DataStream is proud to announce that its open access platform dedicated to sharing western scientific water quality data has achieved CoreTrustSeal certification as a Trustworthy Digital Repository (TDR). This milestone recognizes DataStream’s commitment to the active, long-term preservation of data and metadata for a clearly defined user community, ensuring that vital water quality information remains accessible, understandable, and reusable well into the future.
CoreTrustSeal certification is awarded to repositories that meet 16 core requirements covering organizational infrastructure, digital object management, and technology and security. Developed in response to a Research Data Alliance (RDA)–identified need for a single, low-barrier set of core TDR requirements, the CoreTrustSeal framework is endorsed by the RDA, aligned with the OAIS reference model (ISO 14721:2012), and maintained through an open, community-driven process. Applications are rigorously and confidentially reviewed by peer repositories that have already achieved certification, with final decisions overseen by the CoreTrustSeal Board.
“Achieving CoreTrustSeal certification within 10 years after the launch of its initial platform, DataStream has demonstrated itself as a trustworthy disciplinary repository for water quality data,” said Reyna Broadhurst, Associate Director of the World Data System – International Technology Office and former CoreTrustSeal Board Member.
“It is a remarkable feat to attain this internationally recognized status, one that has been accomplished by only a handful of repositories in Canada. Robust workflows enable the ingestion of datasets from over 350 contributors, in standardized metadata and data formats, and made discoverable through their own platform as well as other downstream data harvester systems for research and evidence-based decision-making. Finally, as a Canadian who grew up spending childhood summers on Lake Winnipeg, teenage years by Lake Superior, and adulthood in the Pacific region, I am greatly appreciative of DataStream’s role in curating and preserving data for our precious fresh water resources.”
DataStream’s open data platform – Great Lakes regional hub.
As a certified repository, DataStream joins an international community committed to good practice in digital preservation. Certification enhances the platform’s visibility and reputation, while also enabling DataStream to contribute back to the process through future peer reviews.
More broadly, this achievement underscores the value of shared standards and continuous improvement in safeguarding research data. DataStream’s CoreTrustSeal certification is both a celebration of what has been achieved and a commitment to ongoing stewardship of trusted, high-quality water data for the scientific community and beyond.
“This has been years in the making, and it truly reflects a whole-team effort. It takes a village feels especially true here—past and present team members alike have all contributed to make this possible. The 16+ CoreTrustSeal requirements span every corner of the organization: strategy, partnerships, policy, operations, outreach, finance, technology, security, documentation, and workflows. This is a huge achievement and a real testament to the care, rigour, and values this team brings every day,” said Lori Logan, DataStream’s Product Manager.
DataStream’s certification will be active for three years. With this approval, DataStream joins a global group of 160+ certified repositories—and only a small handful in Canada.
