Announcing Our User Needs Consultants
We are pleased to announce that Dr Amanda Forster MCIfA and Dr Sam Paul MCIfA will deliver a programme of user needs research, consultation and analysis to inform development of a new Heritage Science Data Service (HSDS), on behalf of NHSF.
The principal aim of the project is to test proposed elements of the HSDS with different user groups on an iterative and evolving basis. This project aims to gather insights on user requirements, preferences, and readiness to engage with the HSDS, understanding user journeys and testing experiences to inform its design and development. The research will explore general requirements for functionality and ease of use of the service, as well as developmental aspects such as how the community could benefit from high performance computing facilities and Virtual Research Environments. Consultation will be underpinned by user segmentation analysis, with longitudinal surveys, focus groups and in person engagement activities. Data gathered will be retained as part of the wider project archive for future use, contributing to the evaluation of the impact and effectiveness of the HSDS over time.
Project Team
The User Needs Consultation will be conducted by Manda Forster PhD MCIfA and Samantha Paul PhD MCIfA, both highly experienced professionals with expertise in user needs analysis, consultation, and sector surveys. Together, they have successfully delivered a wide range of projects for national and regional heritage organisations, archaeological bodies, professional associations, museums, and repositories. Their recent collaborations include delivery of the Museum and Research Institution Needs Project for the National Collection of Archaeological Archives (Historic England), the Sustainable Options for Archaeological Archives project (Historic England and Arts Council England), and the Before the Museums project (Scotland’s Archaeology Strategy).
Dr Manda Forster is an accomplished project manager and heritage consultant with over 20 years of experience in designing, managing, and delivering complex heritage projects. In addition to the projects mentioned above, she led the Historic England funded Dig Digital project in collaboration with CIfA, which updated professional standards and produced guidance and a toolkit for the FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) management of digital data in archaeological archives. While working with DigVentures, she designed numerous projects and activity programmes, as well as online and in person training content and resources for enthusiasts, students, and professionals in heritage.
Dr Samantha Paul has contributed to several important projects, including the development of deposition standards for archaeological archives in Gloucestershire, Hertfordshire, Peterborough, and Birmingham museums, as well as a review of archaeological collections and archives in the West Midlands (West Midlands Museum Development Programme). Most recently, Dr. Paul was involved in the Sustainable Options for Archaeological Archives project and is currently managing the Peterborough Archaeological Archive Enhancement project, funded by the Headley Trust and Historic England.