International Council for Science : Committee on Data for Science and Technology

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C O D A T A

Message from the President

Dear Reader,

We all are experiencing an unprecedented rate of advancement in science and technology as well as in their applications for wider usage by common man. Scientific data has been one of the key components that have propelled the growth of science and technology. International Council of Science (ICSU) realizing its vital importance had established in 1966 a multi-disciplinary Committee on Data for Science and Technology (CODATA). Recent spectacular achievements in information technology have changed the way, scientific research is being carried out. Similarly, modes of storage, dissemination, archival and management of data have undergone sea change. It is now possible to network research groups located anywhere in the world through internet and to transfer huge amount of data and other information practically without loss of time. It is hoped that this infrastructure together with possibilities of grid computing and other recent developments will be instrumental in taking science to new heights and technological developments will lead to transformation of human society.

CODATA has been actively involved in communicating the aspirations and view point of scientific community as a stakeholder to the recently held UN sponsored World Summit on Information Society. A new initiative on Global Information Commons for Science has been launched. CODATA aspires to reach out to scientists in all regions of the world, particularly in regions, which have not gained much from international cooperation. CODATA is deeply concerned about lack of infrastructure in most of the developing world for taking full benefit of the IT revolution particularly for the applications of internet in improving education, health, environmental protection and efficiency of administration. It has taken initiatives to help bridge the digital divide.

Also, CODATA is working on new schemes for young and budding scientists all over the world. Efforts are on to enhance collaboration with industrial sector for partnership in development of new areas of science and technology. Of course, the main challenge before CODATA is to enhance and encourage activities, which supports high science and high technology together with their applications for societal development.

CODATA wishes to establish even stronger working relationships with ICSU and its Unions and other bodies like INASP and ICSTI as well as international organizations like UNESCO, UNIDO, UNDP and World Bank.

The ambitious vision of CODATA can only be realized through cooperation and collaboration at global scale. CODATA welcomes participation of scientific communities from all parts of the world and from organized sector like scientific unions, international organizations and industrial establishments.

Sincerely,

Dr. Krishan Lal