Happy Christmas Everyone

Have a safe and peaceful break with you friends and families 

 See you in the new year

New Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research

The NHMRC, in partnership with the Australian Research Council and Universities Australia, and through extensive public consultation, has developed the new Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research  <www.nhmrc.gov.au/publications/synopses/r39syn.htm>. The Code advocates and describes best practice and promotes integrity in research for researchers and institutions. It also explains what is expected of researchers by the community. The Code provides advice on: 

• how to manage research data and materials,

• how to publish and disseminate research findings

• obligations in peer review

• how to collaborate across institutions

• and how to manage conflicts of interest.

An important inclusion in the Code is Section 2 which refers to Management of Research

Data and Primary Materials. It addresses data management issues and responsibilities for the institution and the individual researcher, including:

• ownership of data and research materials

• data storage

• data retention

• appropriate access to the data• depositing data and publications in an appropriate subject and/or institutional repository

These specific data management requirements will be drivers for the development

of Data Management Plans by research project teams from 2008. The QUT eResearch Working Party is in the process of analysing and reporting results from the October Survey of Research Data Management Practices at QUT. These survey results and responses from focus groups run in early December, will help advance the QUT research data response. http://www.research.qut.edu.au/aboutus/eresearch/