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.

环境科学家具备得天独厚的优势，能够依托近年来在技术、计算与数据管理领域取得的进展开展研究，但目前尚不明确这一潜力的兑现程度。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从业者对上述技术进展的认知与应用情况。在已完成学业的毕业生中，64.3%的学生完整完成了数据生命周期（data life cycle）流程，30.5%的学生将研究数据存档至公开可访问的线上平台，另有61.4%的学生未计划为研究数据集编制元数据（metadata）。约三分之一的学生使用过环境传感器（environmental sensor），并与超出自身专业领域的人员开展过合作。研究结果因学生的科研阶段与所在院校类型存在显著差异。在这个数据密集型时代开展高质量科研工作，可能需要高校课程体系更加重视借鉴信息技术领域的最佳数据管理实践，并通过增设特色培训项目、专业课程、技术专家咨询服务以及跨领域非常规合作等方式强化相关技能培养。