Science communication of RDA calls in the context of EOSC

EOSC Future

Research Data Alliance

13 February 2023 - 12:00 am CET

17 April 2023 - 04:00 pm CET

Individuals or Organisations

€15.000

This call seeks applications from a science communication professional to deliver one series of excellent quality, high-impact articles which showcase the results and outcomes of a selection of the Research Data Alliance (RDA) and European Open Science Cloud  (EOSC) Future Open Calls programme (see below). The call budget is EUR 15,000. Applicants are limited to EU and Associated countries only. One project will be funded. 

RDA is currently running a programme of over 30 small projects, as part of the EOSC Future project, to further enable integration and take up of EOSC services,  and to bring the wider community to EOSC via the RDA channels. The purpose of these RDA Open Calls is to engage the data sharing community via bottom-up activities to contribute their know-how to the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC). The projects are due to finalise in August 2023.  

RDA provides an open forum where solutions are discussed and experiences are shared with its global community.

EOSC is a new concept for many research communities and much work still needs to be done to make them understand and participate in data sharing across the research lifecycle using EOSC.  A list of currently funded RDA/EOSC Future Open Call projects can be found here.

This call is closed

Meet the grantees

Unveiling the Power of Collaboration: Harnessing the Potential of RDA and EOSC to Drive Open Science and Research Innovation

What:

Science|Business will deliver a series of high-impact articles showcasing the results and outcomes of the Research Data Alliance (RDA) and European Open Science Cloud (EOSC) Future Open Calls programme, as well as the role of RDA in EOSC.

Who:

Science|Business is a leading news company based in Brussels specialised in EU and international research and innovation policy, with extensive experience in science communication and journalism.

Scientific Domain:

EU and international researc, science communication and journalism

Your Domain specific Engagement:

Science|Business has worked with RDA on several occasions in recent years. Beyond past writing jobs undertaken by Science|Business, RDA engaged in 2017-2018 in the Science|Business Network and its EOSC consulation group that assembled a group key stakeholders from the public and private sectors to track the set up and implementation of the European Open Science Cloud. Later on, the Science|Business Data Rules initiative, a spin-off from the EOSC group regularly quoted RDA’s representatives, like in the report titled “Will AI ease or exacerbate global instability?”, published on 28 September 2021. 

Your Promotion and Networking:

As a media company focused on science and innovation, we have been closely following the developments in open science, the FAIR movement, and the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC). We have observed the growing importance these principles and initiatives for enabling better collaboration, improving research outcomes, and increasing the impact of scientific research in society. Having covered the development of EOSC since the very early stage, from its early conceptualisation to the launch of the EOSC Association our team has a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities presented by the Cloud and is well-positioned to communicate their importance to a wider audience. In addition, our journalists closely cover the latest developments around open science, including the draft EU Council Conclusions on high-quality, transparent, open, trustworthy and equitable scholarly publishing. 

At Science|Business, we have a strong track record of communicating the outcomes of science projects in the European Union. Over the years, we have collaborated with a range of stakeholders in the research and innovation community, including universities, research institutions, governments, media outlets and industry partners, to deliver high-quality content that is both informative and engaging.

We have published numerous articles and reports on a variety of topics related to open science, open access, scientific publishing, data sharing, and research infrastructures. To discuss these topics, we have also organised several high-profile events and conferences that have brought together key stakeholders from across the research and innovation ecosystem.

Your Outputs:

A few recent articles include:

Other relevant examples of past projects include:

  • Science|Business Science Cloud consultation group: Science|Business formed a platform from 2016 to 2020 to track the European Open Science Cloud plan, facilitating dialogue and intelligence gathering among companies, universities, and research infrastructures in Brussels. Members included Amazon, Microsoft, and various institutions. Multiple published reports can be found here.
  • ERC=Science²: Science|Business coordinated this Europe-wide science communications campaign from 2015 to 2019, using multimedia platforms and innovative narrative props to showcase breakthrough science funded by the European Research Council (ERC) and its potential impact. For more information, please visit https://www.sciencesquared.eu.
  • ATTRACT strategic communications advice: Since 2014, Science|Business has provided strategic communications advice to ATTRACT, an EU initiative promoting co-innovation in high-performance detector and imaging technologies. We have advised on communication strategies, acted as press officers, and secured media coverage across Europe.I stimulate?
  • Science|Business organized a hybrid expert roundtable, in partnership with Elsevier, focused on building confidence in science and ensuring sustainable and trustworthy channels of scientific information. The event addressed topics such as establishing credibility in science-related information, regulating social media and AI-based platforms, implementing global policy directions, ensuring quality scientific knowledge informs policy making, engaging researchers in research assessment reform, and the impact of open science. Senior figures and experts from the European and international R&I spectrum convened to issue recommendations for boosting citizens' confidence in research.

With 25,000 newsletter subscribers, 150,000 website monthly unique visitors and 30,000+ social media followers, Science|Business has a proven track record of delivering high-quality editorial coverage and science communication projects – commissioned by clients or as part of EU-funded projects. 

 

www.sciencebusiness.net

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Country:

Belgium

FAQs

The call is seeking applications from highly-qualified individuals, free-lancers, or organisations specialised in science communications. Applicants should be working in science communication in Europe, preferably with experience of the European research landscape. Applicants are expected to submit three examples of their most recent work. Ideally, they will have a knowledge of open science movement, RDA and EOSC. A successful applicant is expected to work closely with the grants implementation team and attend regular project coordination meetings as an observer. The aim is to articulate how these projects fit into the European research landscape and what impact they bring contributing to EOSC.

The purpose is to describe the EOSC FUTURE funded RDA projects, their outcomes, as well as  the concept of EOSC to a wider scientific and general audience and to critically assess, present and create articles that make these concepts understandable, especially beyond the communities that are currently already working on them. Successful applications should consider the role of open science in open research, and the challenges that different research domains have in implementing open science.  The science communication expert is expected to work closely with the coordinating team to identify the success stories, and shape the concepts in a way to communicate them as effectively as possible. Non-standard tools, such as data visualisation or interactive platforms can be considered., .  

The following outcomes should be considered in successful applications:   

  • Delivery of 4-5 professional science comms features, showcasing key elements of the calls underway  
  • 1 generic article on the role of RDA in EOSC, and about the calls programme and an overview of the diverse activities
  • Articles should show the impact of the calls on disciplinary research, the connection to EOSC, and the impact of the investment in this open call programme
  • Showcase the impact EOSC has on researcher workflows

The work is expected to start in April and to be completed by September 2023, in order to coincide with the last phases of the projects as they prepare their deliverables. 

The project proposals will need to be submitted by using “apply now” on this EOSC Future Funding platform. You will have to describe your project plan, goals, milestones and intended impact in some detail. A consortium consisting of several organisations can apply, but a single legal needs to act as a contractual partner.

You need to submit your application by 17.04.2023.

RDA welcomes applications from people or groups who have an understanding of the Research Data Alliance, sharing of data, and FAIR-ification1 of data. These can be journalists, science communication professionals. They can be based in research groups or institutions, or SMEs across Europe, provided they meet the criteria below.

Criteria and conditions  

  • The candidate must have a proven track-record of science journalism, with an interest in science, open science and equitable research and EU research funding mechanisms
  • The candidate must also submit three published articles which demonstrate the ability to present complex scientific challenges in a clear and simple way  
  • Have a good understanding of EOSC and the FAIR movement
  • Reside and/or work in a EU country or associate countries 

Further conditions

This call is not open to members of the EOSC Future consortium, or individuals employed by any consortium entity. Staff working on the EOSC Future project (i.e. directly funded through a beneficiary (its department or unit executing EOSC Future activities), as a LTP or seconded personnel) are not eligible to apply for grants under the RDA Open Calls and will be asked to tick a Declaration of Honour box upon application.  

Applicants must declare in the application form they do not receive from other European Union project for similar activities. If you are unsure, please contact us.  

All successful applicants will have to provide a plan for a sound dissemination of the outputs created, openly licensed as per RDA’s recommendations that outputs are licensed as CC-BY.  A mid-term and final term report will be submitted, following a contractual agreement, highlighting progress, use cases and lessons learned.  

All results will be made available on the RDA site for 4 years. Successful applicants may be asked to share their details (photo, bio) for dissemination purposes.  

The work will need to be completed within 6 months within receipt of award. 

How your application will be evaluated: These are the criteria and weighting

Your proposal will take into account the RDA Guiding principles and demonstrate commitment to it. Proposals should drive the principles of openness and community activities.  

Candidates will be asked to submit an application that will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

Excellence:   

A brief summary of previous and current activities with examples demonstrating the applicant’s journalistic and science communication experiences. This can include previous work in specifically communicating the outcomes of science projects in the European Union. (40%)  

A statement stating and illustrating the applicant’s understanding the vision of open science, RDA, EOSC, and the FAIR movement and/or European data infrastructures or similar federated infrastructures. (10%)

Impact:  

Applicants should put forward plans for exploiting impact of the projects. Methodology of application.  (25%)

Implementation (quality and efficiency):   

A summary of the proposed activity plan for the work and proposed features and these are relevant to RDA, EOSC and the specific disciplinary community. Discuss how RDA can be leveraged, how it benefits EOSC, the EC, and the disciplinary community. The proposal must be thought through, well-written, clear and demonstrate the methodology works. (25%)

Evaluators

The applications will be evaluated by experts with knowledgeable about the RDA and group recommendations who have no conflict of interest (the applicant is not employed by the evaluator’s organisation nor is/are the recommendation(s) a direct result of their work).

Word limit for applications  

The word limit for your application will be via fields in a form each with a specific word limit. You can start with an application and save it in the system to return to it later. You are allowed to upload accompanying documentation, e.g., project plan and methodology. 

This call is closed