This lecture was part of the NFDI4Biodiversity & HeFDI & iDiv Seasonal School on Data Management in Biodiversity and Environmental Science. It introduces fundamental principles of research data management (RDM) and data literacy, highlighting best practices for organizing, storing, documenting, and sharing data according to the FAIR principles. Participants were guided through the research data life cycle and explored how to design data management strategies that meet funder and institutional requirements while improving the reproducibility and impact of their research. The NFDI4Biodiversity & HeFDI & iDiv Seasonal School on Data Management in Biodiversity and Environmental Science is a joint initiative by the NFDI4Biodiversity consortium, the Hessian Research Data Infrastructure (HeFDI), and the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv). The intensive five-day program combines conceptual input with hands-on practice, equipping early-career researchers with the skills to manage biodiversity and environmental data throughout its life cycle. Contact: forschungsdaten@uni-kassel.de 

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