for The National Archives and are internationally acknowledged experts in this field.

Over the two days participants will learn about the strategies and practices used in the Archive's daily work, with a focus on storing and sharing social science data, including microdata, aggregate, qualitative and historical data.

Both days will include optional specialist surgeries which will give participants the opportunity to engage with Archive experts about specific needs and interests.

The workshop is best suited for those who are actively working with storing and sharing data for use in social science research, or plan to in the near future. This course is unlikely to be suitable for undergraduate or postgraduate students unless working specifically in a data archiving environment.

The course fee is £250, which includes all workshop materials plus coffee, lunch, drinks reception and evening meal on Day 1.

For a full programme and booking information: http://www.data-archive.ac.uk/news-events/events.aspx?id=3543

HMRC consultation on data sharing

Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is seeking views on the department sharing non identifiable information for the creation of general, aggregate and anonymised datasets, and on proposed safeguards.

The consultation also covers the potential benefits, costs / risks and necessary safeguards for proposals to share VAT registration data, either publicly or under controlled conditions for specified purposes, for example, credit rating. Views are welcome on the principles underlying these proposals and on the suggested approaches to implementation.

The consultation will run until the 24th September 2013. You can find out more information and download the consultation documentation from https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/sharing-and-publishing-data-for-public-benefit.

Funding for transnational access to official microdata

Call for research proposals under the FP7 EU project "Data without Boundaries" (DwB)

To enhance access across borders to official microdata, the FP7-funded Data without Boundaries project offers different kinds of support for the work with a range of highly-detailed data from a number of European countries.

Please, read the instructions carefully at: http://www.dwbproject.org/access/call.html

This is a continuous call and there will be additional opportunities to apply. The next upcoming *deadline is 15th October 2012*. Additional deadline dates are 15th April and 15th October in 2013 and 2014.

The call is available also as pdf (240 kB) http://www.dwbproject.org/access/doc/DwB_third_call_for_proposals.pdf

Further details on DwB: http://www.dwbproject.org/about/

How to set up and run a data service

Title: How to set up and run a data service: the challenges of social science data Date: 8-9 November 2012
Location: UK Data Archive, University of Essex, Colchester

Applications are now being accepted for this once-a-year opportunity to go behind the scenes at the UK Data Archive and learn first hand from its social science data specialists. This year's event is scheduled for 8-9 November 2012.

Over one and a half days participants will learn about the strategies and practices used in the Archive's daily work with a focus on storing and sharing social science data, including microdata, aggregate, qualitative and historical data. Activities range from presentations to a hands on workshop on research data management to small-group discussions on key specialist areas. Participants will also be invited to tour the Archive's newly built secure data centre, a £2.4 million scalable facility designed to expand access and computational capability for sensitive and disclosive data.

Founded at the University of Essex in 1967, the Archive has 45 years' experience in selecting, ingesting, curating and providing access to data. We are a designated Place of Deposit for The National Archives and are internationally acknowledged experts in this field.

In addition, the Digital Preservation Coalition (DPC) will be supporting a few fully funded scholarships to attend this workshop.

For the complete programme and details on fees and application procedures see http://www.data-archive.ac.uk/news-events/events.aspx?id=3295

Consultation on access to address register data for social science research

The ESRC has initiated a consultation to inform its approach in advocating academic access to GeoPlace address register data. As part of the consultation a survey is being undertaken. This, and further information, is available at

http://www.esrc.ac.uk/news-and-events/news/22050/consultation-on-access-to-address-register-data-for-social-science-research.aspx

EU researchers invited to apply for Data without Boundaries access to Secure Data Service

The Secure Data Service is a lead partner in the EU-funded Data without Boundaries (DwB) project. As part of this project, academic researchers within Europe are invited to apply for access to highly detailed social survey, census and business microdata from similar services in the UK, Germany, Netherlands and France (known as 'Research Data Centres').

This is a unique opportunity for researchers to receive specialist support and reimbursement of costs to conduct comparative research across borders.

Researchers should apply to conduct research at Research Data Centres (RDCs) not in the country of their residence. Therefore, researchers applying to access the Secure Data Service under the DwB project should not be resident in the UK.

Datasets available from the Secure Data Service are listed in the Data Library.

To apply, qualified researchers should visit the Data Access section of the DwB website for more information about the other RDCs involved and how to apply. Researchers approved under DwB to use data from the Secure Data Service will be contacted with details of the additional steps necessary to be approved to use the Service.

Access to the data will ordinarily be onsite at the Secure Data Service, located on the campus of the University of Essex. Researchers will be required to attend a half-day training session before being issued with a member logon, however the training session can be incorporated into the onsite visit to conduct research.

About the Data without Boundaries project
How to apply for Data without Boundaries access
Secure Data Service data library