Building Trust in Data Repositories: Lessons from Global Certification Efforts

The World Data System (WDS) seeks to cultivate and support a global network of members committed to scientific data repositories and effective data stewardship. To keep pace with advancing technologies, growing data volumes and types, shifting user demands, and deeper integration into scientific workflows, WDS member repositories must continuously evolve. Ensuring that data remains accessible alongside scholarly publications and processes is crucial. A key function of WDS is to collaborate on developing standards and certifications that uphold the reliability and trustworthiness of scientific data repositories while actively tackling the challenges repositories face in adapting to changes. In November 2023, the WDS Scientific Committee established a subcommittee to address these challenges and evaluate and recommend standards and certifications relevant to WDS member repositories. The subcommittee’s work included gathering information on existing certifications like CoreTrustSeal (CTS), nestor, TRAC, and PuRE, as well as conducting a survey to understand the certification landscape across different scientific fields and geographic boundaries. During the session, Daniela Santos Oliveira and Dale Peters presented the results from the WDS subcommittee’s work and discussed recommendations regarding extended certification for lowering entry barriers and fostering a more inclusive expansion of WDS membership. Moreover, this session featured representatives from the global community who shared their experiences as members of cohorts of data repositories working together toward CTS certification. Key lessons from their experience were shared. Among these is Dr. Chiware, Library Director at Cape Peninsula University of Technology, South Africa, who discussed the importance of forming a Community of Practice (COP) for support through the process of applying for CTS certification, and how the cohort approach made the daunting task of certification more manageable.This session aims to provide valuable insights into the certification process, promote community collaboration, and encourage inclusive participation in WDS membership. Speakers:- Dr. Daniela Santos Oliveira, WDS-IPO Program Manager- Dr. Dale Peters, Vice-chair, WDS Scientific Committee; Chair, WDS SC Subcommittee on Standards and Certifications.- Dr. Elisha Chiware, Library Director at Cape Peninsula University of Technology.- Dr. Richard Ferrers, Data Consultant at Australian Research Data Commons (ARDC)- Dr. Marcel Garcia de Souza, Coordinator for Processing, Analysis and Dissemination of Scientific Information, Instituto Brasileiro de Informação em Ciência e Tecnologia (IBICT)- Dr. Lee Wilson, Director of Research Data Management at the Digital Research Alliance of Canada Session Structure1. Welcome and Interactive Polling Exercise (10 minutes)Speaker: Daniela Santos OliveiraMentimeter will be used to identify the characteristics of the audience.2. WDS Subcommittee on Standards and Certifications (15 minutes)Speakers: Daniela Santos Oliveira & Dale Peters- Overview of WDS Subcommittee work- Importance of standards and certifications- Recommendations3. Presentations from International Representatives highlighting their experiences/testimonies with certification (40 minutes)Speakers:- Dr. Elisha Rufaro Chiware (10 minutes):* South Africa: Experience with COP- Dr. Lee Wilson (10 minutes)* Collaborative efforts in certification, Digital Research Alliance of Canada’s CoreTrustSeal Certification Support Cohort- Dr. Marcel Garcia de Souza (10 minutes)* Brazil: Regional perspectives on certification- Dr. Richard Ferrers (10 minutes)* Trusted Data Repositories Community of Practice - the Australian Experience4. Q&A (15 minutes)5. Closing (5 minutes)