Data from: Advanced technologies and data management practices in environmental science: lessons from academia

Environmental scientists stand uniquely poised to capitalize on recent advancements in technology, computation, and data management, however, it is unknown the degree to which this is occurring. We analyzed survey responses of 445 graduate students in California to evaluate understanding and use of such advances in the environmental sciences. Of students who had completed their degree, 64.3% had completed the data life cycle, 30.5% had archived research data so that it is available online, and 61.4% had no plans to create metadata for research data sets. Roughly one-third of students used an environmental sensor and collaborated with someone outside their expertise. Results varied by students’ research status and by university type. Doing excellent science in this data-intensive age may necessitate greater emphasis by university programs on data management best practices borrowed from information technology, and skills supplemented by unique training opportunities, courses, counsel from technological specialists, and unconventional collaborations.

环境科学研究者具备独特优势，可充分利用近年来在技术、计算与数据管理领域的先进成果，但目前尚不明确这一潜力的实际兑现程度。为此，本研究针对加州445名研究生的问卷反馈展开分析，以评估环境科学领域研究者对这类先进成果的认知与应用状况。在已完成学业的毕业生中，64.3%的受访者完整走完了数据生命周期流程，30.5%已将研究数据存档并实现在线开放获取，另有61.4%未计划为研究数据集编制元数据(Metadata)。约三分之一的学生曾使用环境传感器，并与超出自身专业领域的人员开展合作。研究结果因学生的科研阶段与所在院校类型而异。在这个数据密集型时代开展高质量科研，或许需要高校培养方案更加重视借鉴信息技术领域的最佳数据管理实践，并通过特色培训机会、专项课程、技术专家咨询以及非常规合作模式来补充相关技能。