Data management is the process of gathering, organizing, curating, preserving, and sharing information generated during a research project and throughout the lifecycle of the data.

All federal funding agencies, including the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Institute of Health (NIH), and the Institute of Museum and Library Services, require scholars to submit data management plans as part of their research grant applications. Often these plans include provisions for making data publicly accessible. Increasingly, private funding agencies like the Gates Foundation, also require data management plans.

It's important to begin planning for the collection, use, preservation, and sharing of your data from the beginning of your projects. Use the tabs to the left to get started.

Reasons to preserve and share your data:

• Increase the visibility of your research by making it discoverable online
• Allow reuse of data to prevent duplication of effort 
• Manage and document data to maintain integrity and save resources in the long term
• Follow funding agency requirements
• Comply with any copyright and ethical considerations required for the data you create or use (such as HIPAA or FERPA)
• Support open access to research data, fostering knowledge development

On May 22, 2012, at the University of North Texas, a group of technologists and librarians, scholars and researchers, university administrators, and other stakeholders gathered to discuss and articulate best practices and emerging trends in research data management. This gathering produced The Denton Declaration.

This declaration bridges the converging interests of these stakeholders and promotes collaboration, transparency, and accountability across organizational and disciplinary boundaries.