This week, February 9-13, we celebrate International Love Data Week! This year’s theme, “Where’s the Data?” prompts us to consider the entire journey of our data, from collection through storage, preservation and sharing. Since much of the research conducted at ASU is supported by grants from agencies like the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation and NASA, let’s take a moment to discuss where your data should go after your research is done.
As of January 1, 2026, all projects sponsored by the U.S. federal funding agencies now include public access policies. With these new policies, your scholarly publications and the supporting research data must be made freely accessible at the time of publication. To help you work through this shifting landscape, we are excited to introduce the new federal public access policies webpage, which provides an overview of these policies and links to important resources to help you comply.
When it comes to data, much of the work needs to happen before you start your project. Most federal agencies will require you to submit a Data Management and Sharing Plan (DMSP) as part of your proposal. These plans typically follow a standard format depending on the agency. If you need help developing your plan, you can connect with the Research Data Management Office or use the DMP Tool to guide you through the process. Once you have drafted a plan, you can use ASU’s DMSP AI tool to offer instant feedback and request support from data management experts in ASU Library and the Research Data Management Office.
If you’re worried about making sensitive or private data public, don’t be! All the agency policies have clear definitions about what data they expect to be shared. As part of your plan, you can think through how you will keep certain data private, while sharing out the data that will help other researchers validate or replicate your research findings. The goal is to help establish trust in our scholarship by being more transparent about our work.
Finally, loving your data (and complying with public access policies) means giving it a safe and permanent home. While some agencies have their own data repository they recommend, many just provide some guidance on the type of repository you should use. Luckily, the ASU Research Data Repository meets agency requirements, providing long term preservation and storage, expertly enhanced metadata and DOIs to ensure persistent access in the future. Our team will guide you through how to give your data the attention it deserves through curation and sharing best practices, enabling the maximum use and usability of your data!
Navigating federal requirements and policies to support your data doesn’t have to be done on your own. Our ASU Library Research Support Team is here to help!
-Written by Mimmo Bonanni, Karalyn Ostler, Anali Perry, ASU Library