We are seeking participants to join our user community group for the Federated Research Data Repository (FRDR), our bilingual publishing platform for sharing and preserving Canadian research data.
Your voice matters
This group will serve as a consultative body where users can provide feedback on the current state of the service, as well as on proposed features and enhancements. This initiative is part of FRDR’s commitment to ensuring the platform continues to evolve in alignment with the needs of the Canadian research community. Read on for more information, and refer to the group’s Terms of Reference for even more. Your input will directly benefit the research community and the technology needed to deposit, share and preserve research data in Canada.
Who should participate?
Anyone who uses or has an interest in using FRDR for data deposit, sharing and preservation is encouraged to participate. We particularly welcome researchers at all career stages who regularly deposit datasets, project leads managing existing data collections in FRDR, as well as Collection Managers, librarians, information professionals, and specialists in data management and curation. This group provides a valuable opportunity for active users and stakeholders to contribute their perspectives and help shape the future of FRDR’s services.
What will participants do?
The FRDR User Community Group will meet virtually every quarter. Each meeting will include updates from the FRDR product team on recent developments, opportunities to provide feedback on upcoming or proposed changes, and open discussion around user needs and use cases. Meetings will be held in English, but we will have dedicated staffing to facilitate bilingual participation. In addition to regular meetings, members may occasionally be invited to participate in user experience research activities outside of scheduled sessions. These may include interviews, usability testing of new features, or responding to surveys to help guide ongoing improvements to the platform.
Why should I participate?
Participants in the FRDR User Community Group will benefit in many ways:
- Connect with fellow researchers across Canada who share an interest in data deposit, sharing and preservation.
- Influence the development of new features in FRDR.
- Provide direct feedback on the platform’s features and services.
- Make a positive impact on research data management and the research community in Canada.
When will meetings begin?
The first meeting of the FRDR User Community Group is tentatively scheduled for early to mid-November.
How do I participate?
If you are interested in participating in the FRDR User Community Group, please join the Google Group. This is an open-ended call, and the group will continue to accept new members, but please join the Google Group by October 10, 2025, to have input on scheduling the first meeting. On that day, we will use the Google Group’s mailing list to coordinate and schedule the first meeting.
For more information, please refer to the group’s Terms of Reference, or contact the FRDR team at support@frdr-dfdr.ca.