Discuss Data (https://discuss-data.net/) is a repository for archiving, sharing and discussing research data on Eastern Europe, South Caucasus and Central Asia. From 25 – 27 August 2025, it is organising its 1st DataLab on the topic of „Challenges of Data Collection, Re-use, and Analysis: Public Opinion, Political Debates, and Protests in the Context of the Russo-Ukrainian War“. The DataLab will take place at the Research Centre for East European Studies at the University of Bremen.

About
Apart from „typical“ challenges of research data management (RDM) and data re-use, the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine poses additional challenges for empirical research in and on Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus and Central Asia. Discuss Data’s 1st DataLab („Lab“) is aimed at early-stage researchers (from nearly finished MA to early postdocs) from the social sciences who work with/have (as yet unpublished) research data. Bridging theory and practice, the Lab addresses the challenges of data collection, re-use and analysis through lectures by renowned experts and practical workshop sessions, with a thematic focus on public opinion, political debates and protest data.
As a result of the Lab, participants should be able to apply their new skills and knowledge to their own research data projects in order to archive and publish their data according to the FAIR principles with Discuss Data.

The Lab will take place in person at the Research Centre for East European Studies (FSO) at the University of Bremen (Germany). For interested scholars who can’t attend in person due to travel restrictions, the organisers may offer online participation.

Costs
The participation is free of charge, including accommodation and meals. A limited number of travel grants of up to €300 are available for participants in need of financial support. Applicants from Ukraine will be given priority for this funding.

Application
Please send your application form (https://discuss-data.net/documents/23/CfA_Discuss_Data_Workshop_2025.docx) by 28 March 2025 to Eduard Klein, eklein@uni-bremen.de. Applicants will be notified by the end of April.

Further information
More information about Discuss Data and the 1st Discuss Data DataLab (including the application form, preliminary program), is available at https://discuss-data.net/