International Perspectives on Data and Information for Science

1. International Perspectives on Data and Information for Science What is ICSU ICSU and data and information ICSU policy World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Assessment of future needs

2. Data and Information • ICSU, The International Council for Science: • “Strengthening international science for the benefit of society” • Universality of Science • Non-governmental, international, inter-disciplinary • Established in 1932 • 101 national members, 27 international unions • develop international science programmes and policy activities

3. Data and Information • Specialised bodies: • CODATA – data policy and management • INASP- information access • World Data Centres – collection, analysis and dissemination • Global Observing Systems and GEO • Global Environmental Change programmes • New programmes, e.g. the International Polar Year 2007-2008

4. Data and Information • Policies: • “Full and open access” to scientific data • “Universal and equitable access” to scientific publications • ICSU actively opposed the EC database directive and is fully supportive of the recent OECD declaration on access to research data from public funding

5. WSIS • Why is WSIS important? • First ever UN intergovernmental Summit on the information society • Follows on from Johannesburg, re. the role of (scientific) information in sustainable development • Attempt to bring all stakeholders – governments, private sector and industry together to agree a declaration of principles and plan of action

6. WSIS • Why is WSIS important for science (and vice-versa) ? • Science underpins ICT developments and so shapes the information society • Science is dependent on access to information and data • Unique opportunity to address the knowledge divide in science • Scientists need to engage with other stakeholders on information and data issues

7. WSIS • The ICSU/CODATA/UNESCO Agenda for Action: • Affordable and reliable internet connectivity for all research centres and Universities • Capacity building and education • Full and open access to public data • Interoperability and metadata standards • Collection and preservation of essential digital data

8. WSIS • The agenda for action cont.: • equitable access to scientific information • promote scientific literacy • research on ICT use in key priority areas • role for scientists in decision-making in/for the information society

9. WSIS • Results thus far: • - Para. on science in the formal WSIS declaration of principles – “….promote universal and equitable access to scientific knowledge…” • - 7 out of 9 items from ICSU/CODATA/UNESCO agenda for action included in formal WSIS action plan

10. Future Needs • Assessment of priorities and needs: • Long-term planning and investment • Professional Data Management • Modernisation/transition of current infrastructures, systems • New infrastructure in some areas • International coordination • Supportive International policies/treaties

11. Future Needs • Data Preservation: • Prioritise what must be preserved • Rescue/recover data at risk • Importance of ‘openly available’ metadata • Institutional, national and international strategies for archiving, e.g. for satellite observation data • Long-term support for archiving • Security/integrity and privacy/ethics

12. Future needs • Access • 2-way: access to provide/publish and to use/read • Minimal constraints must be maintained • Stable systems for providing universal access to quality data and information must be developed and maintained • Need to develop new economic models – someone has to assume the costs • Scientists must be involved in policy development, re. IPR issues • The particular needs of scientists in developing countries need to be heard and addressed, e.g. INASP.

13. Data and Information • www.icsu.org