Writing a Data Management Plan
Using DMPonline or funder templates to write a Data Management Plan (DMP)
A DMP is a document that describes your plans for creating, organising, documenting, storing and sharing data. It takes into account issues such as data protection and confidentiality, data preservation and curation, and provides a framework that supports researchers and their data throughout the course of their research and beyond.
Research funders are increasingly requiring researchers to meet certain data management criteria, and submit a DMP as part of grant applications.
To support researchers in writing their own DMPs we provide tailored DMP assistance for Principal Investigators (PIs) submitting research proposals.
Using DMPonline
DMPonline is a flexible web-based tool to assist users to create personalised plans according to their context or research funder. The tool also provides researchers examples of guidance and best practice via crowdsourced links to Digital Curation Centre's (DCC) resources and external advice. To view examples of existing DMPs in different fields, visit the Digital Curation Centre's website.
DMPonline also provides DMP templates and guidelines for the following funders:
- Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC)
- Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)
- Cancer Research UK
- Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)
- Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
- European Commission (Horizon 2020)
- Medical Research Council (MRC)
- National Science Foundation USA
- Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)
- Wellcome Trust
- ZonMw Netherlands
It is also worth considering the long term and/or historical value of the data when writing a DMP. The following link is to NERC's 'Data Value Checklist', but the questions on the checklist may be relevant to datasets related to other funders.
