Assessing the adoption of the FAIR principles in Italian environmental research infrastructures

This study investigates the adoption of the FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) principles by 14 environmental research infrastructures (RIs) operating at the Italian level. Through a three-step process (surveys, interviews, and a resource analysis), we explore the diverse FAIR practices adopted across four environmental subdomains, namely atmosphere, marine, biosphere, and geosphere. The findings reveal significant heterogeneity in the implemented practices, with ongoing efforts to converge on common strategies, particularly in the marine subdomain. Serving as a stepping stone toward more coordinated FAIR implementations, the analysis herein provides a solid foundation for monitoring future progress regarding the adoption of FAIR practices across environmental RIs within and beyond Italy and Europe.