Blogs
This page predominantly features blogs from NORF-funded research projects and initiatives, along with workshop summary reports.
Developing RDM expertise: A Librarian’s Review of the Introduction to Data Stewardship Micro-Credential
In a recent LibFocus guest post, Margaret Irons (Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies) reflects on her experience of completing Sonraí’s Introduction to Data Stewardship micro-credential. She shares how the course strengthened her knowledge of research data...
Data steward competencies: findings from a European job description study
Sonraí Irish Data Stewardship Network is pleased to share the outcomes of a recent UCD MLIS Service Learning internship hosted in partnership with Asiera. Over four weeks, Ruoxin Liu, collected and analysed 43 data steward job descriptions from 13 European countries,...
A Full House at NORFest 2025: Shaping the Next Phase of Open Research Monitoring in Ireland
On 7 November, Day Two of NORFest 2025, OpenAIRE, IReL, and the NORF projects (ABOARD; MOSS-I and Sonraí, whose work touch on open research practices, infrastructures, or assessment) co-hosted a hands-on, discussion-driven workshop titled 'The Next Phase of Open...
Inside the ENGAGED project session at NORFest 2025
On 7 November 2025, Day Two of the National Open Research Forum (NORFest) 2025 in the Royal Irish Academy (RIA), the NORF-funded ENGAGED project hosted a community engagement workshop titled 'New Faces: The Future of Open Research and Public Engagement'....
National Open Research Festival 2025 summary
Ireland’s National Open Research Festival (NORFest) 2025 took place on the 6-7 November, 2025 in the Royal Irish Academy (RIA), Dublin. This two-day booked-out event had over 150 guests in attendance. It shone a spotlight on global open science, cross-cutting policy...
Developing an EOSC-Compatible National PID Strategy for Ireland
In May of this year, Ireland’s National Open Research Forum and HEAnet (Ireland’s National Research and Education Network and EOSC Mandated Organisation) were awarded funding by the RDA Tiger Cascade Grant Scheme to develop a national PID recommendation aligned with...
Highlights from QSA*Net: May Events
The month of May was a busy one for the QSA*Net NORF-funded project, with three workshops engaging both national and international audiences and aimed at strengthening practices around Qualitative Secondary Analysis (QSA). Workshop at RUN-EU: Building Skills in QSA On...
NORF TROPIC winter school: Advancing open research practices
The NORF TROPIC winter school was a resounding success! Hosted from 27–29 January at Maynooth University by Dr Dermot Lynott, principal investigator of TROPIC and lead researcher Dr Dounia Lakhzoum, this dynamic event united researchers across disciplines and career...
Blog: ‘Standardising Funder Identifiers to ROR’
Read the recent University of Galway Library blog post by Dr Cillian Joy, Head of Open and Digital Research at the University of Galway Library, and member of the PID Task Force who helped prepare Ireland’s National Persistent Identifier (PID) Strategy...
Project update: Pilot Training on Responsible Use of Research Metrics (RURM)
This blog post by Dr Colleen Thomas, Research Culture & Engagement Manager at University College Dublin (UCD), gives an update on the Pilot Training on Responsible Use of Research Metrics (RURM) project which is supported by the NORF Open Research Fund 2023...
Save the Date – Diamond Ireland Publishing Summit 2026
Diamond Ireland Publishing Summit is a national gathering for publishing and open access professionals taking place on Thursday 3 September 2026 at the McNeill Theatre, Trinity Long Room Hub, Trinity College Dublin. Diamond Ireland Press is Ireland's national diamond...
Share your thoughts on outreach for open research initiatives
OSPARK is an OSCARS funded project developing outreach and communications training for open research initiatives. Following their first Bootcamp in Belfast, the OSPARK team are conducting research to learn about experiences, barriers to engagement, and training needs...
Developing RDM expertise: A Librarian’s Review of the Introduction to Data Stewardship Micro-Credential
In a recent LibFocus guest post, Margaret Irons (Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies) reflects on her experience of completing Sonraí’s Introduction to Data Stewardship micro-credential. She shares how the course strengthened her knowledge of research data...
Advocacy for Data Stewards: It’s about people too, not just data
Sonraí Irish Data Stewardship Network recently hosted a Masterclass on Advocacy Skills for Data Stewards with DANS, the Dutch national centre of expertise and repository for research data, and CaSDAR, the Careers and Skills for Data-driven Research Network+ in the UK....
Data steward competencies: findings from a European job description study
Sonraí Irish Data Stewardship Network is pleased to share the outcomes of a recent UCD MLIS Service Learning internship hosted in partnership with Asiera. Over four weeks, Ruoxin Liu, collected and analysed 43 data steward job descriptions from 13 European countries,...