3.1. Repositories
Repositories are online databases for information storage, such that information remains accessible into the future. Some repositories limit themselves to a specific type of information; for example data (see also re3data.org). Other repositories have fewer limits on the types of information they archive, just as long as the files aren’t too large (Zenodo offers a 50 GB upload limit, for example).
You can deposit your own research information in repositories or use repositories to find information others have produced and deposited. Both ways, research is granted more building blocks to build new research projects with. This facilitates research, if that information is FAIR: Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable. This facilitates the discovery and reuse of archived information across research projects.
More and more, repositories are becoming critical in Data Management Plans (DMP) when applying for funding or setting up research projects. Not only do repositories help archive information over time, but they also allow you to increase the value of your work by allowing it to be incorporated into other work. Additionally, by documenting and storing your information, you can save time down the road when aspects of a project raise questions (at some point we all spend half a day peering over old notes to find the answer to a small question).
Repositories are different from the typical local or cloud storage platforms: These storage platforms do not certify as an archive and could disappear at any time (think of Dropbox, GitHub, etc.). Hard drives can fail, online backups can disappear. Repositories adapt a longer timeframe and therefore provide an archival service more than anything else. However, within repositories there are variations too: EASY-DANS archives data with the goal of persistence over the centuries, whereas Figshare or the Open Science Framework archive with the goal of persistence over the decades.
Another aspect of archival means that when other people want to build on top of your information in their research, they need to be assured that they can refer back to what they used in a research paper. This is why many repositories provide you with a Digital Object Identifier (DOI), providing a stable link to your information.
Many repositories have unique features that can help you out in your research and increase the reach of the work you do. There is no one answer to store your information, and every person might have a different workflow that fits a different repository. For example, if you use GitHub for your project management, you can also log in on Zenodo and archive your project with a few simple steps.
One astronomy-specific repository is VizieR, which provides access to the most complete library of published astronomical catalogues and data tables available online and organised in a self-documented database. Query tools allow the user to select relevant data tables and to extract and format records matching given criteria. At the time of writing, 17,247 catalogues are available. VizieR provides a how-to guide and tutorials for publishing your catalogues.
Don’t know where to deposit your data? Some catch-all, non-field-specific repositories for all research outputs, including datasets, presentations, posters, figures, videos, etc. include:
This content has been adapted from Liberate Science: Now Boarding, License: CC0 1.0.
next: Data Management Plans (DMP)