Transcript Presentation to BRDI January 31, 2012 Kathie Bailey Mathae  International Council for Science ◦ Membership  National scientific bodies (120, representing 140 countries)  International scientific.

Presentation to BRDI
January 31, 2012
Kathie Bailey Mathae
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International Council for Science
◦ Membership
 National scientific bodies (120, representing 140
countries)
 International scientific unions (31)
 Interdisciplinary ICSU bodies (15, includes CODATA
and WDS)
 Scientific Associates (22, includes IIASA and TWAS)
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NAS is the official U.S. adhering member.
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Initiatives and Reports Approved
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Strategic Plan, 2012-2017
Earth System Sustainability Initiative (ESSI)
Urban Health and Well-Being
Integrated Research on Disaster Reduction
Strategic Coordination for Information and Data
World Data System
Actions Approved
◦ Review of ICSU
◦ Review of CODATA
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Components
◦ International research collaborations
◦ Science for Policy
◦ Universality of Science
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Principle of Universality
Data and Information
Outreach to all countries
Science education
Science and society
◦ Structure-function considerations
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“Over the next six years there is a need to
significantly elevate the importance and role of
scientific data and information management
throughout the ICSU family and within the
development of new ICSU initiatives.”
“CODATA has been actively engaged over the past six
years in addressing issues of high priority to ICSU…
CODATA has a central role to play over the next six
years in taking forward the recommendations from
SCID… In this context, a dedicated review of
CODATA is planned in 2012-2013.”
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Partners
◦ Current: ICSU, ISSC, Belmont Forum
◦ Possible: WMO, UNESCO, IOC, and UNEP
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Focus on Grand Challenges
Goals
◦ Deliver at global and regional scales the knowledge
that societies need to effectively answer global
change
◦ Coordinate and focus international research
◦ Encourage new generation of researchers
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Components
◦ Environmental, social, cultural, and economic
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Characteristics of Projects
◦ Multi-disciplinary and collaborative
◦ Utilize systems analysis modelling methodology
using feasibly-obtained data
◦ Address multiple aspects of urban health
◦ Generate understanding and products useful for
policymakers
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IIASA to be key partner
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International Program Office opened in 2010
◦ Located at Center for Earth Observation and Digital earth at
the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing
◦ Jane Rovins, IRDR Director
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Partners: ISSC and UN International Strategy for
Disaster Reduction (UN-ISDR)
New Science Chair: Sálvano Briceño
National and regional committees encouraged
Limited number of IRDR International Centres for
Excellence to be established
◦ Will provide regional and research foci
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Priority Area Assessment (PAA) commissioned
by CSPR in 2003
SCID identified several priorities for ICSU
◦ 2004 - “ICSU should assume an international
leadership role in identifying and addressing critical
policy and management issues related to scientific
data and information.”
◦ 2008 – Establish an Ad Hoc Strategic Coordinating
Committee for Information and Data (SCCID)
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SCCID established for 3 years (2009-2011)
◦ Developed report with 14 recommendations
http://www.icsu.org/publications/reports-andreviews/strategic-coordinating-committee-oninformation-and-datareport/SCCID_Report_April_2011.pdf
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Action taken
◦ Report endorsed by CSPR, ICSU EB, and GA.
◦ Recommendations to be addressed by ICSU bodies.
◦ Ad hoc committee disbanded.
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Structure
◦ Incorporates 2 previous ICSU bodies: World Data
Centres (WDC), and Federation of Astronomical and
Geophysical data analysis Services (FAGS)
◦ In transition from stand-alone centers and services
to a globally interoperable distributed data center
 Incorporating emerging technologies and new
scientific data activities
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New International Program Office
◦ Host: National Institute of Communications
Technologies in Japan
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Officers:
◦ President-Elect: Gordon McBean
(atmospheric/climate sciences, Canada)
◦ VP, Strategic Planning and Review: Malegapuru
William Makgoba (molecular immunology, South
Africa)
◦ VP, External Relations: Sergio Pastrana (international
coopperation in science, Cuba)
◦ Secretary-General: David Black (chemistry, Australia)
◦ Treasurer: Hans Rudolph Ott (condensed matter
physics, Switzerland)
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Ordinary Members (Member Countries)
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John Ball (mathematics, United Kingdom)
Luiz Davidovich (physics/quantum optics, Brazil)
Nicole Moreau (chemistry, France)
Guoxiong Wu (meteorology, China)
Ordinary Members (Unions)
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GEO: Orhan Altan (Turkey)
MPS: Kennedy Reed (USA)
BIO: Dov Jaron (USA)
Social Sciences: Maria Carla Galavotti (Italy)
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Nominations Needed
◦ Committee in Urban Health and Well-Being
◦ Science Committee for IRDR