Karl Benedict

Prof. Karl Benedict

Organization Name

University of New Mexico, College of University Libraries and Learning Sciences

Professional Title

Librarian

Dr. Karl Benedict has worked since 1986 in parallel tracks of archaeology (in which he has earned a BA, MA, and PhD in anthropology), geospatial information technology, data management and analysis, and information architecture design and development. He currently serves as the Director of Research Data Services (Associate Professor) in the College of University Libraries and Learning Sciences (CUL&LS) at the University of New Mexico. Prior to this appointment, he was a Research Scientist and then Director of the Earth Data Analysis Center (EDAC) while concurrently serving as a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Geography and in CUL&LS at UNM. He has previously worked for the US Forest Service, National Park Service, and in the private sector conducting archaeological research, developing geospatial databases, performing geospatial and statistical analyses, and developing web-based information delivery applications. During his tenure at EDAC he developed and managed the development of geographic information technology capacity in support of multiple research and application areas including public health, resource management, hydro-climate research, atmospheric modeling, disaster planning and mitigation, and renewable energy research. His current research and development foci include the development of open standards-based interoperable information architectures that are highly flexible, scalable and evolvable through the integration of emerging technologies in separate application tiers; and streamlining the integration of research data products into those architectures to maximize the ongoing value of those data. His ongoing work in the CUL&LS focuses on managing the Research Data Services program to maximize the ability of UNM’s researchers to effectively manage their research data during the research process and maximize the discovery, access and use of the developed research data products long after the end of the research projects that created them.

In addition to the above described work history, Dr. Benedict has served in diverse volunteer and appointed positions including 15 years of work with the Federation of Earth Science Information Partners (ESIP Federation - including serving as the President for two years), serving on the Board of the Foundation for Earth Science for six years (including serving as Chair or President of the Board for four years), service as a member of the Data Management and Communications (DMAC) Steering Committee of the Interagency Ocean Observation Committee (IOOC), service as a member of the National Advisory Council for Environmental Policy and Technology for the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and most recently as chair of the Technical Advisory Committee for the Digital Preservation Network. 

Dr. Benedict’s combined multi-disciplinary work experience and professional service has provided him with a broad understanding of and experience with research data management, analysis, documentation, sharing and preservation - all of which he would bring into service on the Research Data Alliance’s Technical Advisory Board. From a disciplinary perspective he has extensive experience in the Earth science data and information community, personal research experience in the social sciences (archaeology and economics) and engineering (collaboration in civil engineering projects), and experience supporting researchers in research data management planning, analysis, visualization, sharing and preservation across all UNM disciplinary areas. His work and service experience has been developed in a variety of organizational contexts - ranging from federal and state level governmental agencies, the private sector as both a consultant and as an employee of consulting firms, and within UNM in both an applied research center and in a more traditional academic appointment. Dr. Benedict looks forward to bringing this diverse experience and enthusiasm to advancing the RDA vision of “researchers and innovators openly sharing data across technologies, disciplines, and countries to address the grand challenges of society”.