eResearch SA is the South Australian partner of the Australian National Data Service (ANDS). ANDS is a Government-funded program that seeks to transform Australia's research data into a cohesive body of research resources, the Australian Research Data Commons.

Development of the Australian Research Data Commons is the Australian Government's response to the "data deluge," a term frequently used to describe the increase in research data generated as:

• the number, frequency and resolution of research data sources rises
• research data is increasingly "born digital"
• our capacity to process, transform, and transfer research data expands
• our dependence on data increases.

Correspondingly, as more research data is generated, the potential to search, mine and reuse data also grows. If it is made available, research data can be can be re-used and re-applied to answer questions not necessarily related to the reasons for which is was originally captured. Ultimately, large and complex questions facing Australia, related to climate, water, ecology and population health can be more confidently asked.

eResearch SA is pleased to work with ANDS as it seeks to engage South Australia's research community and bring South Australian research data into the Australian Research Data Commons.

Dr Andrew Williams was apponted in August as a research data consultant for ANDS, based at eResearch SA. Contact Andrew for more information about ANDS and the Australian Research Data Commons:

• andrew.williams@ersa.edu.au
• +61 8 8303 8343

Visit the ANDS website.

This paper, Towards the Australian Data Commons, explains the rationale behind the work ANDS is doing.

This article from Nature, Data sharing: Empty archives, discusses issues facing researchers around open access to research data.