EOSC CZ Networking at the Czech Academy of Sciences

At the beginning of the year, another EOSC CZ Networking event took place at the Czech Academy of Sciences (CAS), attracting almost 70 experts from 41 institutes of the CAS. The event was unique not only due to its high attendance but also because it provided researchers from various CAS institutes across the country with an opportunity to meet in person and discuss research data management. The program featured inspiring knowledge exchange, expert presentations, and space for fostering new collaborations, significantly strengthening the Open Science community in the Czech Republic.

3 Mar 2025 Lucie Skřičková

The meeting was opened by Professor Jiří Homola, a member of the CAS Academic Council and Chairman of the Commission for Scientific Information and Open Science of the CAS, who welcomed the EOSC CZ team to the Academy. Matej Antol, project manager of IPs EOSC-CZ, introduced the initiative with a presentation on the National Data Infrastructure, the first tools and services for research data management, and the roadmap for launching additional services this year. This was followed by a talk from Jiří Marek, Head of the EOSC CZ Secretariat, addressing the implementation of Open Science at institutions and the associated challenges.

The morning session concluded with a presentation by Jindřich Fejfar, Head of the Open Science Department at the CAS Library, who outlined the support available for data management within the CAS and provided an overview of the preparedness of individual institutes to use the National Repository Platform. A key takeaway from the discussion was the active participation of individual institutes of the Czech Academy of Sciences in the Czech Academic Identity Federation eduID.cz, managed by the CESNET association, and the proper setup and implementation of Shibboleth authentication, which ensures secure access to individual components of the national infrastructure.

Afternoon Sessions: Addressing Different Stakeholder Needs

The afternoon program was split into two sections—one for data stewards and one for senior management. The senior management session built upon the morning discussions, allowing leaders to engage with EOSC CZ representatives on the development of the national infrastructure. The data stewards' session was introduced by Veronika Ambrozová, EOSC CZ Secretary, who provided an overview of available resources on the EOSC CZ website, such as the Beginner’s Guide for Data Stewards and the Data Steward Map. Pavlína Tassanyi, Head of the EOSC CZ Training Center, presented available training opportunities and the upcoming Summer School for Data Stewards, scheduled for June 2025 in Ostrava. Antonín Zita, EOSC CZ Secretary, introduced the Data Stewardship Wizard, a tool for data management planning, while Rudolf Sýkora, CAS ASEP repository manager, provided an in-depth look at the ASEP Institutional Repository, its workflows, and user roles, with a focus on data stewards.

The engagement from the attending data stewards was evident—they appreciated the insightful presentations, the opportunity to establish new connections, and expressed a strong interest in more extensive training on these topics.

Participant Feedback on EOSC CZ Networking

According to Rudolf Sýkora, ASEP repository manager at CAS, the event was a valuable opportunity for direct dialogue between data system managers and users: "What I appreciated most about meeting with CAS data stewards was the chance to discuss with representatives from different institutes. As ASEP system managers, understanding user needs is crucial for us. Based on this feedback, we can further develop the repository and its workflow."

Veronika Ambrozová, organizer of EOSC CZ Networking and EOSC CZ Secretary, emphasized the significance of the event for strengthening collaboration: "It was great to see such strong interest in this event—41 out of 54 CAS institutes were represented, which is a clear sign that research data management and Open Science are recognized as key priorities within CAS. Institutes are not only interested in sharing experiences but also in receiving systematic support in this area. Thanks to this meeting, we have established important contacts and gathered valuable insights for the future direction of EOSC CZ and the services we offer to the research community."

Leoš Horníček, Director of the CAS Office, highlighted the impressive turnout: "From my perspective, the introduction of EOSC CZ sparked unexpectedly high interest among CAS institutes. This was reflected in the presence of 21 directors and senior managers, 22 data stewards, and 26 Open Science support staff. Representatives of the CAS Academic Council were also in attendance. Personally, I was pleasantly surprised by the number of data stewards present—over time, they have become an integral part of CAS institutes. Their first in-person meeting could serve as a strong foundation for building a platform for ongoing experience-sharing."

Photogallery

Photo: Jana Plavec / Czech Academy of Science

Interview with Data Steward Johana Chylíková

The EOSC CZ Networking event was also an opportunity to highlight the experiences of data stewards. One such expert is Jolana Chylíková, who works at the Institute of Sociology, CAS. In this interview, she shares her journey into data management, the role of the Czech Social Science Data Archive (ČSDA), and the educational activities that support the research community in effectively working with research data.

Could you share your career path and experiences that led you to become a data steward at CAS?

During my sociology studies, I started working at the Czech Social Science Data Archive (ČSDA) at the Institute of Sociology, CAS. My work focused on data archiving, documentation, and research methodology. During my Ph.D. studies, I specialized in survey data research and expanded my expertise in research data management. I became involved in training activities within the CESSDA consortium, which brings together social science data archives across Europe.

I collaborated on educational materials, including the widely used CESSDA Data Management Expert Guide (DMEG). As early as 2017, we worked on a Data Management Plan (DMP) template, a topic still relatively unknown in the Czech Republic at the time. In the social sciences, it is common for data management specialists to also be active researchers, which I see as a significant advantage. At Charles University’s Faculty of Social Sciences, I emphasize to students that data management knowledge should be an integral part of their scientific practice.

How does Open Science support work at your institution?

At the Institute of Sociology, CAS, data management support is provided through the Czech Social Science Data Archive (ČSDA). We offer consultations on the entire data management cycle, from planning to documentation, data protection, archiving, and sharing. These consultations are available both individually and in groups, and we also organize training sessions at our institute and universities.

Together with my colleagues Tomáš Čížek and Martin Vávra, we run workshops on DMP, data archiving and sharing, and research ethics. If anyone is interested, we are happy to bring these workshops to their institution.

Rather than a single data steward, we have a team of specialists. I focus on DMP, Martin on data archiving and storage, and Tomáš on data protection and GDPR. Other colleagues specialize in secondary data and Open Science. This allows us to provide high-quality, specialized support.

What would you like to further develop in data management and data stewardship?

My primary identity is as a sociologist and university lecturer—I conduct research and teach sociology at the Technical University of Liberec and data management at Charles University’s Faculty of Social Sciences. Rather than general training, I focus on teaching data management and finding ways to integrate it into scientific practice.

Researchers often see DMPs as an administrative burden rather than a useful tool. My goal is to demonstrate how they can help systematize scientific work, protect against GDPR violations, and prevent publication rejections due to missing ethical approvals.

“Rather than a single data steward, we have a team of specialists. I focus on DMP, Martin on data archiving and storage, and Tomáš on data protection and GDPR. Other colleagues specialize in secondary data and Open Science. This allows us to provide high-quality, specialized support.”

How do researchers at your institution perceive data stewards?

Awareness of data management is still developing, which sometimes reduces motivation to engage with it. However, the research environment is changing—funding agencies and journals increasingly require proper data management and sharing. I hope that in the coming years, data management will become a natural part of scientific work.

How was the EOSC CZ Networking event beneficial to you?

The event was incredibly valuable—I finally got to meet people I had only known online, which helped me better connect names with faces. The presentations were clear and helped me understand the structure of EOSC-CZ, which ČSDA is joining this year. My colleagues and I are looking forward to this collaboration.

The EOSC CZ Networking event at the Czech Academy of Sciences once again confirmed the importance of connecting experts in research data management for advancing Open Science in the Czech Republic. Discussions held during the event provided valuable insights for the future of the initiative and highlighted the growing significance of the data steward role.

Don't miss the interview with Professor Jiří Homola, conducted on the occasion of the EOSC CZ Networking event at the Czech Academy of Sciences.

In the interview, Professor Homola emphasizes the crucial role of Open Science in ensuring a broader societal impact of scientific results and highlights the importance of data sharing in fostering interdisciplinary collaboration.

Interview

Mgr. Johana Chylíková, Ph.D.

works at the Institute of Sociology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, where she focuses on the methodology of social science research, particularly on the epistemology and methodology of survey sampling. She also specializes in the analysis of social classes from the perspective of cultural sociology. She teaches sociology at the Faculty of Education of the Technical University of Liberec and methodology and data management at the Faculty of Social Sciences of Charles University in Prague.

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