Love your Data! Kickstarting Data Organization with a Dedicated Folder Template

Context This presentation was given on 2025-09-12 in the context of the 117th annual meeting of the German Zoological Society (DZG) 2025 in Berlin. Abstract It is essential for researchers to create findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable (FAIR) data and metadata. To achieve this, effective research data management (RDM) is crucial -- as increasingly acknowledged by policies and funders. FAIRness and good management of research (meta)data hinge upon being organised and documented in an understandable manner, which includes consciously storing files in a clear folder structure. It is a good idea to establish a sensible folder structure early in a project, however little knowledge about upcoming needs and potential struggles often thwart especially junior researchers from deliberate planning. Here, ready-made templates can provide a standardized starting structure, saving time and resources that would usually be required to lay out and expand or restructure a folder structure as a (thesis) project unfolds. We recently developed* a folder structure template (DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.15835125) that comprehensively covers the storage needs of early career researchers in the life sciences beyond data production for a single work package; i.e., comprising space for administrative documents, presentations, etc. Additionally, the template is enriched with RDM best practice guidance and metadata recording prototypes to promote informed, sustainable RDM habits. This talk will cover the basics of RDM -- repetition never hurts -- and present our folder structure template and its features. It aims to encourage researchers, students, and PIs to talk about RDM, review their habits, and collectively shift academic culture towards more love for data. * Demerdash, Dockhorn & Wilbrandt (in rev.) Data Organization Made Easy: Comprehensive Folder Structure Template for Early Career Life/Natural Science Researchers Training Information Learning Goals Know Research Data Management (RDM) goals and general considerations Know where to look for RDM tools, resources, and help Be aware that the Folder Structure Template (DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.15835125) exists Duration 20 min Target Audience Life Science researchers of all career stages Prerequisites None Tools For the presenter: Ability to play video with audio Upload Content File Description Format 2025-09-12_DZG_FolderStructure.key Presentation slides .key 2025-09-12_DZG_FolderStructure.pdf Presentation slides .pdf