The ADS is an approved digital repository for Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) funded projects. As the leading accredited repository in the UK for archaeology and historic environment data, the ADS is ideally suited for archiving data from archaeological projects. Using a discipline-specific, open repository increases the exposure of your data to relevant audiences, increasing the likelihood of discovery and re-use, a key aim for the UKRI. Moreover, the ADS is the mandated data centre for NERC-funded archaeological science projects. 

As outlined in the NERC Research Funding Guide, the preparation of an appropriate data management plan is required for many NERC funding streams, including details about long term storage of research data and ensuring that such data is open and accessible. With the introduction of the new UKRI funding Funding Service, details about data management for your research project should be included in the section for ‘Ethics and responsible research and innovation’. Updated guidance is forthcoming from a revised version of the Research Funding Guide.

The ADS has extensive expertise in advising on the creation of NERC data management plans as well as archiving datasets from NERC funded projects. The ADS can offer advice and assistance on draft plans for NERC applicants intending to submit research data to the ADS. Please email your draft plan and Case for Support to our Collections Team for more information. Although the ADS is the mandated data centre for NERC-funded archaeological science projects, In some instances projects will need to liaise with more than one NERC Data Centre. Details of your application will not be shared outside the ADS until after a project has been funded and details are available on Gateway to Research.

As part of our digital infrastructure funding from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) the ADS is committed to undertake a training programme for data creators to ensure that future data sets are created with digital archiving needs in mind. Information about forthcoming UKRI courses can be found in our list of events.