NSF Data Policy
The full document (NSF 04-004) for the NSF OCE Data and Sample Policy (described below) can be found here.
In 2004 the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Division of Ocean Sciences (OCE) published this updated and revised version of the 'Data and Sample Policy'. The 2004 publication replaces guidelines first issued in October 1988 and revised in 1994. An excerpt from page on the topic of General Data Poliy follows. Under item A note that: "Inventories (metadata) of all marine environmental data collected should be submitted to the designated National Data Centers within sixty (60) days after the observational period/cruise.
R2R has been established, in part, to help principal investigators to comply with this policy.
III General Data Policy
A. Principal Investigators are required to submit all environmental data collected to the designated National Data Centers (Appendix I) as soon as possible, but no later than two (2) years after the data are collected. Inventories (metadata) of all marine environmental data collected should be submitted to the designated National Data Centers within sixty (60) days after the observational period/cruise. For continuing observations, data inventories should be submitted periodically if there is a significant change in location, type or frequency of such observations.
B. PrincipalInvestigatorsandtheirinstitutions,andship-operatinginstitutionsarealso responsible for meeting all legal requirements for submission of data and research resultsthat are imposed by foreign governments as a condition of that government's granting research clearances. Each principal investigator and institution must determine their legal obligations in this respect, with the assistance of the Department of State and NSF, as necessary.
C. Where no data or sample repository exists for the collected data or samples,metadata must be prepared and made available. The Principal Investigator (PI) is required to address alternative strategies for complying with the general philosophy of sharing research products and data as described above. This must be included in the proposal Project Description. Samples should be curated in a manner that preserves the quality of the samples. The PI is invited to discuss this issue with NSF Program Officers in advance of submitting proposals.
