Event details
Dates: 31st July - 1st August 2025
Location: Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Studies, 10 Marais Rd, Mostertsdrift Stellenbosch, South Africa
Speakers from: Stellenbosch University, University of Pretoria, The University of the Witwatersrand, National Research Foundation, University of Cape Town, Human Sciences Research Council, University of Johannesburg, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST).
Workshops
Workshop A: Powerful Data Analytics: Creating Custom Reporting Dashboards for your Figshare Repository.
Do you need a custom report on embargoed items? Want to see a report based on custom metadata fields? In addition to the reporting dashboards focused on repository activity and basic statistics available on the Figshare user interface, institutions may benefit from their own completely custom dashboards.
Using a prebuilt script, attendees learned how to extract reporting data from your repository and use that information to populate a prebuilt Looker Studio dashboard that could be modify to your liking. Figshare staff were on hand to help customize individua;l script and dashboard(s).
By the end of the workshop, attendees had one or more custom dashboards to take back to their institution to share with colleagues, as well as the knowledge to create new custom reporting dashboards.
Additional information:
Workshop B: CoreTrustSeal Trustworthy Data Repositories: Working Towards Certifying Your Figshare Repository
Are you currently working towards getting your data repository certified? Are you planning to apply, or reapply, for CoreTrustSeal accreditation and could do with some expert guidance and tips to succeed to get you started or bring you back into focus?
This workshop was run by colleagues from three institutions who have successfully negotiated the accreditation submission process and gained CoreTrustSeal accreditation, together with Figshare staff. The first half provided tips and the do’s and don'ts to submit a successful application. The second half was a hands-on workshop; in small groups people started compiling their resources and action plan, under the expert guidance of the workshop facilitators.
By the end of the workshop, everyone had an action plan and a comprehensive list of the resources needed to complete their application, and would have developed a clear understanding of the best practices and effort required to submit an institutional application for CoreTrustSeal accreditation.
Additional information:
Recordings
After the morning workshops, the energy carried over to the Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study (STIAS), where the full conference program kicked off. Attendees came together for thought-provoking presentations, lively discussions, and plenty of opportunities to share experiences and ideas. The sessions highlighted innovative approaches to open research and showcased the growing impact of libraries and institutions across South Africa.
Watch the recordings below:
Conference opening and welcome, Professor Richard Stevens, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Teaching and Learning, Stellenbosch University
Welcome from Figshare and Digital Science, Dr Mark Hahnel, VP Open Research, Digital Science
Figshare product roadmap - highlights from recent releases and future plans, Mr Sam Gibbons Frendo, Figshare
Figshare’s metadata restructure project, Mr Sam Gibbons Frendo, Figshare
The State of Open Data, Dr Mark Hahnel, Digital Science
SDGs integration on Figshare - University of Pretoria Case Study, Ms Rosina Ramokgola, University of Pretoria
Implementation of the Wits Open Data Vault - pairing Figshare with Altmetric and Dimensions, Lazarus Matizirofa, Charl Roberts, Pfano Makhera, The University of the Witwatersrand.
Stellenbosch University's research data repository (SUNScholarData) - practices, norms, and key partners, Mr Sizwe Ngobo, Stellenbosch University
Panel discussion: The importance and impact of proficient research data management
Day 2:
Welcome to day 2, Ms Maria Cotera, Digital Science
Conference keynote: The future of research assessment, Ms Nosisa Dube, National Research Foundation
DOIs, APIs and Plant Specimens: Batch uploading UCT's Bolus Herbarium Collection on ZivaHub (powered by Figshare), Dr Sanjin Muftić, University of Cape Town
Using the HSRC Dataset Request System to access the HSRC’s data in Figshare, Ms Hanlie Baudin and Mr Thabang Mafa, Human Sciences Research Council
Beyond Data: How UJ uses Figshare to manage other research outputs, Ms Mutali Lithole, University of Johannesburg
Streamlining research management with Symplectic Elements, Mr Daryl Naylor, Digital Science
Implementing Symplectic Elements at Stellenbosch University: the SU experience, Ms Hilda Kruger and Ms Jennifer De Beer
Fostering Trust and Excellence in Science Through Integrity, Mr Sidney Engelbrecht, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)
Trends, Challenges and Opportunities in research data management and open research, interactive discussion session
