<div dir="ltr"><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px 0px 1em;border:0px;outline:0px;font-size:14px;vertical-align:baseline;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;color:rgb(102,102,102);font-family:"Open Sans",Arial,sans-serif"><img class="gmail-alignnone gmail-size-full gmail-wp-image-3295" src="https://codata.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/AOSP-Logo.png" alt="" width="651" height="234" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; max-width: 100%; height: auto;"></p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px 0px 1em;border:0px;outline:0px;font-size:14px;vertical-align:baseline;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;color:rgb(102,102,102);font-family:"Open Sans",Arial,sans-serif"><img class="gmail-size-large gmail-wp-image-3296 gmail-alignright" src="https://codata.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/NRF_WebLogoA_1.png" alt="" width="200" height="77" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; max-width: 100%; height: auto; float: right; display: inline;">The <a href="https://www.nrf.ac.za/" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;vertical-align:baseline;background:transparent;color:rgb(46,163,242);text-decoration-line:none">National Research Foundation</a> (NRF) of South Africa will host the <a href="http://africanopenscience.org.za/" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;vertical-align:baseline;background:transparent;color:rgb(46,163,242);text-decoration-line:none">African Open Science Platform</a> (AOSP) Project Office for the next 3 to 5 years. Supported by South Africa’s <a href="https://www.dst.gov.za/" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;vertical-align:baseline;background:transparent;color:rgb(46,163,242);text-decoration-line:none">Department of Science and Innovation</a> (DSI), key institutions in Africa, and the <a href="https://council.science/" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;vertical-align:baseline;background:transparent;color:rgb(46,163,242);text-decoration-line:none">International Science Council</a> (ISC), the AOSP (<em style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;vertical-align:baseline;background:transparent">Science for the Future, the Future of Science</em>) makes the case for bold action to mobilise the scientific community in Africa in responding to the challenges of the digital revolution. The new paradigm of <em style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;vertical-align:baseline;background:transparent">Open Science</em> is a powerful driver for scientific research and scholarship and its application to social, economic and global environmental priorities.</p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px 0px 1em;border:0px;outline:0px;font-size:14px;vertical-align:baseline;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;color:rgb(102,102,102);font-family:"Open Sans",Arial,sans-serif">The AOSP Advisory Council, following a competitive process, awarded the NRF this significant opportunity to further establish and formalise a Continental platform. With a strong emphasis on African unity as a nuanced and dedicated focus, the NRF and the DSI recognise the significant potential of the AOSP as a means to create an inclusive and integrated culture of collaboration on the Continent in the service of democratising information and knowledge across social boundaries for the achievement of common goals and objectives.</p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px 0px 1em;border:0px;outline:0px;font-size:14px;vertical-align:baseline;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;color:rgb(102,102,102);font-family:"Open Sans",Arial,sans-serif"><img class="gmail-alignright" src="https://www.codata.org/uploads/images/aosp_new.png" width="281" height="396" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent; max-width: 100%; height: auto; float: right; display: inline;">The AOSP was initiated through a pilot phase supported by the DSI, and managed by the NRF and the <a href="https://www.assaf.org.za/" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;vertical-align:baseline;background:transparent;color:rgb(46,163,242);text-decoration-line:none">Academy of Science of South Africa</a> (ASSAf) during 2017-2019, with partners including the International Science Council (ISC), and its <a href="https://codata.org/" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;vertical-align:baseline;background:transparent;color:rgb(46,163,242);text-decoration-line:none">Committee on Data</a> (CODATA). Outputs included the collective development of a draft roadmap for Open Science on the Continent, and four open science frameworks that informed the first consultative stakeholder meeting, held during 2-3 September 2019 in Alexandria, Egypt, to design the implementation phase of the AOSP. Coordinated by the Chairperson of the AOSP Advisory Council, Dr Khotso Mokhele, the <a href="https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.2222418" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;vertical-align:baseline;background:transparent;color:rgb(46,163,242);text-decoration-line:none">Strategic Plan</a> for the AOSP was launched during South Africa’s Science Forum in December 2018. The AOSP aims to build a critical mass of high-calibre open science research on the Continent, and will ensure that its projects are aligned with existing programmes and opportunities within regional and national research systems.</p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px 0px 1em;border:0px;outline:0px;font-size:14px;vertical-align:baseline;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;color:rgb(102,102,102);font-family:"Open Sans",Arial,sans-serif">In collaboration with numerous key institutional and national initiatives, including Governments, Science Granting Councils, research infrastructure platforms, universities, and public and private research institutions, workstreams of the formalised platform will include the development of a legislatively compliant governance framework; the co-creation of a sustainable long-term funding model; and formalisation of the AOSP Operating Model.</p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px 0px 1em;border:0px;outline:0px;font-size:14px;vertical-align:baseline;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;color:rgb(102,102,102);font-family:"Open Sans",Arial,sans-serif">The CEO of the NRF, Dr Molapo Qhobela, stated that: “<em style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;vertical-align:baseline;background:transparent">The NRF is delighted to contribute to and support this strategic endeavour with a number of national and international partners. To excel in the new data dispensation, commitment and investment are required for Open Data policies, enabling Information and Communications Technology (ICT) infrastructure, and commitment to the necessary human capacity development</em>”.</p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px 0px 1em;border:0px;outline:0px;font-size:14px;vertical-align:baseline;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;color:rgb(102,102,102);font-family:"Open Sans",Arial,sans-serif">The AOSP Project Office, based at the NRF in Pretoria, South Africa, with selected staff appointments, will be launched during 2020. The interim contact person is Dr Sepo Hachigonta, Director Strategic Partnerships (<a href="mailto:sepo.hachigonta@nrf.ac.za" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;vertical-align:baseline;background:transparent;color:rgb(46,163,242);text-decoration-line:none">sepo.hachigonta@nrf.ac.za</a>).</p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;font-size:14px;vertical-align:baseline;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;color:rgb(102,102,102);font-family:"Open Sans",Arial,sans-serif">The Future of Science and Science of the Future: Vision and Strategy for the African Open Science Platform: <a href="https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.2222418" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;vertical-align:baseline;background:transparent;color:rgb(46,163,242);text-decoration-line:none">https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.2222418</a></p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;font-size:14px;vertical-align:baseline;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;color:rgb(102,102,102);font-family:"Open Sans",Arial,sans-serif"><br></p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;font-size:14px;vertical-align:baseline;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;color:rgb(102,102,102);font-family:"Open Sans",Arial,sans-serif">Thanks,</p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;font-size:14px;vertical-align:baseline;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;color:rgb(102,102,102);font-family:"Open Sans",Arial,sans-serif">Asha</p><div><br></div>-- <div><div style="color:rgb(0,0,0)">___________________________<br></div><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"><br></div><div><b>DDI – Cross Domain Integration (DDI-CDI):</b> <a href="https://codata.org/ddi-cross-domain-integration-ddi-cdi-first-public-review-release/" target="_blank">first Public Review Release, deadline for comments 31 July.</a></div><div style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"><br></div><div style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"><b>Call for Nominations and Applications: </b><a href="https://codata.org/call-for-nominations-and-applications-chair-codata-international-data-policy-committee-deadline-monday-25-may-2020/" target="_blank">Chair, CODATA International Data Policy Committee, Deadline Monday, 25 May 2020</a></div><div style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"><br></div><div style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"></div><a href="https://codata.org/essay-competition-open-data-challenges-to-address-global-and-societal-issues/" target="_blank" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);text-decoration-line:none"><b>CODATA Connect and Data Science Journal Essay Competition</b></a>, deadline 30 June 2020.<br><br><div style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"><a href="https://codata.org/data-together-covid-19-appeal-and-actions/" target="_blank"><b>Data Together COVID-19: Appeal and Actions</b></a> - commitment from CODATA, GO FAIR, RDA and WDS</div><div style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"><br></div></div><div style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"><b>SAVE THE DATE! <a href="https://codata.org/save-the-date-international-data-week-2021-8-11-november-2021-seoul-south-korea/" target="_blank">International Data Week 2021</a></b>, 8–11 November 2021, Seoul, South Korea</div><div style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"><br><div><b>SAVE THE DATE! <a href="https://codata.org/save-the-date-international-fair-convergence-symposium-codata-general-assembly-in-paris-on-22-24-october-2020/" target="_blank">International FAIR Convergence Symposium</a></b>, 22-23 October 2020, Paris, France</div><div><br></div><div><a href="https://codata.org/march-2020-publications-in-the-data-science-journal/" target="_blank"></a><a href="https://codata.org/march-2020-publications-in-the-data-science-journal/" target="_blank"><b>March 2020 publications</b></a> in the <a href="https://datascience.codata.org/" target="_blank">CODATA Data Science Journal</a> </div><div><br></div><div><b>Stay in touch with CODATA:</b></div><div></div><div><br></div><div>Stay up to date with CODATA activities: <a href="http://lists.codata.org/mailman/listinfo/codata-international_lists.codata.org" target="_blank">join the CODATA International News list</a></div><div><br></div><div>Looking for training and career opportunities in data science and data stewardship?  <a href="http://lists.codata.org/mailman/listinfo/data_science_training_lists.codata.org" target="_blank">Sign up to the CODATA early career community-run data science training and careers list</a></div><div><br></div><div>Follow us on social media! <a href="https://twitter.com/CODATANews" target="_blank">Twitter</a> - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/codata.org/" target="_blank">Facebook</a> - <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/simon-hodson-b3711a11/" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a> - <a href="https://www.instagram.com/codatainternational/" target="_blank">Instagram</a></div></div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr" style="font-size:small"><div style="font-size:12.8px"><div style="color:rgb(0,0,0)">___________________________<br></div></div></div><div dir="ltr" style="font-size:small"><br></div><div dir="ltr" style="font-size:small">Asha Law | Program Assistant, CODATA | <a href="http://www.codata.org/" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)" target="_blank">http://www.codata.org</a></div><div dir="ltr" style="font-size:small"><br></div><div dir="ltr" style="font-size:small">E-Mail: <a href="mailto:asha@codata.org" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)" target="_blank">asha@codata.org</a><br></div><div dir="ltr" style="font-size:small">Tel (Office): +33 1 45 25 04 96</div><div dir="ltr" style="font-size:small"><br></div><div dir="ltr" style="font-size:small">CODATA (Committee on Data of the International Council for Science), 5 rue Auguste Vacquerie, 75016 Paris, FRANCE</div></div>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