In October 2025, the Environmental Information Data Centre (EIDC) hosted a Community Conversation, an interactive, user-centred event that explored how the EIDC could make environmental data easier to find, access and reuse. The findings are now directly informing the EIDC’s service developments, with several improvements already underway and others forming the foundation of long-term strategic enhancements.

The EIDC is part of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) Environmental Data Service (EDS), curating and publishing nationally important datasets concerned with the terrestrial and freshwater sciences. From within these disciplines and across the wider research community, 26 participants attended the Community Conversation online, providing rich insight into the barriers and enablers of both data access and data deposit. After a short series of questionnaires and presentations, the participants moved into facilitated breakout groups to discuss their experiences of finding, accessing, reusing and depositing environmental data.

By using small, focused breakout groups we were able to capture a wealth of useful information on what users would like our services to deliver, now and in the future.

- Kathryn Harrison, EIDC Operations Manager

Discoverability and accessibility of data present a major challenge for participants, with the majority locating data through colleagues, limiting the reuse of published data. Participants said they often spent time downloading datasets only to find they were not suitable for their needs and expressed a strong demand for information and time-saving tools to properly assess datasets, through standardised keywords, and preview and visualisation tools. Participants also wanted faster, simpler access to data with fewer restrictions.

Participants said lack of time was the main barrier to depositing data. Participants found the EIDC data submission process too manual, with guidance sometimes being inconsistent and feeling that some aspects of the process were duplicated. Good practice examples of supporting documentation and training, aimed at Early Career Researchers in particular, were recommended as future improvements.

The EIDC is already exploring new ways to help people discover data, including an intelligent Artificial Intelligence (AI)-supported search tool and using AI to generate keywords and extract more information from metadata. A data preview tool is also being developed, giving users a way to explore data and file details before downloading.

During 2026, the EIDC will review and improve the guidance and support provided for the data deposit process by delivering targeted training to users and providing guidance in different formats to increase accessibility. A current project is considering ways in which the deposit process can be streamlined and automated. In addition, the EIDC is setting up a User Working Group to enable regular, structured feedback on its services. This feedback will help the EIDC identify and respond to changing community needs more quickly.

The Community Conversation event provided valuable insights and ideas which can be taken forward by the EIDC. These will help to reduce barriers to data reuse, and improve the efficiency and quality of data publication, thereby contributing to enhancing the long-term value of EDS data resources. The EIDC plans to hold more Community Conversation events and would love to hear from you if you have a topic you’d like discussed.

Reference

Harrison, Kathryn; Dean, Hannah; Wright, Katherine; Hayton, Sharon; Preston, Mary. 2026 Report on Community Conversation #3: enhancing data access and data deposit. UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, 8pp. https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/541012/