Open access to research data a lot tougher than you think

"According to commentary that recently appeared in Nature Geoscience, the time gap between the creation of data (such as experimental measurements) and the preservation (usually at publication) creates serious problems. It means that researchers need to deal with the formatting and deposition of data, an annoying step when they would rather be focusing on their next project. Given the time lag, it's also difficult to associate the correct metadata with the material that's being archived. The authors of the commentary propose developing a new workflow focused on data preservation from the very beginning, and suggest that research institutions should support scientists with data managers and local repositories. Most agree that public access to research data is beneficial to all involved: publishers and funding agencies are interested in data accessibility and reusability, scientists gain from the use (and reference) of their work, and the public can feel more confident in scientific discoveries knowing that the supporting data is available. In fact, many funding groups have already made various forms of data sharing mandatory...."