RLUK26 | PROVOCATION Who owns data stewardship? Reclaiming care, agency, &responsibility in RDM

RLUK26 Conference | Stewardship in challenging times: the role of libraries in supporting civic society https://www.rluk.ac.uk/ https://rlukconference.com/ Who is truly responsible for the stewardship of research data—and what does ‘stewardship’ mean in a world shaped by automation, financial instability, and algorithmic bias? This provocation brings together data stewards and managers from across the N8 CIR Research Data Management Group to challenge prevailing ideas of ownership, expertise, and care in research data. Drawing on experiences from across the N8 universities and the creation of the new Data Stewards Network, panellists ask whether libraries are ready to move beyond compliance and curation toward advocacy, empowerment, and ethics. How can libraries reclaim data stewardship for the research community as an act of civic responsibility in turbulent times? Jenny McHugh, SAS, University of London Laura Villis, Research Data Steward, University of Liverpool Phil Reed, Research Community and Training Manager, The University of Manchester Ric Campbell, Data Scientist, University of Sheffield Tristan Martin, Open Research Librarian, University of Manchester Library