[CODATA-international] FAIR Well 2023, and looking forward to 2024!

[Asha CODATA]

*A message from Simon Hodson, Executive Director.*

As is customary, before taking a break for the (northern hemisphere)
mid-winter holidays and the New Year, I would like to highlight *some* of
CODATA’s achievements in the year that is ending and look forward to
activities in the coming year.  Highlights include the progress of the
WorldFAIR project, an ambitious expansion of the International Data Policy
Committee, a successful completion of the first phase of the Global Open
Science Cloud initiative, and a Festival of Data at International Data
Week.  The CODATA General Assembly elected a wonderful new President and
Executive Committee, and approved an updated Strategic Plan which gives the
organisation a strong sense of direction for the next four years.
WorldFAIR: ‘global cooperation on FAIR data policy and practice’

The WorldFAIR project <https://worldfair-project.eu/> has become the
flagship for our Decadal Programme ‘Making Data Work for Global Grand
Challenges’.  As coordinator of the project, and working with a fantastic
consortium, we have been further refining a methodology and approach to
advance implementation of the FAIR principles, and in particular those
relating to interoperability and reusability, in a range of domain and
cross-domain research areas <https://worldfair-project.eu/case-studies/>.

The WorldFAIR project was active at the March RDA Plenary in Gothenburg
<https://worldfair-project.eu/2023/04/14/worldfair-at-rda-plenary-20-synopsis/>,
at the EOSC Symposium in September
<https://worldfair-project.eu/2023/10/05/cross-domain-interoperability-use-cases-reflections-from-the-eosc-symposium-2023/>,
and at International Data Week in Salzburg in October
<https://worldfair-project.eu/2023/11/10/idw2023-a-festival-of-data-with-the-worldfair-project/>.
It was also featured in the UNESCO-hosted event ‘Towards a FAIRer World’
<https://codata.org/events/science-and-policy-workshops/towards-a-fairer-world/>.
A series of webinars
<https://worldfair-project.eu/the-worldfair-project-webinar-series-presenting-project-outputs/>
has
been showcasing the work of the project and in particular that of the case
studies.  You can access WorldFAIR deliverables
<https://worldfair-project.eu/project-outcomes-and-documents/> from the
website or our Zenodo collection
<https://zenodo.org/communities/worldfair-project?q=&l=list&p=1&s=10&sort=newest>.
As we head towards the end of the project, there will be a lot going on, so
please do sign up to our newsletter
<https://worldfair-project.eu/worldfair-newsletter/>!

One of the significant outputs will be the Cross-Domain Interoperability
Framework, a set of practical recommendations for how to address the
functional requirements to service FAIR data and metadata for cross-domain
use.  The first draft module on ‘Discoverability’ is currently available
for public review
<https://worldfair-project.eu/2023/12/05/cross-domain-interoperability-framework-cdif-discovery-module-v01-draft-for-public-consultation/>,
and will be followed by modules on ‘Access’, ‘Integration’, ‘Controlled
Vocabularies’, ‘Mappings’ and ‘Provenance’.  The CDIF development was
considerably advanced by this year’s Dagstuhl Workshop ‘Defining a Core
Metadata Framework for Cross-Domain Data Sharing and Reuse’
<https://ddi-alliance.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/DDI4/pages/2946531350/2023+Defining+a+Core+Metadata+Framework+for+Cross-Domain+Data+Sharing+and+Reuse>
.

Although the European Commission funded project will conclude at the end of
May 2024, we are already exploring how to expand and sustain the initiative
in the form of ‘WorldFAIR+’.  Thanks to a grant from the International
Science Council, two further case studies relating to data in emergencies
will be launched.  We are optimistic of adding a further case study in
earth sciences as part of a collaboration with IUGS and Deeptime Digital
Earth <https://www.ddeworld.org/>.  And discussions are ongoing with a
number of partners, including ARDC, the Helmholtz Metadata Collaboration,
CESSDA
<https://codata.org/cessda-eric-and-codata-unite-forces-to-propel-interdisciplinary-research-and-data-advancement/>,
KISTI and others.
<http://codata.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/fvpr.jpg>FAIR
Vocabularies in Population Research

Highly relevant to the work of the WorldFAIR project and to implementing
the FAIR principles in different domains was the work of the joint
IUSSP-CODATA Working Group on FAIR Vocabularies in Population Research.
Ably chaired by George Alter, and marshalling subject and technical
expertise from a range of partners including UN Stats, OECD, SDMX and the
DDI Alliance, the WG published its concluding report
<https://codata.org/initiatives/working-groups/previous-working-groups/iussp-codata-working-group-on-fair-vocabularies/fair-vocabularies-in-population-research-report-and-webinar/>
in
June 2023.  FAIR Vocabularies in Population Research
<https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7818157> has been particularly well
received and makes recommendations for SDMX, the DDI Alliance, IPUMS, as
well as IUSSP and CODATA.
International Data Policy Committee: data policy in times of crisis and
expansion for a new challenge!

The topic of data policy for emergency situations has also been an
important theme for the International Data Policy Committee (IDPC).  Hosted
at UNESCO on 29 March, ‘Towards a FAIRer World’
<https://codata.org/events/science-and-policy-workshops/towards-a-fairer-world/>
examined
the underlying ethical, human rights, and humanitarian frameworks needed to
support data policy during crisis situations in an open science context,
respecting the FAIR (data stewardship) and CARE (ethical) data governance
principles.  This event led directly to the creation of a UNESCO and CODATA
Working Group to develop contributions to the UNESCO Open Science Toolkit
to assist with Data Policy for Times of Crisis.  The results, in the form
of guidance, a checklist, and a factsheet, will be launched at the UN World
Data Forum <https://unstats.un.org/unsd/undataforum/index.html> in
Medellín, Colombia in November 2024.

Under the tireless leadership of Francis Crawley, the IDPC has undergone a
transformation and renewal.  The IDPC’s new Action Plan identifies seven
topics for action:

   1. Data policy for data quality, reliability, and integrity
   2. Data policy for science in crisis situations
   3. Data policy for education
   4. Data policy for AI
   5. Data policy for Open Science
   6. Data policy for the publication and communication of science
   7. Data policy for specific populations

To meet this ambitious agenda, a call was issued for new membership, and
the IDPC has been considerably expanded.  It now comprises over 60 leading
experts from over 30 countries.  Task Groups will be formed to address each
of the topics.
Global Open Science Cloud Initiative

The International Symposium on Open Science Clouds
<https://isosc.casconf.cn/page/1666323611906084864>, 4-6 September 2023
marked a successful conclusion to the first phase of the Global Open
Science Clouds (GOSC)
<https://codata.org/initiatives/decadal-programme2/global-open-science-cloud/>
initiative,
which rests on a strong partnership between CODATA and the GOSC
International Programme Office, hosted at CNIC.  A significant community of
cooperation has been created, with representatives from the major Open
Science infrastructure initiatives around the world.  There is palpable
enthusiasm for continuing the cooperation and there was general agreement
that this should be the first of a series of similar events.  The GOSC
Steering Group is now exploring the possibility of holding an ISOSC on the
African continent in early 2025.
Advancing data science and the science of data

Marking 20 Years of the Data Science Journal
<https://datascience.codata.org/collections/20-years-of-data-science>, the
CODATA DSJ published a collection of articles and essays exploring the
history of data science and the relationship between data science and the
science of data.

The CODATA Connect Early Career Working Group
<https://codata.org/initiatives/data-skills/codata-connect/> has continued
its excellent work, completing a podcast series on Data for Disaster Risk
Reduction
<https://codata.org/initiatives/data-skills/codata-connect/data-for-disaster-risk-reduction-podcast-series/>,
in partnership with the CODATA Task Group on FAIR Data for Disaster Risk
Research, and launching a new one on Open Geo AI
<https://crdf.org.in/podcast/open-geo-ai-unveiling-satellite-insights-through-open-data#:~:text=This%20podcast%20series%2C%20'Open%20Geo,decision%2Dmaking%20and%20societal%20progress.>
.

<http://codata.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/podcastblog.jpg>

Meanwhile, the CODATA-RDA Schools of Research Data Science
<https://www.datascienceschools.org/> had another successful year, running
an in person school at the ICTP in Trieste
<https://indico.ictp.it/event/10195> and an online version in South Africa
<https://datascienceschools.co.za/>.  Both CODATA Connect
<https://codata.org/call-for-nominations-or-applications-to-join-the-codata-connect-early-career-and-alumni-network/>
and
the CODATA-RDA SORDS
<https://www.datascienceschools.org/call-for-new-co-chairs/> have recently
issued calls for new leadership and participants, so there will be exciting
opportunities going forward.
A Festival of Data and a New Era for CODATA

The major conference of the year was the fourth International Data Week
<https://www.internationaldataweek.org/>, in Salzburg, Austria, 23-26
October.  Combining the Research Data Alliance’s Plenary Meeting
<https://www.rd-alliance.org/plenary-meetings/past-plenaries> and SciDataCon
<https://www.scidatacon.org/IDW-2023-Salzburg/>, organised by CODATA and
WDS, IDW 2023 attracted 834 participants (702 in person and 132 online)
from 48 countries.  The feedback on the plenary sessions and the breakout
sessions has been excellent.

IDW was followed by the CODATA General Assembly
<https://codata.org/events/general-assembly/general-assembly-2023/>, 27-28
October.  The GA elected Mercè Crosas
<https://codata.org/merce-crosas-elected-codata-president/> as CODATA
President.  Currently head of Computational Social Sciences at the
Barcelona Supercomputing Centre, Mercè brings to the role a remarkable
range of experience from a career that spans astrophysics, biotech and
software startups, social sciences, and Open Public Data.  A strong
Executive Committee was elected
<https://codata.org/2023-codata-general-assembly-elects-strong-executive-committee-and-approves-eight-task-groups/>,
notable by considerably improved gender balance and a prominent
representation from international scientific union.  Barend Mons bade
FAIRwell
<https://codata.org/blog/2023/12/15/the-fair-well-message-by-codata-past-president-barend-mons/>,
becoming Past President and saying that he was now ‘Findable, Accessible,
Interoperable and Retired’.

The General Assembly also approved five new Task Groups, three continuing
Task Groups and one new Working Group
<https://codata.org/2023-codata-general-assembly-elects-strong-executive-committee-and-approves-eight-task-groups/>.
Alongside the strategic activities described above, each of these groups
will contribute to the updated strategic plan, which was approved by the
GA.  To be launched in the new year, Making Data Work to Improve our World,
the CODATA Strategic Plan 2023-2027 presents our vision of a world in which
science is empowered to address universal challenges through the
transparent, trustworthy and equitable use of data and information. The
strategy describes four strategic priorities which CODATA will pursue in
order to help realise this vision.  In sum, we need to make data work to
improve our world.
<http://codata.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/ec2023.jpg>
Looking forward to 2024!

The transition from 2023 to 2024 is certainly one of dynamic change.
CODATA has new leadership and a renewed vision.  2024 will see the
compilation of the WorldFAIR project and the launch of WorldFAIR+; we will
embark on the next phase of the Global Open Science Cloud initiative; the
new expanded International Data Policy Committee will pursue its action
plan; and the new (and renewed) Task Groups and Working Groups will set
about their activities. February will also see the launch of the Data
Science Without Boundaries project in which CODATA is a partner.

Important events early in the year are The Road to FAIR and Equitable
Science Workshop at the Lorenz Centre in Leiden, 22-26 January
<https://www.lorentzcenter.nl/the-road-to-fair-and-equitable-science.html>,
celebrating 10 years of the FAIR principles, and the FAIR Digital Object
Summit in Berlin, 20-21 March <https://fairdo.org/fdof-summit-2024/>.
CODATA will once again be partnering with the DDI Alliance on two workshops
at Schloss Dagstuhl, to advance work on the DDI-CDI standard
<https://www.dagstuhl.de/en/seminars/seminar-calendar/seminar-details/24413>
and
on the Cross-Domain Interoperability Framework
<https://www.dagstuhl.de/en/seminars/seminar-calendar/seminar-details/24423>
.

The CODATA Executive Committee will meet in Barcelona in October, where our
new president will also host a workshop on data and AI issues for
computational social sciences.  The priority event for CODATA in 2024 will
be the UN Data Forum in Medellín, Colombia
<https://unstats.un.org/unsd/undataforum/index.html>, where we intend to
showcase a number of contributions to help make data work for global grand
challenges.

Thanks,
Asha
--
___________________________
*Cross Domain Interoperability Framework (CDIF), Discovery Module (v01
draft for public consultation): *feedback invited by Monday 15 January 2024
<https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10252564>

*Submit your International Data Week / SciDataCon 2023 Paper to the
CODATA Data Science Journal: *deadline 31 March 2024
<https://codata.org/submit-your-international-data-week-scidatacon-2023-paper-to-the-codata-data-science-journal-deadline-31-march-2024/>

October 2023 publications
<https://codata.org/october-2023-publications-in-the-data-science-journal/> in
the CODATA Data Science Journal <https://datascience.codata.org/>

*Stay in touch with CODATA:*

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___________________________
Asha Law | Program Assistant, CODATA | http://www.codata.org

E-Mail: asha at codata.org
Tel (Office): +33 1 45 25 04 96

CODATA (Committee on Data of the International Science Council), 5 rue
Auguste Vacquerie, 75016 Paris, FRANCE
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