Research 3.0 - How are digital technologies revolutionising research?

JISC has launching a year-long campaign called ‘Research 3.0 – driving the knowledge economy’, to debate how digital technologies are changing not only what research we do, but how it can be carried out. Key issues on the agenda for the next year will be how to share data, why collaborate and how to publish research work online.



A video has been made available on the campaign web site http://www.jisc.ac.uk/res3 and the THE (Times Higher Education) has published a ’Data Revolution’ supplement, highlighting how JISC is supporting universities and the Research Councils to advance in the ever-changing technology landscape.

JISC’s new Open Science report written by UKOLN at the University of Bath and the Digital Curation Centre, is stimulating discussion about the impact of open-ness (making methodologies, data and results available on the Internet, through transparent working practices), data driven science and citizen involvement on tomorrow’s research practice. Read the Open Science report at
http://www.jisc.ac.uk/publications/documents/opensciencerpt.aspx

Join the debate and add your views on the JISC Research 3.0 blog http://res3.jiscinvolve.org/

The Blue Finale

What is a Jam Session secret? Taking place in a boutique shop, seriously out of the ordinary. This super-soulful gathering continues to do-the-do. ''I have no idea why the concept of boutique music gathering works so well in Soweto'' confesses the ever-eclectic turntablist kid fonque. ''But that's the thing about.

Lounge/Soul/Nu Jazz/Break beat music scene, it's full of unique quirks...'' Its year End Tsjs will be hosting The Annual Grand Finale with a Twist this Time …Thee “Blue Finale”. Feeling blue that you never lived up to expectations or wistfully waiting for the last session of all fun and festive moods.

Heart broken or Dejected? Looking for comfort in beats that speak of your sorrow? Remember, sorrow is just a passing phase.

Either way, a little more heat in your lives is surely a good thing, and we plan to make the end as spectacular as humanly possible.

With an all star line-up, including Stand up Comedy plus a full live band expect

all the usual glitz and glamour of Jam Sessions Grand Finales, Kid Fonque headlining providing his usual brand of upfront, soul-inspired lounge House beats.

Merlot or Shiraz Khumza, showcasing with matured years in the industry, the sweeter the Kick becomes, the sweeter The Loop, The Lesson is Maturity in his set.

Future history jazz with Nu Jazz remixes. This group features a mix of original jazztronica/soul/funk tunes as well as remixes of music from hip hop and McCoy Tyner Jazzelicious, A perfect blend of modern rhythms, horns, and electronica.

Next generation of music Makers … The Layders

Omi & Wireless G Razing the volume up high…..as usual

Join us, notched up a peg or two to help wave a melancholy goodbye to feeling Blue that quite lived up to Expectations. And always remember …..When life hands you Lemons, ask for tequila and salt, and call me over!

WRN Learning Object launched

The WRN are pleased to announce the launch of their first learning object- ‘Multimedia Deposits: Complications and Considerations with Intellectual Property Rights.’

One of the aims and objectives for the WRN Enhancement Project is to create a series of learning objects relating to a range of repository management topics, to enable WRN partners and the wider repository community to continue their engagement with the repository agenda. It is understood that not everyone involved with repositories can dedicate the time and resources necessary to attend all of the current training opportunities available to them. It is hoped that these learning objects will go some way to filling in the gaps, offering training that can be delivered remotely, at a time convenient to an individual. Topics for future learning objects to be considered are: the application of metadata to varying repository item types; and issues surrounding e-theses.

We are looking for feedback on this learning object to aid us with the design and content of future learning objects we are looking to create. An online survey has been created for the evaluation of the learning object above, the link to which can be found within the last page of the learning object.

Interview with the Kid

So between everything that Kid does during the day, he managed to answer the questions that I had sent him. So I decided to share them with you guys. I tried to pick his brains as to know what does he think of various things.



1. Have you been there, done that & got the actual T-shirt?

I got loads of T-Shirts... Love them and you could say I have been there and done some of it :)

2. Do you produce music of your own? Unfortunately not, as I don’t have enough time at the moment. Maybe in the future.

3. What guides your musical path/set?"

Depends on my mood, but I am a big fan of interesting music of many genres. If I feel it I usually incorporate it into a set.

4. Do you think the lounge music industry has a big following in SA; if so why? Not really, I am not too proud of being under the ‘lounge umbrella’ as it brings images of cocktails and rich people which is completely the opposite of what I do and like. But I have been blessed to release albums of quality beats and will continue to do so under any name or pigeon hole... If its got soul, people will listen.

5. Who comes 1st? You/ crowd/people/ the corporate?

Me then the crowd depends on the gig. I can play a number of different sounds, as long as I like it and own it I will play it.

6. What was it like playing at the TSJS?

LOVE IT!!!! Really open minded folk. I really feel like I can be my musical self and explore different sounds with the crowd.

7. Who is your favorite all time performances / DJ’s you’ve worked with.

Has to be Gilles Peterson at Carfax. What a night!

8. Any chances of playing at the worldwide festival soon?

We can only dream.



So after all that, Kid gave me something that I want to share with you... Hope that you will enjoy it.





Click on the link below:





http://soundcloud.com/thesissocialjamsession



Album art cover, designed by Mpumelelo Macu ©.

euroCRIS Members Meeting

University of St. Andrews- November 11-13

Earlier in the month I attended the euroCRIS Members Meeting hosted at the University of St. Andrews. euroCRIS is a not-for-profit association and aims to be the internationally recognized point of reference for all matters relating to Current Research Information Systems (CRIS). The organisation are also charged by the EC as the custodians of CERIF (Common European Research Information Format) an international standard for interoperation of CRIS, and an EU recommendation to the member states.

The first day of the meeting provided an introduction to the group for new members like me, through short presentations on the group’s current activities. There was also a tutorial on CERIF, describing the conceptual model of how the ideal CRIS would be structured and what information should be held to describe every research activity and the relationships between the key entities. The CERIF model is standardized but it is up to the institution applying the model within their system as to which semantics are used to describe each element. This is recognized as a barrier to CRIS interoperability and the euroCRIS Board have begun to look at a Publication Type standardization list. CERIF is a standard and there are a handful of CRIS that are CERIF compliant. CERIF has also been prepared in XML format so it can be applied to a system being designed in- house.

The second day of the meeting began with presentations from a number of specially invited speakers from Scottish HEIs. Valerie McCutcheon gave an interesting presentation on the University of Glasgow’s in- house CRIS. The CRIS is fed by the University’s HR, finance and student records systems as well as their institutional repository Enlighten. The system then in turn feeds the finance and student records systems, the institutional repository and University department’s research mapping databases and academic’s webpages. The system can keep tabs on everyone involved in University research regardless of whether they are internal or external to the University, or whether they are a member of staff or a student. The system is also set up to e-mail the lead researcher of a project to remind them of forthcoming project milestones such as reporting deadlines. Glasgow are currently funded by JISC for their Enrich project, looking to improve the integration of Enlighten with the CRIS.

The second presentation came from Lisa Rogers, Heriot Watt University who is working on the journalTOCs project. The project has aggregated the table of contents’ RSS feeds of over 12,000 journal titles to provide a search and current awareness service for journal publications. The project has also created a number of APIs which can be embedded within a website. One API can offer a search on journal titles, another on article metadata. A third API can limit a search down to those journals subscribed to by an institution. It’s also possible to create a MyTOCs list of selected journal titles. Lisa discussed two possible use cases for the application of a journalTOC API for a repository manager: the first, to help identify new content for a repository; the second, to enhance the metadata of existing recently added items in the repository. It is also possible to set up an alert when a pre-print within a repository is finally published in a journal. I asked Lisa afterwards about the possibility of applying the API in a repository as a way of auto-completing metadata when making a submission to a repository. It was thought that with some developer’s magic this could be possible. The use of the API in this method with some of the commercial CRIS was also discussed as highlighted by the journlTOCs team in their blog post about their attendance at the meeting: Presentation at EUROCRIS.

In the afternoon a presentation was given by Marjan Vernooy, SURFfoundation in which she outlined the results of an investigation comparing three CRIS- PURE (Atira), CONVERIS (Avedas) and Metis. The study compared the three systems on a number of points such as: input and registration; output and reporting; adaptability; and pricing. Although all three systems scored similarly, PURE was the system that scored the highest on most points.

Another presentation of note was given by Mark Cox, Kings College London about their R4R (Readiness4REF) JISC project. The presentation focused specifically on the project objectives directly related to CERIF which are based on the development of a CERIF4REF profile. This profile would act as a wrapper around current CRIS data to make it compatible for REF reporting. The project is also looking to work with both publishers and RCUK to explore the use of CERIF4REF in importing/ exporting data. The application of CERIF4REF with ePrints, Dspace and Fedora repository systems is also being considered.

With the forthcoming REF the implementation of CRIS within institutions has come to the fore. The euroCRIS group is a good point of reference for those interested in the benefits of a CRIS and their potential uses. euroCRIS can offer training in these areas and also hold biennial conferences on related topics. To take advantage of all of the group’s services it is necessary to take out an annual membership . Different membership types are available.

The Build up to the session is here...

THE BLUE FINALE: 6th December 2009

Unhappy: (ŭn-hăp'ē) - Not happy or joyful; sad or sorrowful

Synonyms: long-faced, down and out, miserable, depressed, saddened, blue, THE BLUES…

Yes, the Blues. Do you remember what that’s like? We at the Thesis Social Jam Sessions have forgotten. We’ve forgotten all about blue Mondays; baby blues; blue rooms and blue movies (well, hopefully). And instead, we remember a place. A place where we spread jam on musical sarmies to our heart’s content. Where music plays, people dance and strangers do what strangers do.

Sunday, the 6th is our finale, as we bid farewell to another great year of peanut butter and jam mixes. And true to our colours, we’ll have cold beer, slightly odd audience, a marquee, some blue couches and blue skies. You should come too. And because we believe blue is the colour of awesomeness, that’s exactly what we’ll be dishing up. Yes; it had to come; that’s the one!! The one that comes; after; yet; another year of great sessions. TSJS ain’t here to fool you, its here to give life times of music; friendships & memories of good times. . We perfectly happy to end our year with Kid Fonque; Omi; Khumza & Wireless G spinning me in the lounge; Dubstep; break-beat in House; Nu- jazzy kinda flavor. Right there; where we were is where we are now!!!!

Omi:

Akin to our audience, our resident Dj Omi has established himself as the eclectic type. His sets range from Bassnova; Nu-jazz to funk; Soulful Hip-Hop & Break beats with an easy and unwinding skill. Take time and pin your ears back to the ‘Take a Breather’ and Feiyue Mixes he has concocted.

Wireless G:

Also a resident Dj, this guy just wants to get the party pumping. His distinctive style of blending lounge with hip - hop really sets him apart. When he gets his hands on the decks, you can be sure the party will always close with a bang.

Khumza:

Another one of our resident Djs, some will describe Khumza’s beats as matured as aged wine. From Dub, to Funk and Lounge house beats. Come mellow out with his laid back style and make yourself at home.

Kid Fonque:

He may be a guest Dj, but his regular visits make Kid Fonque one of the TSJS clan. His style is soulful; jazzy and uhm, quite unpredictable, might we add. Ranging from Break Beats to Nu-Jazz and Funk, he has undeniably influenced a Dj or two from our TSJS stable.

The Layders:

Two peas in our TSJS pie. The duo will surely keep you guessing with their freestyle kinda Jam. Milky is on the decks & Mothusi is a band on his own. Confused? Don’t be! For 2nd time: open your mind to this brilliant performance by this crew.

Future History:

Gracing us for the 2nd time, Future History is a band with a difference. With nine members, one can only expect a staggering performance. Their music is hip-hop played over rhythmic funk infused tunes with a jazz influence.

Thapelo aka Kingflat, Thabiso & Motheo

Ok, here’s a part that will certainly put a smile on your face, well… more like a chuckle. Journeying from Pretoria, these three guys will have you ROFL-ing and take away all your awful blues. Frankly, this is a long time coming after our last comedian Big Mo.

With such a line up, the colour of blue has never been more splendid. It’s the coolest colour - literally!!!

PS: eh, what strangers do is meet. And oh, we won’t be serving blueberry muffins!

Citation Count APIs

A couple of weeks ago Stuart Lewis disseminated to the repository community some work he had been doing on a citation count API for use in repositories. The API created by Stuart creates a plug-in to a repository item record showing the citation count for that item in the SCOPUS bibliographic index. The API works by matching the DOI included in the repository item record with the DOI in the SCOPUS record for the same item. Discussion within the mailing lists however, highlighted that it would be fairly easy to extend the API to match with an item’s title/ author/ year etc. if DOIs are not consistently present within repository item records. A blog post about the API and how to implement it within a repository can be found within Stuart’s blog. Further examples of how the citation count API can be used are available from the SCOPUS website.

An example of the SCOPUS citation count API in action within a repository record can be seen from The HKU (University of Hong Kong) Scholars Hub . This item record example also has citation counts for the item within Web of Science. Through some Google searching I hunted down the following blog post by Jonathan Rochkind at John Hopkins University highlighting the application of the “Link Article Match Retrieval Service” (described at the bottom of the webpage). If your institution has a subscription to WoS, this API will provide you with the citation counts for an item matched by DOI/ author/ title for use within a repository record.

The use of citation counts within repository item records can be extremely useful within the forthcoming REF as a way of demonstrating the level of ‘Impact’ an item has had. It can also be a way of enabling institutions to select the publications they wish to put forward for the REF, highlighting a well received piece of research.

The APIs described above will give you the total citation counts for the item within those specific bibliographic databases. For some institutional reporting the citation counts per year are necessary but specific subscriptions to WoS and SCOPUS services are necessary to access these.


If you would like more information about the use and implementation of citation count APIs within your repository please contact the WRN Team at wrnstaff@aber.ac.uk.

Statistics follow up

Following on from previous posts about statistics and how to use them there have been a few more ideas circulating the community which I thought we'd share with you:

Firstly, Jenny Delasalle from Warwick has posted some further thoughts on using Google Analytics on the WRAP Repository Blog . The idea of sending out monthly email communications to the authors of the top downloads from within the repository is an inspiring way of generating institutional awareness of your content.

Secondly, William Nixon of Enlighten has shared the methods he uses with Google Analytics to create a top 100 list of search terms and phrases which they then promote on their repository. Full details appeared on the UKCoRR mailing list.

Please contact us via wrnstaff@aber.ac.uk if you'd like to learn more about using Google Analytics with your repository.

News round up

A round up of a few news items for your attention ...

Welsh Repository Network - now on Wikipedia!
In order to increase our online presence and engage with Web 2.0 methods of communication we have now added a page all about the WRN to Wikipedia.

Study on links between repositories and OPACS
A new study has been published on the links between repositories and OPACS. The JISC-funded ‘Online catalogue and repository interoperability study’ carried out by the Centre for Digital Library Research at the University of Strathclyde suggests that although there is overlap between the types of information resources recorded in library catalogues and repositories, these overlaps are rarely apparent to the information seeker. This is because both types of system need to be searched separately as there is no interlinking. The study offers practical advice for universities looking to make improvements in this area.

Article on Open Access in the Times Higher
Learning to share
12 November 2009
By Zoë Corbyn, Matthew Reisz

This major and potentially significant article on the Open Access debate appeared in the Times Higher last week. (Link may need a subscription to the THE)

Buli's Crazy Tuesday

So Gee is @ home writing this because he love’s Buli to bit’s.

She don’t know that she is on here but, we as the Thesis Social Jam Sessions woul love to wish her a very blessed Happy Birthday. May she see many more.

Like we do… It’s was a crazy Tuesday down @ the concept store.

Happy Birthday Buli.

Jumble Rumble Round 7

News just in… Thesis will be involved at the Jumble Rumble round 7 taking place at the Nike Gallery on 4^th this Saturday the 7^thof November. What’s that?????

Jumble Rumble is the brainchild of Mome (Cream Cartel. Vuzu) and Mkay, who both work at the Gallery on 4^th. This event is like a flea market that is specifically aimed at showcasing street brands in JHB. This helps in brand awareness (awe ala dushie style) and gives people a chance to interact with their brands. Thesis is glad that it’s a part of this… Hope to see you there. The is an after party (Mome’s Birthday party). So you can shake that ass after buying that class_ic t-shirt from you local brand.

More information on the flier.

Shafiq Husayn_En' A-Free Kah

This is our first review… Musically that’s it.

Shafiq Husayn is 1/3 of the world renowned collective Sa-Ra creative. Just recently, Erykah Badu enlisted Shafiq to produce and guide her latest album New Amerykah: Part One (4th World War), which has garnered the singer the most critical praise since her debut. As the official song writer of Erykah Badu, Shafiq’s music is full of spiritual messages. Over the years Husayn has worked with Afrika Bambatta, Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, Jurassic 5 and many more. He was also a member of Ice T’s Rhyme Syndicate. This is his first album away from the collective. What he delivers is a highly acclaimed album that is highly recommended by most dj’s like Benji B and Lefto. There are more than 30 contributors on the record including Bilal, Count Bass D, Fatima, and Sonny Coates. The end result is the work of an artist at the top of his game. The track Nirvana also has a Mark de Clive lowe remix that should see the light of day soon.

If you are crazy about music and the whole funk, hip hop and soul vibe, then this is a must have album. It will calm you down… Oh we know that you like getting down.

Text Mining for Scholarly Communications and Repositories Joint Workshop

The Text Mining workshop was held in Manchester on 28-29th October 2009 and focused on the challenges and priorities associated with integrating text mining technologies in applications to support scholarly communication and repository initiatives. With the vast amounts of information now available on the internet, the benefits provided by text mining for discovering relevant documents have become increasingly significant.

Professor Tony Hey presented the keynote and he spoke about the need for more intelligent data discovery in a multi-disciplinary and collaborative way for Science to move from data and information towards knowledge (DIKW). These complex technologies have been applied successfully to the Science domains, particularly chemistry and medicine and are being adopted by BioMedCentral and Elsevier. Rafael Sidi from Elsevier again spoke of information overload and the importance of building applications on top of content using open Application Programming Interfaces (APIs). This would allow interoperability and collaboration between publishers' collections and the potential for free access to content with subscriptions for the added services.

Emma Tonkin's overview of the FixRep Project at UKOLN that is examining text mining techniques for automated metadata extraction was particularly relevant to the repository world. Presentations are now available online at The National Centre for Text Mining.