Open Research Conversation on Sustainability and open data: Balancing environmental concerns

Recording of the following session, part of the 'Open Research Conversations' seminar series at the University of Sheffield (organised by the University Library, Scholarly Communications Team), held on 21 February 2024.

Open data can create environmental benefits - for example, in accelerating the progress of research into phenomena such as climate change - but it can also create its own challenges for sustainability and environmental responsibility.

In this Open Research Conversation, we’ll explore the benefits and drawbacks of open data for sustainability, and some of the practices researchers can adopt in order to mitigate potential challenges. Our first talk is from Tom Webb (University of Sheffield), a researcher in the field of marine biodiversity who uses open datasets to examine global patterns and trends in marine ecosystems. We’ll also hear from Christopher Ohge, one of the co-ordinators of the Digital Humanities Climate Coalition, a cross-institutional initiative focused on understanding and minimising the digital humanities’ environmental impact. Chris will discuss the DHCC’s efforts to support researchers and institutions to develop their practice and policies along more sustainable lines, including with regard to data management.