(International Council for Science press release via ScienceDaily, 23 October 2008) -- The existing networks for collecting, storing and distributing data in many areas of science are inadequate and not designed to enable the inter-disciplinary research that is necessary to meet major global challenges. These networks must be transformed into a new inter- operable data system and extended around the world and across all areas of science. The General Assembly of the International Council for Science (ICSU) recently agreed to take the first strategic steps to establish such a system.

More scientific data and information is now available than at any other time in history and the volume is increasing daily, particularly via the World Wide Web. Yet the quality, long-term stewardship and availability of this data is largely uncertain and a large amount of valuable scientific data remains inaccessible. Over 50 years ago, ICSU established networks of data centres and services to provide full and open access to scientific data and products for the global community. But the world has changed enormously in 50 years, most notably with advances in technology, and it is time for the existing structures to be integrated into a new expanded system--a World Data System. ...

Dave Carlson, the Director of the programme office for the International Polar Year (IPY)--a major, ICSU-sponsored, interdisciplinary research programme that is using and generating enormous amounts of data--added: "There are more than 200 IPY research projects, funded to the tune of 1.5 billion Euros, and its major legacy should be the data that will inform polar research for years to come. But we still don't know how most of this data will be handled."

"The new ICSU World Data System should help provide at least part of the answer. A little bit of extra resource for data management is urgently needed to ensure maximum return on what has been a huge public investment in IPY." ICSU will be implementing the recommendations in the report over the next three years. The report and more information on the General Assembly are available at: http://www.icsu.org/3_mediacentre/GA_29.html

Tagged: IPY project, News