WDS Scientific Committee Members Visit the International Program Office
The World Data System International Program Office (WDS-IPO) hosted the 105th meeting of the Scientific Committee (WDS-SC) on Wednesday, 19 July. In a departure from the bimonthly virtual format, the meeting was held in a hybrid modality, with a handful of SC members attending in person at the IPO office in Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and the rest joining virtually via Zoom. This hybrid format allowed for a stronger sense of international collaboration, as participants from all over the world were able to come together to discuss the WDS's mission, action plan, and current initiatives.
The SC members who visited ORNL in person were Dr. David Castle, Chair of the SC, from Canada; Dr. Hugh Shanahan, Vice-Chair of the SC, from England; Dr. Mamoru Ishii from Japan; and Dr. Ioana Popescu from the Netherlands. They met with Dr. Suzie Allard, Principal Investigator of the WDS-IPO; Meredith Goins, Executive Director of the WDS-IPO; and the other members of the WDS staff, as well as Dr. David Sholl, interim director of the University of Tennessee Oak Ridge Innovation Institute (UT-ORII). During their visit, the SC members joined the IPO on a tour of ORNL, including the world's fastest supercomputer, Frontier, and the Spallation Neutron Source. They also visited the IPO office and facility, which is hosted by UT-ORII.
Some of the topics discussed at the meeting included:
- The introduction of Daniela Santos Oliveira, IPO Program Manager, and Reyna Jenkyns, ITO Associate Director.
- The WDS’s mission and action plan, specifically strategizing on goal 1: Provide services and support to existing and new members, and goal 3: Provide global leadership and agenda setting.
- Hugh Shanahan and Louise Bezuidenhout presented “Rethinking the ‘A’ in FAIR: Issues of Data Access and Accessibility in Research”.
- The WDS Early Career Researchers Network, International Data Week, and other current operations and initiatives.
The meeting was a productive and informative exchange of ideas, and the WDS is grateful to the SC for their continued support and guidance. Dr. David Castle, Chair of the WDS-SC, said:
“I was very pleased to have the opportunity to visit the WDS-IPO in person and to meet with the staff and the SC members. The hybrid format of the meeting allowed for a more inclusive and engaging discussion, and the visit to ORNL gave us a firsthand look at the operations of the International Program Office. I was particularly impressed with the IPO's work on the WDS Early Career Researchers Network and International Data Week. These initiatives are essential for ensuring that the next generation of data scientists has the skills and knowledge they need to make a difference in the world.”
The WDS-IPO is committed to working with the SC to ensure that the organization’s work is aligned with the needs of the global research community.
WDS Repository Sustainability Summit 2023 Recap
The World Data System Repository Sustainability Summit, held on 20-21 July, 2023, at the University of Tennessee brought together data professionals from around the world to discuss the challenges and opportunities of ensuring the long-term sustainability of scientific data repositories.
The Summit featured a variety of speakers, including representatives from funding agencies, data repositories, and research institutions. The speakers shared their insights on a range of topics, including:
- The changing landscape of scientific data
- The challenges of data preservation
- The importance of data sharing
- The role of data repositories in ensuring the sustainability of scientific data
The summit also featured a number of workshops and networking opportunities. These sessions provided attendees with the opportunity to learn about specific aspects of data sustainability, share their experiences, and build relationships with other data professionals.
Three morning sessions were offered, including a presentation on the UNESCO Open Science Toolkit, Peers Speaking to Peers on Sustainability, and a plenary on Friday morning sharing the Funder's Point of View.
The Summit also featured a number of sessions on specific topics related to data sustainability - including:
- What is a Sustainability Plan? This session provided an overview of the components of a sustainability plan and how to develop one.
- Value Propositions: This session discussed the importance of developing a strong value proposition for data repositories.
- Know Your Funder: This session provided tips on how to understand the funding priorities of your funders and how to position your repository to be successful in securing funding.
- Communicating Your Need: This session provided tips on how to effectively communicate the needs of your repository to your funders.
"Of the 15 individuals who attended the first session, 80% did not have a sustainability plan for their repository", stated Meredith Goins, WDS-IPO Executive Director. "This beginners' level workshop on creating a sustainability plan for data repositories is another way we are trying to support our current and future members."
The World Data System Repository Sustainability Summit was a valuable opportunity for data professionals to learn about the challenges and opportunities of ensuring the long-term sustainability of scientific data repositories.
We look forward to sharing stories from attendees about how they are using the information they learned to improve the sustainability of their data repositories. Below are some resources from the Summit:
Lessons: Slides | Video 1 | Video 2 | Video 3 | Video 4
Plenaries:
- The Role of Repositories in the Context of the Global Transformation Towards Open Science Slides | Video
- Peers Speaking to Peers on Finding Sustainability Slides | Video
- The Funder’s Point of View Slides | Video
Read the University of Tennessee College of Communication and Information news article.
We encourage you to stay tuned for more exciting content from the World Data System Repository Sustainability Summit!
Daniela Santos Oliveira Joins WDS-IPO as Program Manager
The World Data System's International Program Office (WDS-IPO) proudly announces the appointment of Daniela Santos Oliveira as the new Program Manager, joining the dynamic team led by Dr. Suzie Allard, Principal Investigator, and Meredith Goins, Executive Director. With a Ph.D. in Speech Science and a successful track record in managing a developmental psychology research lab, Daniela brings a unique blend of research expertise, leadership, and communication skills to propel the WDS-IPO's mission forward.
Throughout her distinguished career as a lab manager, Daniela demonstrated exceptional proficiency in overseeing scientific operations, efficiently coordinating participant recruitment, experiment design, data collection, and analysis. Her expertise in maintaining smooth workflows, fostering strong team cooperation, and meeting critical project milestones ensures a seamless integration into the WDS-IPO's various initiatives.
Moreover, Daniela's experience in working with various stakeholders and navigating university and government compliance policies further enhances her ability to collaborate effectively within the global research community. Her passion for open science aligns perfectly with the WDS's commitment to promoting unrestricted access to invaluable research data worldwide.
Dr. Suzie Allard and Meredith Goins, on behalf of the WDS-IPO leadership team, express their confidence in Daniela's exceptional qualifications, which encompass project management proficiency and a comprehensive understanding of academia. Her appointment signifies the WDS's dedication to advancing open science and empowering researchers with unfettered access to critical data resources.
"I am thrilled to join the esteemed team at the World Data System's International Program Office," says Daniela Santos Oliveira. "Together, we will continue to drive the frontiers of scientific research by fostering a robust data ecosystem and facilitating global collaboration."
Daniela's bio can be viewed on the WDS-IPO page
We welcome Daniela to the WDS team!
Upcoming Webinar: Roaring into the Future of Research
The Research Organization Registry (ROR) is a community-led project building an open, sustainable, usable, and unique identifier for every research organization in the world. ROR IDs help connect research outputs to the organizations that produced them, increasing discoverability and reproducibility.
Join us for an upcoming webinar with ROR's Amanda French to learn more about this important initiative! Amanda will provide an overview of the ROR registry, how to register your organization for an ID, and how ROR IDs are being used by repositories, publishers, funders, and other stakeholders. She'll also hold a live Q&A session.
Whether you're looking to get your organization registered or just want to learn more about ROR, this webinar is for you. Register now!
Register Now: International Symposium on Data Science (DSWS-2023)
The International Symposium on Data Science (DSWS-2023) will be held in Tokyo, Japan, from 11-15 December, 2023. The DSWS is a biennial conference that brings together researchers, practitioners, and policy makers from around the world to discuss the latest advances in data science and its applications.
DSWS-2023 will explore how data science can be used to address some of the world's most pressing challenges, such as climate change, poverty, and inequality. The themes include the challenges of data systems and networks, open science and the FAIR principles, recent developments in data science, lessons learned from COVID-19 data, involvement of early career researchers and scientists, an Asia-Oceania data forum, GEO variables and data mapping for cold regions, and more.
The DSWS will feature a variety of keynote speakers, panel discussions, and workshops. Several of the speakers are affiliated with the World Data System, including Juanle Wang (Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, China Academy of Science), Chantelle Verhey (WDS-International Technology Office), David Castle (University of Victoria), and Maja Dolinar (University of Ljubljana). There will also be opportunities for networking and collaboration.
Abstracts should be submitted by 30 September.
Registration closes 30 November.
International Data Week 2023 Program Published
Registration is now open for International Data Week 2023, a global event that brings together the WDS Members' Forum, SciDataCon, and RDA's 21st Plenary! This hybrid event will occur in Salzburg, Austria 23-26 October, 2023 at the Salzburg Congress. In person and online participation is possible.
The program for IDW 2023 is now available, and it's packed with exciting sessions, speakers, and activities that will inspire and inform you about the latest developments and innovations in data science and data stewardship. Please note that this program is subject to change.
Early bird registration for in person attendance is now open through 15 September and we encourage you to register here.
The WDS Members' Forum will take place leading up to IDW 2023 on Sunday, 22 October both online and in person in Salzburg. The WDS Members' Forum is an opportunity for the WDS community to report on their specific developments, activities, and progress, as well as to discuss the strategic and organizational objectives of the WDS. Registration for the WDS Members' Forum will open in the coming months, with the program and venue to be published on the WDS website. You can view our previous Members' Forum from International Data Week 2022 here.
SciDataCon, organized by WDS and CODATA, is the premier conference on scientific data and an integral part of International Data Week. See our most recent informational webinar recording here, where WDS' Meredith Goins and CODATA's Simon Hodson provided details regarding the event. More details can be found at https://www.scidatacon.org/.
The Research Data Alliance 21st Plenary (RDA P21) The Research Data Alliance (RDA) has released the preliminary program for its 21st Plenary that will take place during the International Data Week 2023 (IDW 2023) from 23 to 26 October 2023, in Salzburg, Austria. The program does not include the details of the breakout sessions yet, as they are still in peer review. The program may be subject to change.
All of International Data Week 2023 will be hybrid for inclusivity, but we strongly encourage your physical attendance for networking and engagement. The sessions will be recorded and accessible to the registered participants for six weeks, and then to the public.
Follow us on social media for updates and announcements.
IDW Registration Deadlines
- 1 July – 15 September, 2023 - Early Bird registration for in person tickets
- 1 July – 20 October, 2023 - Online tickets available
- 16 September – 20 October, 2023 - Full fee registration for in person tickets
- 20 October, 2023 - Registration closes at noon (CET), on-site ticket sales available at full fee
- 22 - 27 October, 2023 - On-site registration at full fee
*Student and Low & Lower Middle-Income discounts are available. Please contact with questions.
We look forward to seeing you!