Monthly Archives: November 2014

Sanna Sorvari: Statement in Support of Election to CODATA Executive Committee

This is the sixteenth and final statement is our series from candidates in the forthcoming CODATA Elections. Sanna Sorvari is a new candidate seeking election to the CODATA Executive Committee.  She is nominated by Finland.

Sanna SorvariI’m honoured for the opportunity to stand for election to the CODATA Executive Committee. In recent years I have been involved in establishing new Pan-European and national data intensive research infrastructures in the field of environmental and Earth System science. From those activities, I have gained a lot of experiences and insights on multinational and international challenges and opportunities related to research data. As actively working at the national, Nordic, European and global level on scientific data, I consider that I could bring new perspectives and collaboration opportunities for CODATA to liaise with the bodies (such as ESFRI) and organisations that are currently building and setting new data management structures, standard, protocols and data policies.

I’m a member of several boards, committees and projects relevant to CODATA, such as:

  • European Commission’s Horizon 2020 Expert Advisory Group on European Research Infrastructures and e-infrastructures – guiding EC on the strategic orientations for future actions related to data and e-infrastructures;
  • Belmont Forum’s E-Infrastructures and Data Management Collaborative Research Action to draft recommendations on how the Belmont Forum as an IGFA group can internationally fund and support global environmental change research more coordinated way;
  • COOPEUS project (WP leader) – to establish Transatlantic roadmap for Earth system research infrastructures for the next 10 years in related to data and interoperability;
  • European ENVRI Environmental Research Infrastructure Stakeholder Advisory Board (chair) – to coordinate and ensure the interoperability among the European environmental research infrastructures;
  • Project coordinator of Nordic research infrastructure network – to align the developments and data policies of Nordic environmental RIs;
  • and a member of recently established Finnish National Committee on Research Data Management – to bring together national organizations and experts from the field of research data management.

Statement

Even though there are a huge number of initiatives and big investments made to facilitate the modern, data-driven science, only a small fraction of the existing scientific data is used for scientific or any other purposes. Thus, there still seems to be many existing barriers that decrease the applicability of data products and usage. Quite often these barriers are not related to the technical issues but are often related to other perspectives, such as on knowledge (how to discover and access the data), human behaviour (trust), policies (IPRs, licenses,..) and discipline/cultural oriented aspects (e.g. understanding the data).

CODATA has a very central position in the international arena and it’s close connection to ICSU and ICSU’s national committees gives a unique opportunity for CODATA to steer the process for better utilization of the data and removing the barriers around data access, usage and applicability. CODATA should continue to work on increasing the quality, reliability, management and accessibility of data. However, for the following years CODATA should start implementing the recommendations of the CODATA review panel, especially on sharpening the scope of the actions and increasing the visibility of CODATA among global research communities. CODATA should define its role in the international data landscape and to be ready for task sharing and close collaboration with other initiatives. If elected in the executive committee, I’m ready to work towards these goals for CODATA.

Takashi Gojobori: Towards CODATA Initiatives for Data-centric Sciences and Technologies for “Big Data” and “Small Data”

In the statement below, in support of his candidacy as CODATA President, Takashi Gojobori, presents his vision of CODATA initiatives for data-centric sciences and technologies for ‘Big Data’ and ‘Small Data’ which he describes as ‘beyond 50 years of CODATA’.  It is also available as a pdf.

Takashi Gojobori- PortrateVision for CODATA

Following its mission, CODATA works to improve the quality, reliability, management and accessibility of data of importance to all fields of science and technology, I would like to work, together with the elected EC members, to ensure that CODATA takes a strong initiative of dealing with Data-centric Sciences and Technology for the so-called “Big Data” and “Small Data.” Taking into account the fact that CODATA will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2016, I would like to try to make CODATA more visible in global scale, in both developed and developing countries.

Challenging issues for CODATA

The most important challenge for CODATA in a practical sense is to carry out the CODATA Strategic Plan 2013-12018, as scheduled. Of course, I think that we may need some flexibility, depending upon any changes as time goes. However, this strategic plan was established through tremendous discussion and unified consensus among the CODATA members, so I would like to place greatest emphasis on carrying out this Plan.

Taking into account the CODATA Strategic Plan 2013-2018, I think that the following issues can be addressed in CODATA, under the common recognition that data is playing a central role in science and technologies. In particular, in order for us to take actual actions, I would like to try to lead to the situation that most issues listed here can be recognized as the common understandings among the CODATA members.

Importance and significance of Data-centric Sciences and Technologies

I believe that CODATA can take more active stance in promoting Data-centric Sciences and Technologies, recognizing its importance and significance.

Computing resource and networking for Data-centric Sciences and Technologies

There is no doubt that we should encourage all stakeholders to assure effective use of computing resource and networking for Data-centric Sciences. and Technologies.

Data explosion and care of “Small Data”

Although we know that the time of the data explosion called “Big Data” has come, we have also to ensure more careful care to “Small Data”, because they are also precious and indispensable in most cases.

Disaster and Data Management

We recognize that disaster issues demonstrate direct connections between society and data. Data management for disasters should continue in CODATA activities.

Environments and Data Management

In developing the economic activities, environmental factors have already become a central matter of debate between the developing countries and developed countries. But, debates should be conducted using scientifically justifiable data.

Data Standardization

It is obvious that data standardization is essential for ensuring global activities of science and technologies. Thus, CODATA should continue its global contributions to Data Standardization.

Data Visualization

It is getting more important to have Data Visualization to ensure further developments of Data-centric Science and Technologies and also to promote the reach-out activities to the Society.

Data citation and commercial publications

In collaboration with publishes, we need more detailed discussions on Data citation and commercial publications.

Data Consumption and Necessity of Archives

Some data are used just like consumption, whereas the other data should be kept as archives. We need clearer concepts and definition of those features of data. We have to discuss the issues on Data Consumption and Necessity of Archives.

Data literacy and Education of Data-centric Sciences

CODATA promote its activities particularly in the developing countries on Data literacy and Education of Data-centric Sciences and Technologies.

CODATA for Developing countries

CODATA contributes to developing countries by promoting educational activities. Moreover, economic development can be achieved through the formation of a data-oriented society, in which CODATA can be helpful in every aspect of the related domains.

CODATA and WDS

One of the most important tasks in the coming years is the close collaboration with WDS. The liaison between CODATA and WDS can be established to the stage of firm ground.

Data Journal of CODATA

The present Data Journal of CODATA can be transformed into a more active and practical form, taking into account the development of open access journals including well-known commercial publishers.

Discussion on CODATA Academy of Data Science

We should continue the discussion on the CODATA Academy of Data Science.

CODATA as Practicing Organization

CODATA can play a role in policy-making and its promotion of implement through various organizations and opportunities.

What I would like to try to achieve in the coming 4 years.

  • I would like to increase global visibility of CODATA by taking initiative of Data-centric Sciences and Technologies for the so-called “Big Data” and “Small Data”
  • I would lie to carry out the CODATA Strategic Plan 2013-12018, as scheduled.
  • I would like to deepen the intimate collaboration between CODATA and WDS.
  • I would like to conduct a 50 anniversary symposium for reinforcing the vision of the CODATA.
  • I would like to promote activities the Task Groups and Working Groups of CODATA.

In short, I strongly value the reason for CODATA’s existence is to help foster and advance science and technology through developing and sharing knowledge about data and the activities that work with data.

That is all.

Kostiantyn Yefremov: Statement in Support of Candidacy for CODATA Executive Committee

yefremov_bw_04a_smallI have accepted the proposal of CODATA TG PASTD to be nominated as a member of CODATA Executive Committee with respect and gratitude. I consider this as an opportunity to be more fully involved in the initiatives of CODATA, which are aimed at resolving global threats.

Let me briefly introduce myself. I am a specialist in the sphere of Computer Science and have been the head of the World Data Center for Geoinformatics and Sustainable Development (WDC-Ukraine) for 7 years. I also have MSc in Public Administration.

My active participation in the activities of CODATA started in 2008 when I jointed the Executive Board of the Ukrainian National Committee for CODATA and as the Deputy Сhair of the local organizing committee jointed the activities of the organization – 21st International CODATA Conference, which took place in Kyiv, Ukraine. Since 2010 I have been participating in the activities of CODATA TG PASTD (especially in data long term preservation and open access in Ukraine, open access to data for Sustainable Development).

I am also responsible for a set of questions on organization and coordination activities within interdisciplinary research initiated by Ukrainian National Committee for CODATA and WDC-Ukraine, related to the necessity of system compliance and analysis of various-natured data. There are some projects that I would like to point out. These projects are aimed at study, quantitative evaluation and the analysis of sustainable development processes of countries and Ukrainian regions in the context of quality and safety of human life.

My primary scientific and professional work is connected with developing approaches and methods for integration of data and applications, for designing and developing problem-oriented distributed systems and databases.

If elected to the Executive Committee, I will direct my efforts to developing and promoting methods and approaches to create open and permanently available information resource of scientific data related to sustainable development.