Hakai Data Mobilization Strategy
Effective data mobilization increases both the immediate and long-term scientific value of Hakai research and creates a foundation for knowledge mobilization. This strategy complements the Hakai Institute Open Science Policy by describing the operational practices and institutional capabilities that support data mobilization.
At the Hakai Institute, we view data mobilization as the process of making research outputs available for appropriate (re)use. Whether reuse is appropriate depends on whether the user has enough information to understand the context and methods of data collection, limitations to data interpretation, and the considerations under which data reuse is permitted or licensed.
Pillars
Our data mobilization efforts are supported by three complementary pillars:
- Data Stewardship: Managing, governing, and maintaining data assets to ensure their quality, integrity, accessibility and reusability
- Data Engineering: Designing, building, and optimizing the pipelines and infrastructure that move and transform data from collection through publication
- Data Visualization: Supporting interpretation, accessibility, and broader engagement by translating complex datasets into formats appropriate for scientific, community, and public audiences
Together, these pillars support the full lifecycle of research products, from acquisition to publication, and enable stewardship, publication, discovery, interpretation, and reuse of Hakai research outputs.
Practices
Data mobilization is a shared responsibility between researchers and the Data Mobilization Team throughout the research project. In practice, mobilizing Hakai research products includes:
Engaging Communities
For projects involving Indigenous peoples, lands, or resources, early and ongoing engagement ensures data sensitivities are understood and shared expectations around data sharing, governance, and mobilization are established.
Planning Data Mobilization
Effective data mobilization depends on choices made throughout the entire research lifecycle, not just upon publication. Intentional planning ensures that data stewardship, engineering, and publication considerations are aligned across project collaborators from the outset. Proactive planning prevent reactive troubleshooting.
Retaining Data on Institutional Infrastructure
The Hakai Institute maintains research outputs, or a copy thereof, that have been funded, partially or in-kind, by the Tula Foundation. Research outputs are stored on a platform owned or maintained by the Hakai Institute. This ensures continuity, long-term access, and stewardship that is independent of any individual researcher, external collaborator, or repository.
Depositing Data in Appropriate Repositories
Where appropriate, research outputs are deposited in trusted, domain-specific repositories (e.g., OBIS, NCBI) that are aligned with the data type, science domain, or Hakai research program. This extends the reach and impact of Hakai research beyond our own infrastructure, maximizing its discoverability and reuse within broader scientific communities.
Publishing Metadata to the Hakai Catalogue
A metadata record in the Hakai Catalogue is the primary mechanism through which Hakai research outputs become findable and accessible. Sufficiently rich metadata help to translate complex datasets into accessible, usable knowledge.
Archiving and Version Control
Versioned, archived Hakai research outputs, generated through effective data stewardship and engineering, ensure these remain reproducible and accessible over time, supporting our commitment to open science.