The following recommendations are not directed specifically at CODATA and ICSU, but rather to the broader S&T policy, funding, and research management communities. They arose from several of the plenary discussions and are more general than the discipline-specific suggestions.
Data sharing
Raise awareness of S&T data and information preservation, access and sharing
successes and challenges: [1] Promote awareness of data issues in ministries and universities. [2] Follow up with the participants in this workshop to continue further dialogue. [3] Identify regional conferences and workshops at which the results of this workshop can be presented. Take the conversation to others. [4] Continue to describe and promote workable models for sustainable open access.
Foster the development of a list of core datasets of who holds what data. This would facilitate data sharing. The NASA Global Change Master Directory is an example of such a directory and a possible model for action. Leveraging the emerging Global
Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) initiative is one such opportunity.
[...]
Promoting open access funding policies [for biodiversity data].
GBIF is developing policy statements for funding agencies that require datasharing and maintenance plans, similar to the International Long Term Ecological Research programme’s data policy model.
Various scientific ‘information commons’ initiatives are being established worldwide, including some specific to the area of conservation commons. The Southern African Millennium Assessment (2001–2005) provides an avenue to promote this work in the SADC region. [...]
The following kinds of actions should be taken with regard to scientific, technical and medical (STM) journals:
Establish and implement policy interventions by research funders (including governments and institutions) that: [1] Mandate that scholars make preprints
and eprints of their research available via an open access medium. [2] Mandate long-term curation of research outputs, both in the interests of the individual
researchers who produce the articles, but also in recognition of the shared character of the global research enterprise.
Promote the value of open access approaches to the research funding bodies by: [1] Involving researchers and managers in describing the real challenges as well as
solutions (using available local success stories). [2] Establishing training programmes for researchers and for journal funders and producers.
Create high-quality regional information repository facilities where individual publications, or the output of small subgroups of scientists, can be costeffectively
preserved, and openly available. [1] This will support the digitisation of more African material. [2] Promote the establishment of open institutional repositories. [3] Include national repositories to archive national heritage items and provide quality-control functions such as selection, appraisal and retention.
The report was prepared by the CODATA Task Group on Preservation of and Access to S&T Data in Developing Countries, the South African National Committee for CODATA, and the U.S. National Committee for CODATA. Though the report itself is undated, it was announced on April 17, 2006.
Posted by
Peter Suber at 4/19/2006 08:01:00 AM.
The open access movement:
Putting peer-reviewed scientific and scholarly literature
on the internet. Making it available free of charge and
free of most copyright and licensing restrictions.
Removing the barriers to serious research.
I recommend the OA tracking project (OATP) as the best way to stay on top of new OA developments. You can read the OATP feed on a blog-like web page or subscribe to it by RSS, email, or Twitter. You can also help build the feed by tagging new developments you encounter.
