From 10-14 February, CODATA’s Executive Director, Dr Simon Hodson will be in Muscat, Oman, attending a series of workshops organised by INGSA, the International Network for Government Science Advice on the topic of science diplomacy. The CODATA International Data Policy Committee has an activity examining issues around Data Diplomacy, which will be further developed by the soon to be announced University of Arizona-CODATA Centre of Excellence in Data for Society.
Read the full program, here
This document provides a quick and accessible list of CODATA activities, deliverables and impact from the past year. It then highlights some important upcoming activities and events for 2019: https://doi.org/10.5281/
The CODATA Prospectus: Strategy and Achievement, 2015-2018 summarises the most important activities, deliverables and impacts over that period: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.2559274.
The CODATA International Data Policy Committee has been reformed and invigorated. Under the leadership of Paul Uhlir, the Committee now boasts participation from a team of global experts. In 2018, the Committee explored a number of key policy areas, establishing sub-groups for the following topics:
Reports, White Papers or scholarly articles, as appropriate will be the major outputs from these groups. In 2019, the Committee will also deliver the following:
Other important data policy related contributions of 2018 were:
2018 saw a significant milestone in the history of science when the General Conference of the International Bureau of Weights and Measures approved the redefinition of four base units of the International System of Units (SI) on values determined by the work of the CODATA Task Group on Fundamental Physical Constants.
The CODATA Data Science Journal continued its renaissance with rapidly growing citations and impact. Two notable new Special Collections include Research Data Alliance Results and papers from the Göttingen-CODATA RDM Symposium 2018, which took place in March 2018.
International Data Week 2018, which took place in Gaborone, Botswana, 5-8 November, organized in partnership with the Research Data Alliance, the ISC World Data System and the African Open Science Platform was a major success with 850 participants from around the globe. IDW combines SciDataCon with the RDA Plenary. Papers from the conference will appear in the CODATA Data Science Journal.
The major data science activity in 2018 has been the piloting of the Data Integration Initiative, which addresses the fundamental challenge of data interoperability for major, global, interdisciplinary research questions. In 2018, the initiative advanced with three pilot case studies, examining these issues in the context of infectious diseases, resilient cities and disaster risk reduction. Major outputs include:
The event held at the Schloss Dagstuhl in partnership with the Data Documentation Initiative was particularly important in advancing the initiative’s approach and it will result in a series of articles about the pilot case studies and the data challenges involved. CODATA is preparing for consideration by the International Science Council, a proposal for a major flagship programme to address the challenge for data interoperability and integration for interdisciplinary research.
The African Open Science Platform project addresses a number of areas essential to building capacity in the use of data and Open Science. Information on the project’s activities can be found at http://africanopenscience.org.za/. Two stakeholder and strategy workshops (March and September 2018) led to the launch of the Vision and Strategy for the African Open Science Platform https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.2222418 for the African Open Science Platform at Science Forum South Africa, in a presentation by co-chair Khotso Mokhele. A founding members’ meeting will be hosted at the Biblioteca Alexandrina later in 2019.
The CODATA-RDA Schools of Research Data Science have continued expanding: in 2018 schools were held in Brisbane, Australia (June; short version); Trieste, Italy (August; foundational school and advanced workshops); Kigali, Rwanda (October; foundational school) and São Paulo, Brazil (December; foundational school). For 2019, Data Schools are planned for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (July), Trieste (August), Kigali (October), San José, Costa Rica (December) and Abuja, Nigeria (TBC). Negotiations are underway with hosts for 2020 and, resources permitting, that year could see as many as twelve schools.
A video about the Data Schools initiative can be watched at https://vimeo.com/299263596; be sure to follow the CODATA website, lists and social media for announcements of application deadlines.
Building on this work, CODATA is a partner in the European Commission funded FAIRsFAIR project, playing a major role in the development of virtual competence centres for data skills. CODATA is also leading the GO FAIR Training Frameworks Implementation Network which will leverage these activities to 1) refine a curriculum framework for data science and data stewardship; 2) develop a train-the-trainer programme; and 3) design a mechanism for endorsement and certification of training activities.
The 31st CODATA General Assembly was held at the University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana on 9-10 November 2018. The report and other materials from the General Assembly may be consulted here http://www.codata.org/events/general-assembly/general-assembly-2018
The General Assembly elected Barend Mons as President and a new Executive Committee. Eight Task Groups were approved. Also significant was that the General Assembly approved revisions to the CODATA Constitution designed to encourage organizations of various sorts to become CODATA members and to allow CODATA to function in a more effective, modern way.
In addition to the activities noted above, CODATA will convene two major conferences in 2019.
CODATA-Drexel Workshop on FAIR and Responsible Research Data Management, 31 March-1 April will take place as a collocated event to the 13th RDA Plenary Meeting in Philadelphia, USA. Like its predecessor in Göttingen, the workshop will feature invited talks and selected presentation on matters relating to FAIR and Responsible RDM. It will result in a Special Collection of the Data Science Journal. The deadline for papers is 18 February: http://www.codata.org/events/conferences/drexel-metadata-research-centre-and-codata-workshop
CODATA 2019: Towards next-generation data-driven science: policies, practices and platforms, 18-19 September 2019 in Beijing, China: https://conference.codata.org/CODATA_2019/
The Call for Sessions has been released with a deadline of 15 April 2019.
The conference will follow a high-level workshop, 16-17 September 2019, on ‘Implementing Open Research Data Policy and Practice’ that will examine such challenges in China and elsewhere in the light of the emergence of data policies and in particular the China State Council’s Notice on ‘Measures for Managing Scientific Data’.
The newly-elected CODATA Executive Committee after the General Assembly in Gaborone: http://www.codata.org/about-codata/executive-committee
The Centre for Applied Geomatics (CAG), CRDF at CEPT University engages in technology advisory, research, consultancy, and capacity building activities.
Please find the attachment for the training offered by the Center for Applied Geomatics in the month of February 2019.
January Publications in the Data Science Journal and new Special Collections
Articles are appearing in two new Special Collections in the Data Science Journal.
Göttingen-CODATA RDM Symposium 2018
This special collection contains selected papers from the Göttingen-CODATA RDM Symposium 2018: the critical role of university RDM infrastructure in transforming data to knowledge: https://
Research Data Alliance Results
This collection contains papers documenting research results and outcomes stemming from the Research Data Alliance (RDA) community and efforts: https://datascience.
Guest editors:
Articles published in January 2019
| Title: Text Mining and Data Information Analysis for Network Public Opinion Author: Yan Hu URL: http://doi.org/10.5334/dsj-2019-007 |
| Title: Expanding the Research Data Management Service Portfolio at Bielefeld University According to the Three-pillar Principle Towards Data FAIRness Author: Jochen Schirrwagen, Philipp Cimiano, Vidya Ayer, Christian Pietsch, Cord Wiljes, Johanna Vompras, Dirk Pieper URL: http://doi.org/10.5334/dsj-2019-006 |
| Title: Supporting the Interdisciplinary, Long-Term Research Project ‘Patterns in Soil-Vegetation-Atmosphere-Systems’ by Data Management Services Author: Constanze Curdt URL: http://doi.org/10.5334/dsj-2019-005 |
| Title: Implementing in the VAMDC the New Paradigms for Data Citation from the Research Data Alliance Author: Carlo Maria Zwölf, Nicolas Moreau, Yaye-Awa Ba, Marie-Lise Dubernet URL: http://doi.org/10.5334/dsj-2019-004 |
| Title: Data Discovery Paradigms: User Requirements and Recommendations for Data Repositories Author: Mingfang Wu, Fotis Psomopoulos, Siri Jodha Khalsa, Anita de Waard URL: http://doi.org/10.5334/dsj-2019-003 |
| Title: Additions to the Last Millennium Reanalysis Multi-Proxy Database Author: David M. Anderson, Robert Tardif, Kaleb Horlick, Michael P. Erb, Gregory J. Hakim, David Noone, Walter A. Perkins, Eric Steig URL: http://doi.org/10.5334/dsj-2019-002 |
| Title: Understanding Human Mobility Patterns in a Developing Country Using Mobile Phone Data Author: Merkebe Getachew Demissie, Santi Phithakkitnukoon, Lina Kattan, Ali Farhan URL: http://doi.org/10.5334/dsj-2019-001 |
In 2018, the third year of activity, the CODATA-RDA Schools of Research Data Science expanded to five events, with foundational data training in Brisbane, Trieste, Kigali and São Paulo and advanced workshops in Trieste.
SpringerNature is a committed and generous supporter of this initiative and part of our collaboration is that participants in the schools have written blogs about their experiences which appear on the SpringerNature Data Dialogues. Three of these blogs relating to the São Paulo school in December 2018 have recently appeared. These are direct and transparent accounts from three student helpers involved in the São Paulo school.
One of the approaches used by the initiative is to arrange for particularly able and enthusiastic students to return as student helpers: this provides invaluable assistance with pedagogy, enhances the experience of the returning student, helps build the social and skilled network around the schools, and creates a community of future instructors and hosts as the initiative expands.
CODATA-RDA Research Data Science Summer School Trieste 2018.
We have often heard wise heads in the Open Science and FAIR movements say things like the following:
These student helpers are part of that human solution.
Please follow the links below and enjoy!
An old dog learning new tricksAttending the CODATA-RDA School in 2017 as a student was a breakthrough moment for me.
Opening my head to FAIR scienceMy participation in the CODATA-RDA schools really improved my view regarding what is to be a good scientist. Openness and FAIRness should constantly and consciously be applied as a golden rule. He…
In this blog I discuss the benefits/truth of joining the CODATA-RDA School of Research Data Science. Taking part of the school both as a student and a helper allowed me to see how the school helped…
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These four elements are to be submitted as one PDF-file.
Princeton University seeks a visionary and innovative leader to create and direct the new Princeton Research Data Service (PRDS). The Director will provide overall leadership for the establishment of a strong collaborative initiative with the campus research community, guiding Princeton researchers toward best practices in data collection, data formatting, data maintenance, data access, and data management. The Director will facilitate access to, manage, steward and store digital research data. The Director will be responsible for spearheading the consultation and training services provided by professional research data specialists. The Director will be a visible leader, both on campus, nationally, and internationally, and able to continually assess the evolving needs of the campus research community with respect to data management across disciplines, based on trends in the field of practice as well as the requirements of federal funding agencies and publishers.
Reporting directly to the University Librarian, the Director will also work closely with the Dean for Research Office (DFR) and Office of Information Technology (OIT) to develop appropriate policies, data repository and storage infrastructure for the University. A Policy Advisory Committee consisting of senior personnel from OIT, the Library, DFR, and faculty from each division, will provide guidance and make appropriate recommendations on matters related to infrastructure, security, privacy, open access, preservation of codes, sensitive data, inter-institutional collaborations, etc.
Princeton University is a vibrant community of scholarship and learning that stands in the nation’s service and the service of humanity. As a world-renowned research university, Princeton seeks to achieve the highest levels of distinction in the discovery and transmission of knowledge and understanding. At the same time, Princeton is distinctive among research universities in its commitment to undergraduate teaching.
Essential Qualifications
Applications will be accepted only from the Jobs at Princeton website: https://careers.princeton.edu/ and must include a resume, cover letter, and a list of three references with full contact information.
Princeton University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. EEO IS THE LAW
Institutions now have a new means at their disposal to aid them in assessing their research data management initiatives, the Evaluating RDM Tool.
A collaborative creation, the tool was developed using the SPARC Europe How Open is Your Research service and the Digital Curation Centre’s RISE Framework.
“We wanted to create something that would go beyond providing initial RDM guidance,” said SPARC Europe Director, Vanessa Proudman. “This tool should help with the next phase, aiding institutions as they continue to improve and evolve their RDM programmes and practices.”
As for how it works, users are invited to answer a selection of questions. Based on their responses, three downloadable radar charts are generated providing insights into: the breadth or range of RDM services provided by the institution; the degree to which RDM services are being tailored to specific users; and lastly, whether or not the initiatives are “sector leading”.
Marta Teperek, Data Stewardship Coordinator at TU Delft, described the Evaluating RDM Tool as a “quick and easy means to help assess RDM readiness at your institution and to visualise gaps.”
The tool is free to use. Any question regarding its use may be directed to info@sparceurope.org.
“I‘m an ethnographer. Well, I’m not only an ethnographer, but the heftiest part of my dissertation work was ethnography. And as one who also has rigorous training in engineering and other natural science fields – I was surprised at how much of my research design required transformational change.
While I did the research – as I collected data – I changed what my hypotheses were, what I’d use the data for and what outcomes I’d obtain from analysing the data. It was simultaneously confusing and exciting, but eventually I was much prouder of the outcomes than I would have been had I stuck to the plan.
It was a lesson in valuing methodological adaptation and change. As researchers, we don’t know everything, and more people in science should have, and value, that experience.”
CC BY-ND 4.0 BIPM
The General Conference of Weights and Measures will meet in Paris to vote on whether to re-define the International System of Units (SI) for the kilogram, ampere, kelvin and mole based on fundamental laws rather than measurement.
A unique event in the history of science is scheduled for Friday 16th November when a meeting in Versailles, France, will vote whether to re-define the International System of Units (SI) based on exact values of the fundamental constants. This would mean, for example, that the International Prototype of the Kilogram – a lump of metal which has been used to determine measurement of the kilogram since 1889 – will be replaced by a precise value deduced from fundamental laws of science.
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The values are the work of the CODATA Task Group on Fundamental Physical Constants, which, every few years since 1969, has summarised and evaluated the cumulative work of scientists and technologists in publishing a recommended set of self-consistent values of the fundamental constants of nature. Their most recent work[1] has been to determine the exact values of the Planck constant h, the elementary charge e, the Boltzmann constant k, and the Avogadro constants NA, so that the value of four of the SI base units — the kilogram, ampere, kelvin, and mole (measures of mass, electric current, temperature, and amount of substance, respectively) — are no longer fixed by measurement, but are deduced from fundamental laws. They will join the other three base units — the second, metre, and candela (a measure of a light’s perceived brightness) — that are already defined in this way. The change will make the units more stable and allow investigators to develop ever more precise and flexible techniques for converting the constants into measurement units.
The decision will be made by the General Conference of the International Bureau of Weights and Measures, an inter-governmental organization, established in 1875, as the supreme authority through which member states (60 member states + 42 associate states) act together to agree the values of the fundamental constants. Does this matter? Yes, it matters profoundly. Since the earliest human civilisations, precise measurement has been a staple of honest trade and exchange, and as science and technologies have advanced, has been vital to science’s understanding of the universe, to the precision and utility of technological devices, to the terms and trustworthiness of trade and commerce, and to the everyday lives of citizens.
Geoffrey Boulton, retiring President of CODATA and member of the ISC Governing Board, commented that
“it is important that we scientists recognize the magnitude and potential significance of this achievement, as one of CODATA’s proudest moments in its 50-year history, and to applaud not only the members of its current Task Group, under its co-chairs David Newell and Barry Wood, but all their predecessors since 1969. In recognition of their achievements, the General Assembly of CODATA, held last week, agreed, by unanimous acclamation, to award the 2018 biennial CODATA Prize to the Task Group.”
The prize rewards outstanding achievement in advancing data for science. It is the first time that the prize has been awarded to a group rather than an individual.
Images are CC BY-ND 4.0 BIPM
[1] “The CODATA 2017 values of h, e, k, and NA for the revision of the SI,” Newell et al., Metrologia 55 L13-16 (2017)
