What is the difference between figshare.com and figshare.mq.edu.au?
figshare.com is an online, general-purpose repository platform that allows any user to upload, manage, and share their research outputs. figshare.mq.edu.au is Macquarie University’s research data repository (RDR). It is a specialised implementation of figshare.com, dedicated and tailored to the needs of Macquarie University-based researchers. For more information, refer to RDR Features.
Why should I use Macquarie University's RDR (figshare.mq.edu.au) instead of figshare.com to publish my data?
The RDR is specifically tailored to research at Macquarie University and implemented with additional features that help you as a Macquarie-based researcher generate high-quality, discoverable data outputs. Benefits of this include:
For more information, refer to RDR Features.
How do I access the RDR?
The Research Data Repository is located at https://figshare.mq.edu.au.
There are two main elements to the data repository: the public data discovery portal, and the private researcher pages.
Anyone can access the public discovery portal and use it to browse and download datasets published by researchers from Macquarie University.
To log into the private researcher pages as a member of Macquarie University, click on the 'Log in' link in the top right corner of the screen and then provide your Macquarie University credentials. You will be asked to complete 2FA authentication at this point, after which you should now be logged into the repository.
All Macquarie-based research staff and students (HDRs only) should automatically have an account on the RDR and need only log in with their normal Macquarie credentials to gain access to the repository.
Two Factor Authentication, or 2FA, is a double-step login process used to access the data repository. This additional login step helps protect your account and prevents malicious access to your uploaded dataset items. 2FA authentication is mandatory for accessing the RDR.
To set up 2FA for your account, you are required to install a 2FA authenticator app, such as Okta Verify or Google Authenticator, on your mobile phone (e.g. through the Android Play Store or Apple App Store). If you do not access to a mobile phone, contact OneHelp support.
After you install the authenticator app, open it and follow the instructions to add the data repository to your list of accounts. Authenticator apps typically follow a similar setup procedure:
There are multiple 2FA authentication options that you can use in order to log into the data repository. If you have already set up a specific authenticator service, but would now like to switch to a different authenticator, for example to switch from Okta Verify to Google Authenticator, you will need to raise a OneHelp ticket.
What is a ‘Project’ in the data repository?
The figshare platform natively supports collaboration projects; these are a key feature of Macquarie University’s RDR implementation. RDR projects let you put your uploaded datasets into context with the actual research that produced them. Research project information is synchronised from Macquarie University’s Research Management System (Pure RMS) into the RDR. In addition, any contributors on a Pure RMS project will be invited to collaborate with you within the RDR on uploading and publishing datasets.
Which Pure RMS Projects are synchronized to the RDR?
Every active, public research project which is in Pure RMS will have a collaboration project created for it in the RDR and regularly synchronized. If you are the Primary Chief Investigator for an active, public project in RMS, you will also be the owner of a collaboration project in the RDR.
How often is Pure RMS Project metadata synchronized to the RDR?
Pure RMS project metadata is auto-synchronized to the RDR in the early afternoon of each business day. Only Pure RMS projects whose metadata is has changed since the previous business day will receive new data. If you want to utilize changes to Pure RMS project metadata in the RDR, you should therefore make metadata changes to your Pure RMS project record in the morning so that they are available in the RDR in the afternoon.
What is the best way to create a new RDR project?
To best make use of Macquarie’s repository features, new RDR projects should be firstly created in Pure RMS and synchronized to the RDR. There are two ways a Pure RMS project is created:
Not all Pure RMS projects are synchronized to the RDR – refer to the above FAQ Which Pure RMS Projects are synchronized to the RDR?
My RDR project already has information pre-filled into the Description field. Where is this information coming from, and can I add to it or edit it?
The Title and Description metadata fields of your RDR project is being synchronized from its master Pure RMS project. You can make changes to both the Title and Description fields of your RDR project, but there are implications. The synchronization process treats the Title and Description fields slightly differently:
Publishing a dataset
For detailed instructions on how to prepare and upload a research dataset to the repository, please follow the Publishing a dataset guidelines.
What are the publishing review criteria?
When you press the Publish button on a dataset or collection item, your item will be submitted to an institutional review team who will review it prior to a DOI is generated. Review guidelines include:
What is FAIR data?
FAIR is best described by the following references:
What is FAIR Self Assessment?
FAIR self assessment is an initiative of the ARDC. ARDC have provided researchers and organisations with a web-based tool to self-assess the ‘FAIRness’ of their research data.
My dataset is not coming out of embargo on the date that I set. Why not?
The RDR is a managed platform as a service which operates in UTC time; this time zone applies to embargo periods. As AEST is UTC+10:00, your dataset may not complete its embargo period until the following day.
For help and assistance contact
MQ Research Data Repository support team
Online: Log a ticket 24x7 using OneHelp - Research Data Repository (requires an MQ OneID login)
Email: rdr.support@mq.edu.au
Phone: IT Service Desk +61 2 9850-HELP (4357)
Australian Toll-free: 1800-MQHELP (1800 67 4357)