Reflections from a First-Time RDAP Summit Attendee: Lots of Learning, Inspiration, and Connections

Attending the 2025 Research Data Access and Preservation (RDAP) Summit for the first time was an exciting and eye-opening experience for me. As I’m very new to my position as the Research Data Management Coordinator at the University of Georgia Libraries, my work focuses on helping researchers navigate best practices for data management, open science, and institutional repositories. Going into the conference, I was very eager to learn from others in my field, connect with like-minded professionals, and explore some innovative approaches and strategies for supporting research data services. The conference theme Evolutions in Data Services: Forging Resiliency—felt especially relevant, given the ongoing challenges and rapid changes across scholarly communication, data stewardship, and federal research policies.

A particularly inspiring moment for me came right away on day 1 from Thomas Padilla’s keynote address ["On Service, Services, and Maintaining the Public Interest"], which emphasized the importance of flexibility and adaptability in research data services. His insights into how institutions have successfully pivoted in response to funding shifts, technological advancements, and evolving researcher needs underscored the resilience required in our field. This shared passion for building sustainable, researcher-centered services reminded me why I love working in research data management and gave me a renewed sense of purpose.

One surprising takeaway was learning just how interdisciplinary and collaborative data services have become. While I expected to hear about trends in open science and repository management, I hadn’t anticipated the depth of discussions on topics like AI-driven data curation, data ethics, and even the role of data in public policy decisions. These conversations reinforced how critical it is to stay agile and open to new developments—whether that means embracing new metadata standards, exploring emerging repository platforms and data tools, or even just rethinking how we communicate data policies to faculty, researchers, and students.

Beyond the sessions, one of the most rewarding aspects of RDAP was the sense of community, even within a virtual environment. As a first-time attendee, I was welcomed, introduced to peers who shared similar challenges, and given opportunities to engage in meaningful conversations about the future of research data. Having a space like this to share ideas, learn from experienced professionals, and problem-solve in a supportive and open environment was incredibly valuable to me.

I’m leaving the 2025 RDAP Summit with a fresh perspective on resiliency in data services, a list of new tools and strategies to explore and share on my campus, and new connections with professionals who are equally passionate about improving research data practices. In the coming months, I really hope to integrate some of these insights into UGA’s data management initiatives, particularly by incorporating more inclusive and adaptable data policies into our newly minted institutional repository and outreach efforts.

For anyone considering attending RDAP for the first time—just go for it! It’s a fantastic space to learn, grow, and connect with a dedicated community that is shaping the future of research data services. I’m already looking forward to attending next year’s Summit! I am also incredibly thankful for RDAP for providing this valuable training opportunity to me. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

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