Data Rescue Project

[kerrya1]

The Data Rescue Project is working hard to preserve US research and governmental data which is currently at significant risk due political interference in research processes.

We are currently seeing previously unheard of demands for changes to publish research data in areas such as climate change, decarbonisation, public health, economics, education, and more. The DRP is attempting to capture snapshots of datasets arising from publicly funded research in the US before they can be altered to comply with "government policy" or removed from public access altogether.

I know that a lot of universities and other institutions across the US and beyond are participating in and supporting these efforts, and that librarians and data managers across government departments are working behind the scenes to protect public data and other research outputs, even at a risk to their jobs in some cases.

If you make use of US government data in your work I would recommend that you familiarise yourself with the DRP Portal in case the data you use is compromised. You can also nominate datasets that may be in need of rescue, and volunteer to participate in rescue projects.

I am already seeing evidence that removal or amendment of datasets is impacting the work of researchers in the UK but at least the DRP provides clean snapshots of historical data that they can continue to use even if current and future data is irrevocably compromised.

[Sciolus]

Thanks Kerry. This is the sort of situation that has archivists shouting I TOLD YOU SO. It's even more worrying when the administration is not just disappearing documents but, reportedly, actively rewriting them.

I've just picked up a bit of work which will build heavily on some work done by the US EPA (formerly the Environmental Protection Agency, now the Environmental Destruction Agency). First thing I did was download all the documents I could find, because I don't know if they'll be there tomorrow.

[kerrya1]

Hi Scolius,

If you are concerned about a particular dataset or archive you should check the DRP portal to see if it has already archived. If it hasn't complete a nomination form on the website and hopefully one of the partner institutions will do it.

If you work at an institution which is independent of US government then speak to your librarians/archivists/data managers and see if they are in a position to help.