A few tips on data sharing

If you are submitting data to a public database, there are a few simple steps that you can take to make the process smoother:

• Start early – begin collecting data and metadata at the beginning of your experiment
• Consider creating a data management plan, using tools such as DMPonline and the Data stewardship wizard
• Identify the correct database (see  ‘Where do I submit my data?‘ on the next page)
• If you have any doubt, speak to the curators who work with that database – check what you need to submit! There will always be a helpdesk you can contact
• Learn about the metadata requirements and data standards used in your field. You can look these up on FAIRsharing.org
• Use an ontology to annotate the data, for example the Experimental Factor ontology.

On the next page, you’ll find examples of tools you can use to identify the right database depending on your data.