BioFAIR is pleased to announce the launch of its first survey of the UK life sciences research community, an important step in understanding current trends in FAIR data adoption and identifying the support researchers need to make their data more Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable.
The survey is being delivered as part of the first stage of BioFAIR’s independent Monitoring and Evaluation project, undertaken by external consultants Research Consulting. It will gather evidence from authors of recently published life sciences articles, helping BioFAIR to build a robust baseline of current research data management and FAIR data practices across the UK community.
Our target audience for the survey is researchers and authors of life sciences articles published between 2024 and 2026. Research Consulting has identified more than 10,000 authors and obtained their contact information, if shared alongside publications, through PubMed Central or OpenAlex. If you are among this group of authors you’ll be hearing from Research Consulting about your participation in the survey this week. However, if you don’t receive an invitation to the survey but would like to participate and have published in the last two years, you can access the survey below:
The survey will explore how researchers currently find, prepare, share and reuse data, as well as the barriers and enablers they experience when making their own data available or reusing data produced by others. Crucially, it will also help BioFAIR understand the time and effort involved in data management activities and identify where improved infrastructure, training, coordination and support could make the greatest difference.
Responses will be reported anonymously and analysed alongside other evaluation findings, including interviews, focus groups and desk research. Together, these insights will help establish the first independent baseline of FAIR data adoption across UK life sciences, shape BioFAIR’s developing infrastructure, training and support, and inform recommendations for its future development.
“BioFAIR was created to support a step change in how UK researchers manage, share and reuse life science data. This survey gives us an important opportunity to listen directly to researchers and understand how, ten years after their original publication, the FAIR data principles1 are being applied in current practice. The evidence gathered will help us establish a clear baseline for FAIR adoption and ensure that BioFAIR develops in ways that are grounded in real community needs.”
– Tony Burdett, BioFAIR Director
BioFAIR gratefully acknowledges the support of UK Research and Innovation, whose funding makes this work possible. A public report from the wider Monitoring and Evaluation project will be shared on completion.
1 Wilkinson, M., Dumontier, M., Aalbersberg, I. et al. The FAIR Guiding Principles for scientific data management and stewardship. Sci Data 3, 160018 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/sdata.2016.18