NERC MSF dataset conditions of use
Data from the instruments at the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) Molecular Spectroscopy Facility (MSF) at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory are freely available subject to the following conditions:
DATA PROTECTION ACT
The user details and project descriptions submitted in application for access to the data will be made available to the NERC and its delegated authorities, e.g. the staff of the British Atmospheric Data Centre (BADC) and of the MSF, for the purposes of tracking data usage and of improving the service.
PURPOSE OF USE
The data are only to be used for bona fide academic research or educational purposes. People requiring the data for commercial purposes should contact Dr K M Smith, the NERC MSF Project Scientist, directly.
PERIOD OF EXCLUSIVITY
For each dataset there is a period of exclusivity during which time access will be restricted to the originators of the data and their project partners. The default period of exclusivity is one year; however the originators of the data may request (by contacting Dr K M Smith) an extension to cover the duration of their project. After this period data becomes available to all eligible users.
OWNERSHIP AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The data remain the property of the appropriate funding body and may NOT be sold or otherwise passed on to a third party. Where the data are used in a presentation or publication, an acknowledgement MUST be given along the lines of:"The MSF at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory is funded by the UK Natural Environment Research Council and the data are provided through the British Atmospheric Data Centre."
Users are also strongly encouraged to acknowledge the scientists who originally recorded the data.
DETAILS OF PRESENTATIONS AND PUBLICATIONS
Users MUST send the details of all presentations and publications, for which the y have made use of data from the Facility, to the MSF Project Scientist. This information is required for the Facility's Annual Report to the NERC and will be requested at the end of each calendar year. Presentations include those given at conferences, seminars and colloquia; publications include those appearing in books, newspapers, magazines, Masters and PhD theses, conference proceedings and papers appearing in journals.
SUPPORTING SCIENTIFIC CASE (SSC)
In order to ensure continued funding of the Facility, it is important to demonstrate to the NERC that there is a sufficient demand for the data products and that the scientific research, for which they are being used, is of a high quality. For this reason, as soon as a new user applies for access to the dataset through the BADC, they will be contacted by the NERC MSF Project Scientist; they will be requested to submit a Supporting Scientific Case (SSC) which describes how they intend to make use of the data and full access will only be granted once this has been returned. All registered data users should be prepared to submit a brief update on their use of the data at the end of each financial year, i.e. around March/April. This information will be required for the MSF Annual Report to the NERC.
WARNING
Failure to comply with these conditions may result in individuals or institutions being denied access to the MSF, or other NERC resources.