Data Stewards: The Architects of FAIR

Poster for the Fellowship of the Data – International RDM Community Meeting 2025 Abstract Data stewards play a critical role in implementing FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) data practices, yet their position remains undefined, under‐supported, and undervalued. Despite being responsible for bridging researchers, IT teams, librarians, and policymakers, data stewards often find themselves stuck in the middle: expected to guide FAIR implementation but lacking the authority to enforce policies. One major challenge is the blurry job description – data stewardship varies widely between institutions, with no standardized role definition, career path, or training framework. Stewards are expected to be experts in metadata, IT, open science, and research workflows, while also serving as educators and policy advisors – often without formal training in these areas. Their work is further complicated by institutional barriers, including a lack of policies supporting their role and insecure funding structures that limit long‐term impact. Without clear mandates or authority, data stewards rely on voluntary compliance from researchers, making FAIR adoption inconsistent. To address these challenges, institutions must standardize training, establish clear job roles, and empower data stewards with decision‐making influence. Recognizing data stewardship as a permanent and essential profession is key to ensuring that FAIR principles move beyond theory into sustainable practice.