2026 Optimising Metadata Structures for Alignments with Standard Models at the Point of Use
Introduction and Topics
There are many different ways to describe data for use within particular processes, but increasingly, with data being drawn from multiple sources (and most often the Web), we find specific challenges in how data can be programmatically utilized in as efficient a manner as possible. Three specific challenges can be identified:
Legal, ethical, and appropriate use: Is the data acceptable for the intended purposes? How can the rights to access and use data be understood and acted upon by machines in a reliable fashion? See the page on Data Access.
We have rich descriptions of structure, and also of semantics, but how can we connect the structure of the data with meaningful semantics? What is the "logical" structure for the purposes of automated use? See the page on Variable Description.
How was the data produced and processed, and by whom? Is it fit for the intended purposes? Can it be trusted? See the page on Provenance.
This workshop will focus on how existing, relevant standard models can be brought to bear on these aspects of data description, to enhance our ability to programmatically interact with this critical resource.
Agenda, Monday November 2, 2026 | |
09:00–10:30 | Welcome; participant introductions, organisational details. |
10:30–10:45 | Coffee Break |
10:45–12:15 |
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12:15–13:45 | Lunch |
13:45–15:15 |
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15:15–15:30 | Coffee Break |
15:30–17:00 | Discussion and division into groups. |
Presentations | |
Rest of Week – Regular Schedule | |
07:30–08:45 | Breakfast |
09:00–09:15 | Morning Plenary |
09:15–10:30 | Breakout Groups |
10:30–10:45 | Coffee Break |
10:45–12:15 | Breakout Groups |
12:15–13:45 | Lunch and Walk |
13:45–15:15 | Plenary/Breakout Groups |
15:15–15:30 | Coffee Break |
15:30–16:15 | Breakout Groups |
16:15–17:00 | Closing Plenary/Discussion |
18:00–19:00 | Dinner |
19:00–20:00 | Possible Evening Session(Informal Discussion with Drinks at Own Expense) |
Workshop Summary
TBD after the workshop
Date and Location
The workshop takes place at Schloss Dagstuhl – Leibniz Center for Informatics on November 1 to November 6, 2026. See also the corresponding Dagstuhl web page.
See the separate page for practical information and Schloss Dagstuhl’s Code of Conduct.
Organizers and Participants
Organizers
Darren Bell UK Data Service, University of Essex
Arofan Gregory, CODATA - Committee on Data of the International Science Council (ISC) and DDI Alliance - USA
Simon Hodson, CODATA - Committee on Data of the International Science Council (ISC) - France
Steven McEachern, UK Data Service, University of Essex and DDI Alliance
Hilde Orten, Sikt – Norwegian Agency for Shared Services in Education and Research and DDI Alliance
Joachim Wackerow, Independent expert, Germany
Participants
TBD