Transcript Future Earth Data Management Breakout

Future Earth
Data Management
Breakout
Nov. 29, 2012
Introduction
• Data from Future Earth research must be preserved
and available both during and after the Program.
This will be a measure of the success of Future Earth.
• Challenge of integrating natural/physical with
social/behavioral data
• Typically at least 15% of project expenditures.
• How will DM success be defined?
“Future Earth data are efficiently life-cycle managed
both during and after the initiative, and discovery,
access and usability are maximized.”
Work to Date
Draft data and Information document by Roberta
Balstad.
-
Data policies in place at start of program.
Mandatory archiving in funded archive.
Use existing data centres.
Dedicate funding to DM and archiving.
1-year time limit for documentation & archiving.
Co-ownership with Future Earth
Internet data access targeted at public.
Data integration eligible for Future Earth funding.
Digital divide, non specialist training.
Breakout Approach
• Concentrated on high-level data strategy
• Reviewed research framework and
institutional design documents data elements.
• Considered policies, planning, performance
measurement, roles and responsibilities, etc.
Research Framework
• Preservation and accessibility of high-quality data/information
resulting from Future Earth activities is critical to success.
• A centralized approach to data management is not recommended –
data centers exist.
• New tools and research are required to integrate natural and social
sciences data/information.
• Metadata are a primary requirement - A metadata portal is
recommended.
• Future Earth must provide both funding and motivation to ensure
quality project data management, and monitor progress.
• Provision of access to data management resources including tools
and training.
• Specialized data management approaches may be required by some
project bundles.
• Facilitate engagement of community data management expertize.
Governance and Structure
• Future Earth will need an approach to address differences in
the data policies of participants
• Future Earth has a potential role in harmonizing international
data sharing and access policies.
• It is recommended that the Science Committee include a
“Data Champion” supported by an expert Data
Subcommittee.
• It is critical that the Secretariat include a full-time data
coordinator.
• Existing OECD and GEOSS data policies are a good starting
point for a Future Earth Data Policy
Next Steps
• Breakout Group members are willing to work
with CODATA and WDS to provide advice on
data issues during the transition period.
• Creation of a Future Earth document
addressing data management is
recommended.