International Council for Science : Committee on Data for Science and Technology
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C O D A T A
Data Sources for Sustainable Development in SADC Countries
Approved by the CODATA 25th General Assembly, Beijing 2006
Renewal approved by the CODATA 26th General Assembly, Kyiv 2008
Renewal approved by the CODATA 27th General Assembly, Cape Town 2010
Objectives of the Task Group
- To determine the current status regarding the nature, volumes, preservation and accessibility of scientific and technical data for sustainable development in the countries of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
- To establish a new World Data Centre in Africa with a focus on Biodiversity and Human Health;
- Train-the-trainer (metadata), marketing, liaison and where possible hosts a regional workshops.
The main objectives of the project are to:
- identify mechanisms to ensure data are reliable;
- promote accessibility to scientific data;
- facilitation of research collaboration;
- facilitating networking amongst various groups to promote access and preservation of technical and scientific data for sustainable development;
- support various International Council for Science – Regional Office for Africa (ICSU-ROA) and CODATA data activities;
- promote CODATA activities, within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region; and to raise awareness among scientists and policy makers regarding the
- importance of scientific data repositories;
- data preservation and curation (the active management and appraisal of data over the life-cycle of scholarly and scientific interest); and
- Improvement of scientific data sharing.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: CODATA TASK GROUP ON DATA SOURCES FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN SADC COUNTRIES
The CODATA Task Group on Data Sources for Sustainable Development in SADC Countries held its initial organising workshop in Pretoria, South Africa on 14–15 May 2007. The National Research Foundation hosted the workshop, which was attended by 31 delegates. The workshop was convened in collaboration with the ICSU Regional Office for Africa (ROA), the National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa, the CODATA Task Group on Preservation of and Access to Scientific and Technical Data in Developing Countries, the South African National Committee for CODATA, and the United States National Committee for CODATA.
The objectives of the workshop were to:
- Consider the main recommendations from the September 2005 CODATA Workshop on Strategies for Permanent Access to Scientific Information in Southern Africa: Focus on Health and Environmental Information for Sustainable Development and discuss specific actions and initiatives that could be taken in response.
- Designate appropriate offices/officials in the SADC countries to actively support the initiatives of the CODATA Task Group on Data Sources for Sustainable Development in SADC countries that are of regional interest.
- Promote mutual reinforcement with the converging goals of the ICSU ROA, the SADC and NEPAD Secretariats, and other regional organisations, as appropriate and coordinate actions in order to leverage resources.
- Establish a work plan for the CODATA Task Group for 2007–2008.
The outcome of the workshop was the recommendation of the following set of actions for the period 2007–2008 for the CODATA Task Group on Data Sources for Sustainable Development in SADC:
WHAT |
WHO |
WHEN |
1. Develop an inventory of scientific databases across SADC
|
|
Proposal: end June 2007
|
2. Develop an inventory of scientific researchers (data professionals) across SADC |
Subset of projects 1 and 3 and related to an existing ASSAf initiative – Network of African Science Academies (NASAC) |
|
3. Develop an inventory of online training and instructional materials on data management |
|
|
4. Better understanding of IP and open access. (cf
|
Paul Uhlir to provide background information for the Task Group to consider and possibly set up a meeting in Washington of potential partner organisations |
|
5. Establish open institutional repositories: tool kits, open source software, business plans, funding for institutions
|
Potential coalition partners: Task Group, IAP, ASSAf, e-IFL (Electronic Information for Libraries), higher education institutions, NRF, Association of Commonwealth Universities, Association of African Universities, science councils Potential funders:
|
|
6. Malaria research and environmental data and information network (pilot initiative) |
Task Group to liaise with other researchers regarding proposed network, to be formed through a bottom-up initiative of interested researchers/research groups Potential funders:
|
SAMI to be asked to take the lead: Dr van Deventer (CSIR) and Dr Pienaar (University of Pretoria) to speak to SAMI (Prof Jane Morris) |
The Task Group on Data Sources for Sustainable Development in SADC would be the lead Task Group for the initiative and would develop a proposal on the basis of the input received at the workshop. The Task Group would report on progress at the 2008 CODATA General Assembly, by which time the Task Group would have to be in a position to demonstrate deliverables if it wishes to continue for a further term.
Other information
The Task Group chair and secretariat hosted the 1st African Digital and Information Curation Conference and workshop in Pretoria on the 12 – 13 February 2008, followed by the TG closed meeting to address the project proposal on the 14 February 2008.
Current Membership
Dr Daisy Selematsela, Outgoing Chair,
Ms Refiloe Mabaso, South Africa
Ms Henda van den Berg,
Mr Odido Mika,
Prof Steve Rossouw,
Working to improve the quality, reliability, management and accessibility of Data for Science and Technology
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