CODATA INTO THE FUTURE

John Rumble's impromptu presentation on conclusions arrived at for the potential future involvement of CODATA's African country members in CODATA international goals and visions.

1. Online Manuals – Training

• Data Handling
• Database Building: Web-based, free, up-to-date

African computer specialists can work with scientists and engineers to create online manuals that provide training in data handling and database building concerns, particularly those concerns most relevant to African science needs.

2. Online Workshops – State-of-the-Art Learning

• Data Visualization

Training can also include online or in person courses designed for specific data issues. Data visualization can be implemented into the training sessions to make the online experience as close to a hands-on experience as possible.

3. CODATA Journal – Sharing New Knowledge

• Electronic, web
• Free
• Peer-reviewed
• F.J. Smith (Belfast), Editor 2001

The CODATA Journal will be an online only journal that will facilitate the sharing of new knowledge and research in scientific and technical data issues. The African data community can both benefit from its offerings and contribute scientific findings and conclusions for publication.

4. Regional Meetings – Less Travel, More People

• U.S. National – Americas
• Asia-Oceanic
• Africa
• .
• .
• .

Regional meetings will not only encourage more “local” participants, but will also increase the discussions of regional data needs and issues. Discovering the greatest data need in each region is the first step towards creating a plan for meeting the need.

5. Millenium Data Workshops

• Discipline-oriented
• Joint sponsorship
• “African” Specific Data 2^nd Workshop

What are the data needs?

CODATA’s Millenium Data Workshops are each designed to address data needs in a specific discipline. With the commitment and support of other organizations with similar goals, CODATA International intends to jointly sponsor several Millenium Data Workshops.

6. Stronger Task Groups

• Better Focus
• African Expert Participation

Get Things Done

The new “Reliable Scientific Data Sources in Africa” CODATA Task Group can act as a hub for all CODATA African member countries to develop their regional ideas. This Task Group will help focus on the greatest data needs and will facilitate a database of experts who can be called upon to offer expertise.

7. Access to Scientific Databases

• NEW Policy
• Part of VL
• -Principles
• -Negotiations/Model agreement

There are many currently available scientific databases now available on the web. However, one of CODATA’s goals is to develop a policy that will make all of CODATA-related databases easily available online and to enhance some of the sites to include data visualization techniques and virtual laboratories.

8. Interoperability – Content

Data Sharing – Work

Collaboration among the different member countries is imperative to increase the quality (and quantity) of online data. The content must be created to allow users in many different electronic environments access to the data, and data sharing will increase the ability of researchers to accomplish larger goals.

9. Other

• More connectivity: HOW?
• VL
• ? Support/Visibility for importance of African science
• other ideas?

One of the problems facing African scientists in particular is the limited connectivity to the Internet, and the connectivity that is available is often very expensive. CODATA’s African member countries need to develop ideas to increase the connectivity available while decreasing the costs in their respective regions. Having more access will help to raise awareness and support for the importance of African science.