Future Data Services Sandpit: Transforming Discovery and Access

Overview

ESRC are seeking expressions of interest to attend a four-day hybrid sandpit. This sandpit will take place on 12 October (in-person, London), and 14, 19 and 23 October 2026 (virtual). Attendance for the full four days will be mandatory.

The sandpit will bring together approximately 40 applicants from across ESRC’s social science data service infrastructures, data users, and experts in data management, curation, discovery and access as well as individuals with background and experience in developing and applying technological solutions to deliver discovery and access. The focus will be to co-develop project proposals to enhance ESRC’s social science data service infrastructures, and to explore the opportunities in this area.

The overall aim of this sandpit is to develop projects that: 

• will make a step change in how researchers can discover, access and use social science data
• advance the transition to technology-enabled data pipelines that support data management, curation, discovery and access
• in turn, will develop and upskill data service infrastructure workforce to support the research community in the future

Why your views matter

Sandpit participants will: 

• draw upon perspectives from relevant stakeholders and the expertise brought by the participants to share understandings of the opportunities for enhancing ESRC’s social science data infrastructures
• take part in sessions focused on addressing the challenges for discovering, accessing and using social science data, realising the opportunities identified, and implementing the FDS recommendations
• identify themes and potential project avenues to develop and capture ideas that could form the basis for highly innovative team research project proposals
• form teams and develop project proposals that clearly articulate a theory of change, supported by peer and mentor advice and guidance
• capture the outputs of the process in the form of highly innovative project proposals

Attendance at the sandpit does not guarantee UKRI funding. It is our intention that this sandpit will be a valuable experience for all attendees irrespective of whether funding is secured.