Incentives and outreach Another key finding was that researchers felt they were not credited sufficiently for making research data freely available. Sixty per cent claimed that they were did not receive the credit they deserved for releasing data. It means many researchers do not feel they are incentiv- ised to make their data open. The report also found that there was no significant difference in awareness of available support by career stage, suggesting “more inclusive outreach is needed when organizing [sic] discus- sions, forums and panels in the open research space”. Again, this suggests a role for institutional libraries where they can look at how they raise awareness of services and support with researchers. Unsurprisingly, given the rise of ChatGPT over the last year, there is a growing awareness of AI tools. Howev- er, the report found that there was lim- ited understanding of how this might work. CILIP has already begun look- ing at how technology will impact on libraries and the services they can offer. Its recently launched Libraries Rewired conference will become a regular event on the calendar, and CILIP has commit- ted to support members in their own digital transformation journeys. A CILIP report, authored by Dr Andrew Cox in 2021, highlighted the changing role for information profes- sionals in the context AI and similar
December 2023
technologies. The impact of AI, machine learning, automation and robotics on the information profession (
www.cilip.org. uk/researchreport) looks at various aspects of the information profession, including considering how roles develop as new technology is adopted.
As well as looking at existing skills and the ability to transfer them, the report also recommends that information profes- sionals look at adopting new skills. It says: “Use of AI tools to support data analysis has created a new form of analyst role, the data scientist. Data science uses computational methods to derive new knowledge from data. Data scientists tend to have a combination of statistical skills, computational skills and domain knowledge. Some might sit more at the analysis end, some more at the end of business need, and some bridge or translate between the two (Henke et al., 2018; Open Data Institute, 2020a). Data visualisation is also part of what they do. “This might be an area where informa- tion professionals need to reposition their skills base. Some understanding of the prin- ciples involved and hands-on experience of the many tools available will be useful, be that to support users or to apply them directly to their own professional work.” The report finds that there is room for growth, but adds that other professions could also look to exploit and benefit from skills gaps, and so urges information professionals to continue to explore technology. It adds
that while some of this feels very new, the information profession is well-placed to deliver services, and in any cases already are delivering services, that support data management in all its forms, stating: “As has already been established, the current wave of excitement around AI was preceded by a wave of interest in ‘big data’, because AI requires large volumes of data. As has also been explained, the range of what is called data has expanded. In AI there is often training data, input data and derived data to manage. As a result, a core aspect of most AI applications is data governance. Since data is closely related to information, data governance and man- agement feels very much within the scope of information professionals. “They can certainly contribute a unique perspective in the context of multi-stake- holder data governance (Wendehorst, 2020). Articulating this clearly is important to taking the opportunities presented by AI. “Developments in some information sectors, such as around research data management in the academic sector, give us some sense of what this might look like. A lot here may turn on how involved infor- mation professionals are already in the data management in their organisation.” While this year’s Open Research Data Report paints a picture of under-sup- ported researchers, the truth could be obscured by its global reach – there is a noticeable and significant difference in terms of where researchers feel best supported, with the UK coming out well compared to other countries. Taken alongside CILIP’s own report into the impact of these new technologies, there is a feeling of opportunity for the informa- tion profession. The UK appears to be in a strong position to lead change and provide insight and guidance into best practice. In terms of managing open data and supporting researchers – that work is already happening in large parts, and information professionals are leading the way. To ensure that open data is a valued tool, there needs to be a collaborative effort – drawing together skills and exper- tise from different fields. Harsh Jegadeesan, Chief Publishing Officer, Springer Nature said: “By better understanding researchers’ motivations around open research we, as a community, can clearly see the roles we all need to play in driving accessible research forwards and harnessing the power of emerging technologies to move towards greater open science. Ensuring easy and open access to all parts of research supports accessibility, usability and reusability – and this is key in helping to ensure research can be built upon and gets into the hands of those that can effect change to tackle the world’s most challenging issues.”
Read the full report at https://tinyurl. com/e28jbxh3.
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