Abstract
As technology advanced dramatically in the late 20th century, a new era of science arrived. The emerging era of scientific discovery, variously described as e-Science, cyberscience, and the fourth paradigm, uses technologies required for computation, data curation, analysis, and visualization. The emergence of the fourth research paradigm will have such a huge impact that it will shake the foundations of science, and will also have a huge impact on the role of data-information infrastructure. In the digital age, the roles of data-information professionals are becoming more diverse. As eScience emerges as a sustainable and growing part of research, data-information professionals and centeres are exploring new roles to address the issues that arise from new forms of research. The functions that data-information professionals and centeres can fundamentally provide in the e-Science area are data curation, preservation, access, and metadata. Basically, it involves discovering and using available technical infrastructure and tools, finding relevant data, establishing a data management plan, and developing tools to support research. A further advanced service is archiving and curating relevant data for long-term preservation and integration of datasets and providing curating and data management services as part of a data management plan. Adaptation and change to the new information environment of the 21st century require strong and future-responsive leadership. There is a strong need to effectively respond to future challenges by exploring the role and function of data-information professionals in the future environment. Understanding what types of data-information professionals and skills will be needed in the future is essential to developing the talent that will lead the transformation. The new values and roles of data-information professionals and centers for 21st century researchers in STEAM are discussed.