An International Workshop
Creating the Information Commons for e-Science:
Toward Institutional Policies and Guidelines for Action
 UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, France
1-2 September 2005


STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

This event is an important element of ongoing efforts to achieve the broader goals of The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS - www.itu.int/wsis/ ). In particular, this workshop aims to promote development of institutional policies and guidelines for action in support of the “information commons” for e-science. The work plan comprises four objectives:

  • Review opportunities/challenges for realising global collaborative e-science on the emerging "cyber-infrastructure."
  • Review government and university mechanisms for managing publicly funded scientific information in the digitally networked research environment; identify problems and develop procedural solutions.
  • Identify and analyse institutional, economic, policy, and legal benefits/drawbacks to providing public access to and unrestricted use of publicly funded scientific information.
  • Put forward resolutions/recommendations that enable the scientific community to more effectively utilise publicly funded scientific data and information.

At the first WSIS meeting ( Geneva , December 2003), 175 countries adopted a Declaration of Principles and Plan of Action recognising that science has a central role in the development of the information society. Delegates affirmed the principle of promoting “universal access, with equal opportunities for all, to scientific knowledge and the creation and dissemination of scientific and technical information”.

Now, in anticipation of the final WSIS meeting (Tunis, November 2005), this workshop focuses on taking practical steps to ensure that both mechanisms and policies related to the production, dissemination, management, and application of scientific data and information support and strengthen the WSIS Principles and Plan of Action.

For more information, contact Cheryl Levey at cheryl@cheryllevey.com.