On behalf of the Researcher Advisory Group of the New Digital Research Infrastructure Organization (NDRIO), I am pleased to share an update on next steps to help form a permanent Researcher Council. The Researcher Council is a critical component of NDRIO’s commitment to involve the research community as it designs a new service delivery model supporting Canada’s new Digital Research Infrastructure (DRI) strategy. This strategy aims to help ensure scholars and scientists have the digital tools, support, services and infrastructure they need to support leading-edge research that enables Canada to compete on the world stage. Seeking expert advice to serve and engage with researchers as NDRIO develops is core to its Guiding Principles. The Researcher Council is also included in NDRIO’s By-Laws.
Our goal is to have the Researcher Council in place by Fall 2020. We are working hard to complete the establishment of the Researcher Council so that this multi-disciplinary, researcher-led group can provide the NDRIO Board and management guidance on the completion of the researcher needs assessment and NDRIO’s first strategic plan.
Opportunity for Input
The Researcher Advisory Group has developed a draft Researcher Council Governance Model Consultation Paper, which is housed on a dedicated Researcher Council consultation page on the NDRIO website. This paper outlines preliminary thinking and asks questions related to the role of the Researcher Council; governance and operations; and composition, size and nominations process. We invite you to review this document and provide your input by Friday, July 10 by emailing us at NDRIO-NOIRN@engagedri.ca.
We will also host information sessions, which will include a Q&A, by videoconference on:
Tuesday, July 7, 2020 at 1 pm to 2:30 pm EDT (English)
Thursday, July 9, 2020 at 1 pm to 2:30 pm EDT (French)
Call-in details will be emailed to everyone on NDRIO’s mailing list in advance. You can also access call-in details on the NDRIO website in advance of these meetings. Note these sessions will be recorded and housed on the NDRIO website.
Researcher Council Nomination Process
We expect to initiate the Researcher Council nomination process shortly. We will share more information about the process, including selection criteria, at that time. Principles of equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) will be stringently applied during the selection process.
If you have any questions about the Researcher Advisory Group and/or our work to establish the permanent Researcher Council, please send us an email at NDRIO-NOIRN@engagedri.ca.
Please share this message with others in your network to help us broaden our consultation reach. If you received this email from a source other than NDRIO and would like to be added to NDRIO’s mailing list, please send an email to NDRIO-NOIRN@engagedri.ca.
Thank you,
Guillaume Bourque
Chair, Researcher Advisory Group
New Digital Research Infrastructure Organization (NDRIO)