Workshop
Demystifying research data interoperability: A joint Leiden / Delft workshop
- Date
- Thursday 26 February 2026
- Time
- Address
-
Wijnhaven
Turfmarkt 99
2511 DP The Hague - Room
- 2.17
Interoperability with what.. why and how? What is an ontology and where does the metadata go? Who controls the vocabularies? Is this just for machines?
Interoperability is perhaps the hardest concept to grasp in the FAIR principles. Let’s work together to find out what is the best way to support the researchers to achieve it.
The workshop explores the following themes:
- Definition: What do we mean by data interoperability? How its definitions matter, and what is the practical consequences for research data? What level of interoperability is enough for which purpose? How to communicate this to researchers?
- Motivation: Why is data interoperability necessary for research? How to motivate researchers to spend (limited) time on providing such information? How to facilitate also the data steward in supporting interoperability? What are the benefits of metadata for research groups? What is the role of LLMs for interoperability now and in near future?
- Guidance: What are the best practices to achieve interoperability in general and discipline-specific instances? How to select a vocabulary to recommend, what are the features of a “good” controlled vocabulary? What are types of information needed for interoperability? Who can support the supporter?
- Tools: How do our widely used repositories handle metadata? How to include metadata in commonly used services? Are there tools to help choosing terms and vocabularies?
- Peer support: Additional aim of the workshop is also to foster collaboration and peer support network between TU Delft and Leiden University data support communities. Services of TDCCs and research infrastructures: what would be needed and what kind of tools would be useful? Could “AI” help us?
Detailed programme and format
The format will be a combination of small presentations and series of group work. The program will be further detailed in early 2026 and will be posted on this page.
Target audience and registration
We invite the research data professionals, particularly data stewards, from both Leiden University and TU Delft, and experts from relevant Dutch data support organisations.
Please note that registration is required to facilitate for catering, and for guests to enter Leiden University's Wijnhaven building.