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Training Workshop on Experimental Databases and Data Management
October 1
Training Workshop on Experimental Databases and Data Management (Including exchange with external experts)
Course Description
The management, preservation, and exploitation of experimental data are becoming increasingly important challenges in large collaborative research programmes. This training workshop will provide an overview of current practices, tools, and challenges related to experimental databases in the field of radioactive waste management. Through presentations from EURAD-2 work packages, external experts, and end-users, participants will become aware of the importance of collection, organisation, validation, sharing, and long-term maintenance of experimental data.
The workshop will present practical examples of database development and use, including thermo-hydro-mechanical properties of bentonite, sorption and transport parameters, thermodynamic databases, and data management approaches used in other scientific and industrial domains. Particular attention will be paid to metadata strategies, data quality assurance, interoperability, long-term sustainability of databases, and emerging opportunities offered by artificial intelligence and machine learning.
The event will also provide a forum for discussion between researchers, database developers, end-users, and project managers on best practices and future needs for experimental data management in radioactive waste management research. Participants will have the opportunity to raise questions, discuss practical challenges encountered in their own activities, and exchange experiences with experts from different disciplines and organisations.
Target Audience
The workshop is intended for all EURAD-2 partners and external stakeholders interested in scientific data management and knowledge preservation:
- Researchers and PhD students involved in experimental programmes related to radioactive waste management.
- Data producers, data managers, and database developers
- Modellers and performance assessment specialists using experimental data.
- Knowledge management professionals and project coordinators.
- Waste management organisations, technical support organisations, regulators, and other EURAD-2 end-users.
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this training workshop, participants will become aware of the importance of collection, organisation, validation, sharing, and long-term maintenance of experimental data, as well as emerging digital tools for enhancing data exploitation. They will be able to:
- Understand the role of experimental databases in supporting radioactive waste management research and implementation programmes.
- Identify key principles and good practices for experimental data collection, documentation, validation, and preservation.
- Recognise the importance of metadata and data governance for ensuring data quality, traceability, and reuse.
- Compare different approaches to database development and maintenance across scientific domains.
- Evaluate challenges associated with integrating heterogeneous datasets and ensuring long-term accessibility.
- Assess the opportunities and limitations of artificial intelligence and machine learning for experimental data management and exploitation.
- Engage with end-user perspectives and identify requirements for future database initiatives within the EURAD-2 framework.
Recommended Background
Participants should have a general scientific or technical background related to radioactive waste management, geosciences, materials science, chemistry, environmental sciences, engineering, or data management. No prior expertise in database development is required. Familiarity with experimental research, modelling activities, or data handling practices will be beneficial.
Programme
A (draft) programme can be consulted here.
Registration
The Workshop will be organized by CIEMAT (Madrid Spain) in a hybrid format (depending on the interest of people participating on-site). Participation is free of charge but formal online registration is mandatory.
To indicate the interest in participating (online or onsite), please fill this form:
The registration deadline is September 1, 2026.
For person who attend on-site, the cancellation deadline is September 15, 2026.
This Workshop is funded by the European Union through the EURAD-2 partnership (Grant Agreement number 101166718).
