Lancaster University’s SafePod

An ESRC funded SafePod is now installed in our library extension. The Safepod enables accredited researchers to access secure datasets from participating data centres across the UK. A wealth of valuable large-scale data assets are available through the new facility from the following organisations:

§ Office for National Statistics

§ UK Data Service

§ SAIL Databank

Lancaster’s SafePod is part of a UK-wide network funded by the ESRC which aims to accelerate the safe use of valuable national data assets for research. Lancaster joins a network of approximately 25 Universities from across the UK, which will benefit from this initiative.

Funding from the ESRC was secured for the SafePod by Professor Karen Broadhurst and Dr Yang Hu in the Department of Sociology, who were successful in winning competitive funding. Julia Carradus in the Data Science Institute has played a vital role in co-coordinating the installation. Thanks to staff in the library, Tom Shaw, Elaine Sykes, Jo Fitzpatrick and Tom Morley, staff from estates and ISS also managed this project, both David Wynn-Griffiths and Paul Boyd, the installation is now complete.

How will the SafePod help researchers at Lancaster and in the North West?

Access to secure datasets usually involves regular long-distance travel to sites operated by the ONS. The SafePod enables Lancaster researchers to avoid this travel, because we now have a safe setting on site. In addition, given the high level of security afforded by the new facility, it is also open to doctoral students.

The SafePod is also open to external researchers, hence this is a facility of wider benefit to researchers in our region.

Booking the SafePod

Bookings for access to the SafePod are available via the SafePod Network’s website. Please note that you need a project with a SPN Data Centre to be able to book and use a SafePod.

§ Access to the on-campus SafePod will then be coordinated by trained staff in the library.

§ Hours of opening: Monday - Friday, 9.30am-4.00pm.

§ The SafePod is located in the library extension.

More information

Bookings at Lancaster will begin very soon

For general enquiries about the SafePod Network contact 01334 463901 or email safepodnetwork@st-andrews.ac.uk.

SafePod is a registered trademark of the University of St Andrews.