Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) Data Policy

"To reflect NERC's continuing commitment to openness and transparency in the research process, and in support of the government's developing agenda on open access to public data, the NERC Data Policy has been substantially revised, and this new version of NERC's Data Policy will come into force in January 2011....The policy covers environmental data acquired, assembled or created through research, survey and monitoring activities that are either fully or partially funded by NERC. It also applies to environmental data managed by NERC where NERC was not the original funder....All environmental data held by the NERC data centres will be made freely available without any restrictions on use - except for a limited number of data sets where third party rights require NERC to restrict access or to levy charges, or for large or complex requests, where NERC may charge for the cost of supplying the data....The policy introduces a formal requirement for all applications for NERC funding to include outline data management plans, which will be evaluated as part of the standard NERC grant assessment process....There is a clear definition of how long researchers will be entitled to exclusive access to the data they generate. This 'right of first use' will normally be two years from the end of data collection....The policy includes a clear statement on the need for openness and access to the data that underpin research publications. It also introduces a new requirement that all research publications arising from NERC funding must include a statement on how the supporting data and any other relevant research materials can be accessed...."