Schema.org for research data managers: a primer

Data managers are currently investigating the value proposition of Schema.org (SDO) with a lightweight implementation that couples the SDO vocabulary with indexing Google Dataset Search. This pathway essentially 'webifies' dataset search and syndication and enhances dataset discovery. The Primer was created to layout the SDO landscape, where it came from, what is driving its uptake in research data management, and how it works in broad strokes. It was designed to introduce individuals with little technical knowledge to the benefits and importance of Schema.org and aimed to be a 'one-step-back' from the numerous guidance documents that are being produced in the RDM community. This document describes the mark-up process in very simple terms, provides current methods of adoption by the research community, describes related technical areas relevant to data managers and lists what organisations they should follow to keep apprised of this work.