FAIR Data and Software Awards

To celebrate 10 years of the FAIR Principles, the University Library is delighted to announce the FAIR Data and Software Awards, recognising staff and PGRs who have demonstrated best practice in making their digital research outputs FAIR: Findable (F), Accessible (A), Interoperable (I), and Reusable (R). Winners and runners-up will receive £200 and £100 vouchers, respectively, and opportunities to enhance the visibility of their work across the University and beyond.

About the prize

The FAIR Principles are key to openness and transparency, good research data management, and responsible research practices, yet a recent survey by the UK Reproducibility Network (UKRN) found that awareness of the FAIR Principles is still relatively low among researchers across all disciplines. The FAIR Data and Software Awards will therefore showcase and celebrate examples where individuals and teams have taken practical approaches towards making their digital research outputs (which may include quantitative or qualitative data, creative practice, software, digital media, etc.) FAIR, helping to raise awareness about what FAIR looks like in practice across different disciplines and research contexts.

We encourage academic, technical, and professional staff and PGRs from across the University to take part in the FAIR Data and Software Awards competition, celebrating concrete examples of how digital research objects are being made Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable (FAIR).

Who can apply?

The competition is open to PGRs and academic, technical, and professional staff at any career stage and from any discipline, School, or department.

What are we looking for?

You may submit a summary of:

• A completed project, or
• An ongoing piece of work where FAIR data practices are already being implemented.

The submission must focus on one specific research output or project that clearly illustrates your approach to FAIR data.

Applications will be assessed based on:

• Which FAIR principles are being applied (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable)
• The extent and intentionality of their implementation
• Evidence of good practice (e.g. documentation, metadata, standards, repositories, licences)

You do not need to demonstrate all four FAIR principles equally; strong, well-justified use of one or more components is encouraged.

You can find descriptions and examples of the FAIR Principles on our FAIR guidance resource.

What do I need to submit?

To apply, you will be asked to provide:

• A short summary (maximum 250 words) describing:
  • The research project or output
  • The data involved 
• Answers to a set of questions to help you describe:
  • How FAIR principles have been applied in practice
  • Any challenges you faced in applying the FAIR Principles
• Links or references to repositories, datasets, documentation, or other supporting materials (optional but encouraged).

Please note: Submissions should focus on how and why FAIR practices were used, not just what tools or platforms were chosen.

How will submissions be assessed?

Submissions will be reviewed by the Library’s Open Research and Research Data Management Team using a FAIR-aligned assessment approach, considering:

• Clarity and quality of the description of how and why FAIR practices were used;
• Alignment with FAIR principles;
• Appropriateness of practices for the research context.

What prizes are available?

Shortlisted applications will be selected from each faculty. From these, one winner and one runner-up will be recognised per faculty. There will also be a dedicated PGR category, and a dedicated category for professional and/or research-enabling staff, each with one winner and one runner-up.

• £200 Love2shop e-vouchers for winners
• £100 Love2shop e-vouchers for runners-up

In addition to vouchers, selected submissions will be showcased as examples of FAIR data practice to support learning and knowledge sharing across the university.

Key dates

• Call opens: Friday, 13th March 2026
• Submission deadline: Friday, 17th April 2026
• Outcomes announced: Thursday, 30th April 2026

How to apply

Submit your application via the online form: Link here

If you have questions about eligibility or the application process, please contact: rdm@sheffield.ac.uk 

We're also hosting a FAIR Data and Software Awards competition drop-in and Q&A session on Tuesday 7th April (13:00-13:30): sign up here.

Equity and inclusion statement

We recognise that FAIR data practices look different across disciplines and research contexts; submissions will be assessed proportionately, with care taken not to disadvantage staff working with sensitive, restricted, or non-traditional data; in some contexts, for example, a FAIR metadata-only record will be appropriate. We particularly welcome submissions that reflect disciplinary diversity, creative approaches to data sharing, and thoughtful engagement with the FAIR Principles as a framework for improving the visibility of your research. 

If you would like to discuss a potential entry, or are unsure if your work is eligible, you are welcome to ask us any questions at the FAIR Data and Software Awards competition drop-in and Q&A session on Tuesday 7 April (13:00-13:30): sign up here.