The Role of the Information and Documentation Professional in Big Data Management for Scientific Research

The role of Information and Documentation professionals (IDPs) in managing big data within the context of scientific research is analyzed. Big data has transformed research by offering new opportunities, such as accelerating results and fostering interdisciplinary fields. However, it also presents significant challenges related to data access, quality, privacy, and security. Information professionals contribute to various areas: data retrieval, organization, description through metadata, and long-term preservation. These multifaceted contributions demand a sophisticated skill set thatrequire not only technical skills (e.g., database management and programming languages) but also interpersonal and ethical competencies that are essential for working in multidisciplinary teams. However, it should not be assumed that all Information and Documentation professionals inherently possess these qualities; rather, facing such challenges demands a continuous effort to cultivate intellectual openness, collaborative practices, and ethical responsibility. By fostering an open data culture and supporting responsible management practices through international standards for interoperability and reuse, Information and Documentation experts play a key role in adding value, structure, and ethics to scientific research in the digital age.