18.11.2014: Science is driven by data. Data exists in a variety of formats on different platforms and the data landscape is highly fragmented, by disciplines or by domains. Research, however, increasingly takes places in interdisciplinary projects. Accordingly the re-use of data is complex. Since 2012 the international Research Data Alliance (RDA) devotes itself to the standardization of and the open access to data. On November 20th and 21th the first German RDA conference takes place at the Helmholtz Centre Potsdam – GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences. The RDA-D conference aims at informing about the Research Data Alliance and a better connection of participants and interested parties. About 120 attendees are expected to join the meeting.

The activities of the Research Data Alliance are supported by the European Commission as well as the US and Australian governments via a number of scientific organizations and funding programs. RDA aims to help scientists worldwide in the management of data including the accessibility to research data.

The RDA organizes itself worldwide in conferences scheduled on a six-month basis, at which different working groups meet to discuss and work on numerous individual projects.