Sharing powder diffraction raw data: challenges and benefits

Abstract

Scientific data are as important as scientific publications. If this statement holds true, why are we not routinely sharing scientific data? The tools are now out there, for instance Zenodo and related repositories. It could be a lack of motivation of researchers derived from an apparent lack of short-term reward. Here the author will try to show the importance of sharing ready-to-analyse raw powder diffraction data with immediate benefits for authors and for the wider community. Moreover, it is speculated that sharing curated scientific data may have more important medium-term benefits, including credibility and not least reproducibility. Raw data sharing is coming.