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WDCC Developments
The WDCC is actively involved in various developments regarding Data Science & Artificial Intelligence, providing opportunities for value creation and requiring strong data management practices and an accessible infrastructure, as you will read further in this newsletter. From an organizational perspective, we are aligning these activities with the Digital Strategy, as part of the new WUR Strategic Plan. Digitalisation will play a pivotal role in the upcoming WUR Strategic Plan. This is also to be supported by increased coordination between the teams and departments involved, like IT Services, Library, Information Management, and WDCC.
WDCC to contribute to the implementation of two strategic AI initiatives
We are proud to support the implementation of two AI proposals through WUR’s Strategic Plan budget.
The first initiative, wurFM, explores how Foundation Models – powerful generative AI technologies – can be applied in the agrifood domain. This proposal will be further developed in close collaboration with various Science Groups to ensure it is well aligned with the needs of the organisation.
The second initiative, Broad Access to AI Tools, focuses on making general AI methods and training widely available for education and research across WUR. It aims to reduce fragmentation, lower the threshold for adoption, and strengthen innovation across the organisation.
Both initiatives directly contribute to WUR’s strategic goals for responsible digitalisation, cross-organisational collaboration, and talent development.
Research Data Management
Capacity building in Research Software and Data Interoperability
A proposal has been awarded by Open Science NL to strengthen the capacity of digital competence centres (WDCC x RDM support) in the area of research software training and research data interoperability. It will fund a 0.5 fte role for a research software trainer and a 0.5 fte role for a community manager for the duration of 4 years. The vacancies will be opened to internal candidates in the coming weeks.
Information Management
We are happy to welcome Roos Godefrooij back to the office after her maternity leave. You will be receiving more updates here soon. [GY1]
Interested in the full report? Please contact roos.godefrooij@wur.nl Coordinator Data Science Information Management Roos Godefrooij
Data Science Research
On the 1st of May, we welcomed our new Coordinator Research: Joost Albers. He will combine this position with his function as Coordinator of the data steward network – essentially, a fifty-fifty arrangement.
His focus will be on building a community of researchers and other staff working with Data Science and AI in the research domain, including both AI experts and AI novices. In other words, connecting people and connecting initiatives. The aim is to improve responsible use of (Gen)AI in WUR research and identify researcher’s needs by organising events, workshops, strategic discussions, coordinate the Special Interest Group (SIG) AI in research, and working closely with the other SIG AI coordinators Tijmen Kerstens (Education) and Victor Viveen (Operational/ organisational use of AI).
We are happy to have you on board, Joost!
Data Science Education
At WDCC we have also welcomed a new Coordinator Education on May 1st: Tijmen Kerstens. For some on the campus Tijmen is a familiar face on the topic of generative AI, providing e.g. workshops for teaching staff and PhD candidates on behalf of the Teaching and Learning Centre (TLC) and the Special Interest Group AI in Education. He will now also lend his expertise to WDCC to promote responsible adoption of AI in the education of Wageningen University.
In this new role his focus will be on the facilitation of skills and knowledge integration for both AI and Data Science in the WUR curricula and Wageningen Academy, as well as function as a bridge between the broader efforts of WDCC and TLC. His close cooperation with our new Coordinator Research Joost Albers will also help translate developments in AI and Data Science from research to innovative educational practices.
Welcome to the team, Tijmen!