INFORMATION SERVICES DIVISION
Researcher Applications
RIISG Working Group #4
19th March 2012
Draft MINUTES
PRESENT:
Andrew Clark, Office of the Vice-Provost Research (ACk)
Graham Hunt, Head of Research Applications and Services ISD, (GH)
Ofer Lahav representing Donna Williamson, MAPS Faculty Manager (OL)
Krista Macmillan representing Tim Barnes, Office of Vice-Provost Enterprise (KM)
Gavin McLachlan, Director of Information Systems (ISD) (GMc)
Martin Moyle, Digital Curation Manager (Library Services) (MM)
Anthony Peacock, Advanced Information Services Centre (AP)
David Selwood, Faculty of Medical Sciences (DS)
APOLOGIES:
Anthony Finkelstein, Dean of Faculty of Engineering Science (AF)
Nour Shublaq, Computational Life and Medical Sciences Network (CLMS) and Centre for
Computational Science (NS)
1. Matters Discussed
1.1.
Welcome and introduction
1.1.1. GMc introduced the remit of the working group and it’s alignment with the RIISG and
requested if members knew of others that may be interested in the working groups that
they would be welcome to join.
1.1.2. GH introduced the agenda for the meeting
1.2. Approval of Minutes and Matters Arising
1.2.1. GH presented decisions and directions of the last meeting. Minutes of the last
meeting were approved.
Researcher Applications Working Group – Minutes 18th March 2012
2
1.3. Project Bid process
1.3.1. GMc presented the changes to the current bid process. The changes included a 3
step bid process, as follows:

Step 1: Researcher Applications Working Group to discuss ideas, suggest
projects, provide guidance on priorities and aid in bid preparation.

Step 2: RSIIG to prioritise proposed bids, propose Research IT portfolio of
projects and budget, and set timescales.

Step 3: ISC (Mike Cope, Members from all domain groups and Head Architects)
to consolidate Research, Teaching, Admin and Infrastructure portfolios into one
portfolio, decide an overall IT portfolio and propose overall budget to Finance,
SMT and council.
1.4 Prioritisation of Researcher Application needs.
1.4.1.1 Better training and information for researchers was discussed, GMc pointed
out that efficient use of desktop could be very effective e.g. use of OneNote, email
auto priority. OL enquired as to how this training could be delivered to the
researcher. It was agreed that there was scope for “desktop and email efficiency”
training via workshops and online training. OL also suggested communicating
directly with the researcher customer via a random selection across UCL and give
training seminars. At the same time welcoming customer feedback via
questionnaires and inviting customers to attend further training requirement
seminars, workshops, and open media collaborative conferences via Skype etc.
From this, input groups could be set up to co-ordinate and cover wider topics e.g.
RPS, IRIS etc.
1.4.1.2
IRIS/RPS/UCL discovery triumvirate. IRIS was currently in phase 3 and no
further project bid would be made as it was deemed ready for product roll out.
Therefore priority would be maintenance and low throughput future work.
IRIS Phase 3 consists of:

Change to look and feel

Change to funding information displayed

No functionality changes

Information capture

Research areas

Research groups

Researcher profiles

Research publications

Funding (internal to UCL only)
IRIS currently displays:
Researcher Applications Working Group – Minutes 18th March 2012
3
KM required IRIS to report on the areas of funding and affiliated companies. GH
explained that IRIS did not hold this data currently. AP suggested a bid for IRIS
additional features project to share the update backlog on IRIS.AGREED. MM
pointed out that better web-site completion is enabled by feeding from IRIS as it
permits web-site and CV information to be combined.
1.4.1.3
Social Networks. GH explained that investigations were underway regarding
researcher social networking opportunities, survey questions were currently under
review by CLMS steering committee. AP suggested that this working group
should also review the questions and forward them to Claire Warwick, Vice-Dean
Research to establish best way service practice. KM highlighted that UCL
Advances had the “Additions” social networking service which allows creation of
networks, groups and permits searches on individual experts and their contacts in
specific areas as well as subject queries. GH highlighted that Anthony Finklestein
had created an open group for UCL Engineering Sciences on Linkedin and then
explained ReseacherID an identifying system for scientific authors by Thomson
Reuters, created to solve the problem of author identification. GH was meeting
with Thomson Reuters to discuss auto data propagation from IRIS into
ReseacherID. ACk enquired as to whether data from existing sites could also be
auto propagated into new sites and highlighted the importance of auto updating of
IRIS via feeding information into new sites and then updated information fed back
into IRIS. This would enable feeds on a per person basis as well as display maps
on individuals and how they are connected. Action: GH to circulate
questionnaire for review
1.4.1.4
eLabnotebooks. GMc explained that a bid had been submitted for an initial
requirements analysis to determine whether there was a clear demand. ACk
suggested investigating as to whom else uses this equipment and then determine
risks against the Research Government requirements:

Is it required to be used in Medical area only?

Is it required for specific research areas only?

Is it mandatory across UCL?

Can a generic solution be offered widely across UCL that offers sufficient
value to enough groups for a return on the investment?
Once this is determined then hierarchy for requirements can be set. AP
mentioned that he had spoken to a number of people in SLMS about the
requirements for eLabnotebooks. Although there is a general feeling that this
would be a useful tool, there weren't yet, any clearly defined business needs and
requirements. He agreed that the bid should be submitted for a project to scope
and gather requirements. AGREED
Researcher Applications Working Group – Minutes 18th March 2012
1.5 Bids
1.
2.
3.
4
The following bids were agreed:
eLabnotebooks – Robust requirements identification exercise
Equipment Register
IRIS upgrade project:

Data extraction

KT – knowledge transfer information – specifically around
commercial collaborations
4. Researcher efficiency/applications awareness
Action: GH to prepare the above draft bids
No.
Date first
raised
1
27/01/12
Minute
1.3.3.7
Owner
GH
Action
Investigate running a survey
Status
New
on researcher social
networking opportunities
Notes
Questions in review with CLMS
steering Committee
5
16/3/2012
1.4.1.3
GH
Circulate social networks
questionnaire for review
New
6
16/3/2012
1.5
GH
Prepare draft bid for
New
eLabnotebook as robust
exercise
7
16/3/2012
1.5
GH
Prepare draft bid for
New
Equipment Register
8
9
16/3/2012
16/3/2012
1.5
1.5
GH
GH
IRIS upgrade project:

Data extraction

KT – knowledge
transfer information
Researcher
New
New
efficiency/applications
awareness (Maria Darmon to
be included in bid)
3. Next Meetings
3.1.1 22nd June 2012, 2pm – 4pm, 2 Taviton St, Ground Floor Meeting Room.
3.1.2 19th October 2012, 10am – 12noon, 2 Taviton St, Ground Floor Meeting Room.