Open Science

What is Open Data?

Open data is data that can be freely used, re-used and re-distributed by anyone - at most restricted by the obligation to name sources and “share-alike”. This does not apply to personal data.
(Open Knowledge Foundation Deutschland: Open Data)

Research data as part of Open Data

Research data are all data generated in the scientific research process. They range from quantitative measurement data, survey results, statistical findings, qualitative data such as interview transcriptions, field research notes, audio and video files to software and much more. Research data should be made publicly available and thus usable in the long term, provided that there are no project-specific obstacles. An open license can be issued for this purpose.

Open Data as part of FAIR Data

FAIR data is data that is Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable. However, compared to open data, which must always be freely available and accessible, access to FAIR data may be limited. The FAIR-Principles simply require that access be clearly regulated. For example, if there is only a freely accessible contact where data use can be requested, the data is FAIR but not Open.

Examples of open data / research data at Chemnitz University of Technology

Wikimedia Commons

Librarians of the University Library share selected pieces of their work freely accessible and reusable via Wikimedia Commons.

Wikimedia Commons

Free licenses

Digital copies of rare books from the University Library are made available under open licenses (metadata CC0, pictures CC-BY-SA and PD).

Digitale Sammlung

TUCdata

At the TU Chemnitz is currently developing a networked information infrastructure.

TUCdata