Awareness first

Jewellery photo

What this article is about:

  • How the university-wide Research Day contributes to the visibility of research data management,
  • why awareness is central to research data management and
  • how cross-disciplinary information supports researchers in their everyday work.

University-wide Research Day

There will be another university-wide Research Day in September 2026 - just like last autumn. At that time, the UW/H Service and Contact Centre was represented with an information stand on research data management.

The aim was to raise awareness of RDM and to address the cultural shift towards open science. The information stand brought the topic to where research lives: in the centre of everyday campus life. It raised awareness and lowered inhibitions.

Many questions about research data only arise in direct dialogue: How do I reliably secure my data? What requirements apply to personal information? And which tools facilitate documentation and versioning?

Awareness in research data management

Awareness in research data management means that researchers, students, chairs and others develop a clear understanding of why careful and responsible handling of research data is essential and what specific practices are associated with it. This is not just about knowledge, but about sensitisation and the willingness to act accordingly.

Good awareness of research data management comes from a combination of cultural change, clear communication and practical support. Although many researchers know in principle that RDM plays a role, they often lack an understanding of the concrete benefits it brings in their day-to-day work. This is precisely where effective awareness-raising work comes in. We make it clear why RDM is relevant and how it actually facilitates research.

Interdisciplinary information on research data management

An information stand provides the perfect setting for this. It invites spontaneous questions, provides brief, understandable explanations and offers practical tips for everyday research. The information stand was well positioned in front of the event hall in the wooden building. It made it clear from a distance what it was all about. This was made possible by the clearly visible labelling "Research Data Management".

This year, a roll-up is planned to convey the central messages:

  • "Secure data - secure research"
  • "Good documentation saves time"
  • "RDM: From the idea to publication"


A stand that looks accessible lowers the inhibition threshold to simply stop, as was the case at the university-wide Research Day 2025. Thanks to the visitors at the "Research Data Management Stand" last year. We are looking forward to the next Research Day!

Contact research data management

Portrait photo of Annette Strauch-Davey

Annette Strauch-Davey, M. A.

Scientific representatives with teaching duties

Faculty of Health  |  Faculty Office

Alfred-Herrhausen-Straße 50
58455 Witten

Further contributions from the FDM