IMOS is the first organisation within the Australian Research Data Commons (ARDC) Trusted Data Repository Community of Practice to submit an application for CoreTrustSeal certification.
Natalia Atkins, Metadata Officer in the IMOS Australian Ocean Data Network (AODN), led the project for gaining certification, and has been responsible for collating the information for the application since halfway through 2020.
The submission process provided a valuable opportunity to review the documentation and processes of the AODN. Existing processes and documentation have been improved, with any processes and documentation not already in place implemented, which ensured that everything was in place and ready for the final submission.
Monthly meetings provided ongoing guidance from the whole community. The members of a writing cohort within the ARDC community, undertook regular writing sessions, which provided the perfect environment for efficient writing, support and instant feedback when required.
Having been through the process previously, Dave Connell from the Australian Antarctic Division Centre (AADC) was able to provide insight into the process of submission, with the AADC repository having many similarities with the AODN.
Now the application has been submitted, it will be reviewed and signed off by the CoreTrustSeal Board. The process will be repeated every three years to maintain certification.
We would like to thank the ARDC for funding the CoreTrustSeal application, and the ARDC Trusted Data Repository Community for continual support and guidance throughout the process.