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Preservation of and Access to Scientific and Technical Data in/for/with Developing Countries (PASTD)

Preservation of and Access to Scientific and Technical Data in/for/with Developing Countries (PASTD)

In responding to the “Open Data in a Big Data World” –An International Accord issued by ICSU, IAP, ISSC and TWAS, the PASTD task group pays more attention to the implementation of the International Accord in developing countries.

Task Group objectives:

  • Promote strategy, policy and institutional guidelines for implementation of open data principles in developing countries, especially in low and middle income countries (LMIC).
  • Provide an interdisciplinary forum for enhancing capacity building and sharing best practice in developing countries;
  • Advance data publishing in developing countries;
  • Enhance  data re-use  and repositories in support of sustainable development;

Expected outcomes:

  • International workshops in Mexico, Madagascar, India on Implemention of International Data Shairing Principles in a Big Data World”  in Mexico (December, 2016 during IGF), India (March, 2017), Madagascar (May, 2017);
  • Maintenance and Extending of Digital GeoMusuem, which is listed as GEO Community Activities (CA);
  • Operating and expansion during online services of Global change research data publishing and repository from 2016 to 2018;
  • Special issue to the Journal of Data Science: best practices and show cases of implementing Open Data in a Big Data World in developing countries;

The policies, sharing services and academic publications developed and promoted by the Task Group will support countries to accelerate progress on data science and data sharing towards SDG targets. The PASTD collaboration network will build flexible framework to integrate the existing resources and coordinate the actions and contributions of international data communities towards a common objective with joint efforts, which focuses on the Accord Open Data in A Big Data World. Proposed activities will enable the diverse relevant stakeholders, institutions and participants within and outside CODATA community to work together to increase their capacity to acquire and utilize digital resources.

PASTD TG remains committed to provide an interdisciplinary forum and mechanisms for exchanging information about S&T data and community activities, with particular focus on the concerns and needs of developing countries. Its objectives highly accord with the CODATA’s strategic objectives and priority areas: to promote Open Data principles, policies and practices; and, to build capacity for  improving skills and the functioning of science systems. The PASTD TG is coordinating with several organizations to develop a Guidelines of Implementation of Open Data Principles for Science and Sustainability in Developing Countries.

Based on the existing work of PASTD on Data Publishing and Repository and workshops on open data in developing countries, the PASTD plans to release Special issue to the Journal of Data Science: best practices and show cases of implementing Open Data in a Big Data World in developing countries after the workshop in Madagascar, 2017. The effort will make CODATA’s expertise on data policy and best practice available to governments, academic community, private sectors at all stages, providing the support to implementation of sustainable development and governance all over the world, especially in low and middle income countries.

Task Group outputs

  • Online services of Global change research data publishing and repository;
  • Special issue to CODATA Data Science Journal: best practices and show cases of implementing Open Data in a Big Data World in developing countries;
  • Content update of Digital LIN Chao Geomuseum;
  • International workshop and training course for francophone countries in Africa — ”Guidelines for developing countries in implementing Open Data in a Big Data World”  in May, 2017, Madagascar;

Task Group Activities

  • Big Data and Environment – Pathway to Reach the SDGs – Panel workshop during IGF2016, 5-8 December,2016
  • Digital LIN Chao Geomuseum; Anual meeting, joint action 0f the International Common Understanding Year (IYGU) of IGU; 30-31 December 2016
  • Inplementation of International Data Sharing Principles in Developing Countries, focuses on Asia region First half of year; 4-6 March 2017
  • Open data in developing countries; International workshop and training course– ”Guidelines for developing countries in implementing Open Data in a Big Data World” in May, 2017, Madagascar
  • Capacity building and Sharing of best parctices; Editorial Board Meeting of best practices and show cases Special issues to Data Science Journal, in first half year of 2018, Beijing,China
  • Data publishing and re-use- Service and Mainteanance of Global change research data publishing and repository; September, 2016 To September, 2018
  • Mainteanance of CODATA PASTD TG website September, 2016 To September, 2018
  • Data publishing and re-use – Workshop on Preservation and Access of Research Data in Developing Countries, Panel discussion and new action plan of PASTD; September, 2018

Main contacts

Dr. Xiang Zhou (Co-chair)
Associate Professor, Director of Major Special Project Office,
Institute of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Add. No.3 Datun Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100101, China
Tel.: +86 10-64846825 / Fax: +86 10-64864643
zhouxiang (at) radi.ac.cn

Prof. Mabel Imbuga (Co-chair)
Vice Chancellor, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology
P.O. Box 62000, City Square, Nairobi, 00200, Kenya
Tel.: 254-067-52711 / Fax: 254-67-52164
vc (at) jkuat.ac.ke

Dr. Dora Ann Lange Canhos (Co-chair)
Associate Director, Centro de Referência em Informação Ambiental – CRIA, Brazil
Tel.: +55 19 32880466
dora (at) cria.org.br

Prof. Chuang Liu (Secretary)
Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research
Chinese Academy of Sciences
No.11A Datun Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, China
Tel.: 86-10-6488 9805 / Fax: 86-10-6485 0917
lchuang (at) igsnrr.ac.cn

Executive Committee Liaison

Alena Rybkina (Russia)
Executive Committee Member 2014-2016
Contact Details: a.rybkina (at) gcras.ru

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