Dr. Michael O’Connor is the Research Data Librarian at Queen’s University Belfast. Michael works in the McClay Library as part of the Open Research Team. He recently attended the IDCC 2026 Conference with support from the DPC Career Development Fund, which is funded by DPC Supporters.
1. Trusted Research
Even before IDCC26 had started proper, I had an earnest, in-depth conversation with the Director of the Secure Data Centre at Gesis about TREs since this is on the immediate horizon at my institution now and conversations are happening about this. Who knew that a discussion on Trusted Research Environments could complement a rather scrumptious breakfast?! Well, me now, thanks to my attendance at IDCC!
2. Sensitive data
Sensitive data has many shades of grey — though not quite fifty! Informal data transfers, so called “grey” transfers within academic research were discussed in a very interesting paper by Zozia Beckles & Emma Tonkin. Drawing on use cases, the paper explored the challenges of detecting and managing informal data sharing – data transfers occurring outside of formalised or sanctioned processes - including the risks of accidental data breach, the difficulties of enforcing policy around penalties, and the potential for scientific harm, as well as putting forward some potential solutions to this.
3. AI & LLM
AI was discussed in many papers across the conference including use of AI to complete dataset description, leveraging LLMs for semantic search and curation in a national research data catalogue; and curation challenges and opportunities from AI and Machine Learning e.g. the preservation of project websites and promoting data reuse. Indeed, the award for best paper was assigned to Michael Groenendyk’s excellent presentation, discussing Canadian Government data in which AI tools were posited as providing strategic value in identifying high-impact collections to justify funding and to identify gaps (in low citation areas) to improve metadata/outreach. The ubiquity of AI right now makes its prominence at the conference wholly sensible, but this must be counterbalanced too by concerns expressed in conversations with delegates about AI tools with respect to anonymous data, participant-based data, sensitive data, surveillance and the potential for reidentification/exposure – AI poses tremendous risks in this space, yet there are also significant opportunities with respect to metadata, reporting and analysis.
4. Data is power
Volunteers are rescuing federal public data removed by government purges, indicating that data is political, and data is power. This was communicated in a rousing final keynote address with Lynda Kellam and Mikala Narlock, discussing the American context and how coalitions are essential in sustaining and scaling these efforts. This was also echoed in Laura Rothfritz’s earlier paper on Preserving Under Pressure: The 2016/17 Data Rescue Movement and the Limits of Emergency Curation.
5. Posters
Posterly good relations were in evidence in Zagreb! Thanks to my charming counterparts who voted for my poster at the event – their own poster detailing the institutional efforts across Portugal to drive the transition to FAIR data. Many of the posters resonated, including the continued and, frankly, unsurprising existence of silos within universities, UK initiatives to promote data stewardship (CaSDar); the discrepancies between data sharing activities proposed in DMPs with the actual outcome of data sharing at the end; the need for long-term preservation decisions within many digital repositories and EOSC EDEN’s activities here; the usefulness of AI-assisted assessment of Data Management Plans (DMPs); the fabulously titled Seven Sins of Open Science; and the problem of how to assign DOIs to longitudinal, restricted access, sensitive data by Cassia Smith which, deservedly, won the best poster prize award.
[Nailing Jelly to the Wall Poster by Cassia Smith]
6. The venue
The Esplanade hotel was magnificent and charming – the balcony in my bedroom a highpoint - the food was excellent, the DCC staff friendly and marvellous. But why did the conference rooms have to imitate the temperatures of their place names? Istanbul was so humid, but Venice was a breeze. Meanwhile the opulence of the Emerald Ballroom was most impressive. An exceptional venue all round!
[Balcony view from Esplanade Hotel, Zagreb]
[The magnificent Esplanade Hotel]
7. Conference banquet
Croatian beer proved a cooling refresher on the evening of the conference banquet at The Garden Brewery and Taproom. Much like the conference with its eye-popping array of papers and topics, the assortment of beers at the venue betrayed a similar range and expansive span. Different hues, nectars and tastes poured out into different pint and half-pint sizes! And if this wasn’t enough, the buffet-style dining led to serendipitous, impromptu, funny and haphazard conversations with hitherto unknown delegates in the queue or new friends to meet at the tables. It was a really fun way to meet and chat with delegates.
[Conference banquet venue]
8. IDCC bolsters RDM professionals
IDCC is vital for RDM professionals, many of whom are isolated, many of whom constitute a one-person team who exist as sole, overburdened practitioners in their institutions where no one really understands what their role entails, and where the need for support, guidance and training is ongoing owing to the bewildering growth of digital tools/outputs, complex mixed methods research and the rise of sensitive data. This is the reason why conferences such as IDCC are vital for those working in Research Data Management (RDM) – it is an opportunity to learn and discover, make contacts, feel connected and return to work reenergised for the task ahead.
9. A quick flavour of the conference
How to cover the plethora of content delivered at IDCC26? Topics included the perennials such as data curation, preservation, FAIR principles, interoperability, standards, ethics, CARE principles and there was much to learn here. Many newer topics included the possibilities for AI usage with data records/repositories, how AI technology could be used to help write DMPs, and the use of LLMs to create catalogues, the implications of growing global authoritarianism for data loss and the excision of essential digital information, to how to preserve sensitive data and the activities and support around data stewardship, including the micro-credentials course offered by UCC.
One of the compelling motivations discernible across all papers and posters at the conference was the drive to improve – that things can be done better, enhanced, made more effective, joined up. This energy was discernible in conversations in huddles throughout the event. It was apparent in the conversations I had at my poster stand in which I extolled the benefits of mentorship as a means of bolstering and supporting Research Data Librarians and Managers – many are lone workers. It came through the wonderful keynote addresses. The work that we do exists in a space that is in relentless motion with ceaseless development. We are constantly learning, evolving and there is much more to understand and refine!
10. Goodbye to Kevin Ashley
It was Kevin Ashley’s last IDCC as Director. Heartfelt admiration and applause for the man behind the helm of DCC for 16 years – its beating heart; a man renowned for his sartorial edge, most memorably his statement monochrome suits. Joy Davidson’s heartfelt tribute and Kevin’s gracious reply were a fitting end to a conference where community is key. A rousing end to send all delegates back to our respective corners of the globe!
[DCC Team on stage. Kevin Ashley in centre]
Thank you IDCC for organising such a wonderful conference. Special thanks also to the DPC for funding my attendance at IDCC26 via the DPC Career Development Fund. It was great to meet Jenny Mitcham from DPC and much appreciation to John McMillian for his valiant checks to ensure that any last-minute flying check-in hitches did not materialise.
[Me with Jenny Mitcham from DPC]
Acknowledgements
The Career Development Fund is sponsored by the DPC’s Supporters who recognize the benefit and seek to support a connected and trained digital preservation workforce. We gratefully acknowledge their financial support to this programme and ask applicants to acknowledge that support in any communications that result. At the time of writing, the Career Development Fund is supported by Arkivum, Artefactual Systems Inc., boxxe, Cerabyte, DAMsmart, Evolved Binary, Ex Libris, HoloMem, Iron Mountain, Libnova, Max Communications, Pictoscope, Preferred Media, Preservica and Simon P Wilson. A full list of supporters is online here.