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Home ›› Submit ›› Submission Basics ››

Scientific Data

Submitting metadata records for scientific data through the AN 241.6 provides the metadata needed to identify scientific data resulting from R&D funding (contractors and financial assistance recipients) or for R&D performed in DOE facilities. Any data that are shared publicly as a result of an approved Data Management Plan or Data Management and Sharing Plan (DMP or DMSP) are required to be announced.

To announce datasets through the OSTI STI process, the data must be posted at a DOE site, DOE Data Center, or other publicly accessible location such as an open repository. The URL (and DOI, if assigned by a repository prior to record submission) must be included in the metadata record. The URL must take the user to a public facing webpage (landing page) which provides a description and metadata for the dataset along with instructions for accessing the data. OSTI does not have a research/scientific data repository, so datasets cannot be hosted, uploaded, or stored at OSTI.

The metadata submitted for the scientific data also allows OSTI, via the DOE Data ID Service, to assign digital object identifiers (DOIs) to dataset records and register them with DataCite (for those that do not already have an assigned DOI). This value-added step facilitates visibility, helps ensure long-term preservation, and supports better linkage between DOE's published research results and the underlying data.

Metadata records may be provided in two ways:

  1. Web submission interface. This is a manual entry mechanism which works best when there is a low volume of dataset metadata records to be announced.
  2. Application Programming Interface (API). The API provides a systematic, automated mechanism for announcement of multiple dataset metadata records.

Important: If you are regularly affiliated with a DOE lab, and have dataset metadata records you wish to submit, please contact your site’s STI Manager for appropriate guidance.

Metadata Requirements:

  • Report/Product Number (where applicable)
  • Title
  • Author(s)/Contributor(s)
  • STI Product Type
  • Dataset Type
  • Abstract/Description (only required for financial assistance recipients)
  • DOE Contract/Award Number(s)
  • Originating Research Organization
  • Sponsoring DOE Program Office
  • Issue Date/Date of Publication
  • Intellectual Property/Distribution
  • Publicly Facing Landing Page URL
  • Contact Information

Visit DOE Data ID Service for more information.