On 26 March, the fifth meeting of the Czech data steward community took place at Masaryk University in Brno. Alongside a rich professional program, the event also created space for sharing experiences and mutual inspiration. The meeting once again confirmed that research data management is not only about tools and methodologies, but above all about people – and that this community is playing an increasingly important role in shaping its development in the Czech Republic.
The program opened with updates from the community and the latest information on methodologies and tools, including developments within the National Repository Platform (NRP) and other EOSC CZ activities. A new website, datasteward.cz, was also introduced as a practical hub for the community, offering an overview of training materials, documents, seminars, and news. Participants also highlighted other EOSC CZ outputs, such as materials on Data Management Plans (DMP), which they find highly useful in their daily practice.
The morning session also featured the introduction of the Community Heroes – individuals who have made long-term contributions to the community's development and to the sharing of best practices. This year’s awardees were Petra Dědičová, Jindřich Fejfar, Pavla Martínková, Anna Soldánová, Marie Šafner, and Antonín Zita.
A significant part of the program focused on practical topics that data stewards encounter in their everyday work. Discussions covered, for example, ontologies and their role in data management, as well as work with the DMP.eosc.cz tool. The afternoon program included a workshop on the National Metadata Directory (NMA) and the sharing of experiences with creating Data Management Plans.
The Data Steward Map, developed by Martin Dvořák, data analyst at EOSC CZ, also attracted strong interest. The map is becoming not only a national tool but is increasingly gaining international attention. As Georgia Koutentaki noted: “I love this map; I use it very often.” The meeting also demonstrated that the Czech data steward community is active internationally – for example, the EOSC CZ Data Steward Manual is used as a teaching resource in courses abroad.
The day concluded with a panel discussion titled “Researchers and Data Stewards in the Same Boat,” offering perspectives on data management from researchers – Monika Čechová, Peter Fabian, and Jan Fišer – and opening an important discussion on collaboration, roles, and expectations.
The next in-person meeting of the data steward community is planned for 17 September in Prague.
Photo: Erik Dudinský & Lucie Skřičková
Georgia Koutentaki began her studies in Patras, but found her dream laboratory at the University of Chemistry and Technology in Prague. What started as a three-month Erasmus stay eventually turned into doctoral studies, and she decided to remain in Prague. Today, she trains a new generation of data stewards and is an active voice in the international research data management community.
From June 3–5, Ostrava hosted a summer school for data stewards, focused on modern approaches to managing and sharing scientific data. Participants expanded both their expertise and their network within the Czech community, now numbering over 350 professionals.
