A new ICSU World Data System (WDS) has been created through a decision of the 29th General Assembly of the International Council for Science (ICSU). WDS builds on the 50-year legacy of the ICSU World Data Centre system (WDC) and the ICSU Federation of Astronomical and Geophysical data-analysis Services. Many existing WDCs and Federation Services, as well as numerous other data centres, services and activities, have already expressed interest in becoming part of the new system.
The WDS concept aims at a transition from existing stand-alone WDCs and individual Services to a common globally interoperable distributed data system, that incorporates emerging technologies and new scientific data activities.
The new system will build on the potential offered by advanced interconnections between data management components for disciplinary and multidisciplinary scientific data applications. Applications for the new WDS are already being investigated, including the WDC online portal2 which is being considered as a proof of concept for an element of the new system.
WDS will enjoy a broader disciplinary and geographic base than previous ICSU bodies and will strive to become a worldwide ‘community of excellence’ for scientific data. To this end, WDS will work closely with ICSU’s Committee on Data for Science and Technology (CODATA) and with the new ICSU Strategic Coordinating Committee for Information and Data (SCCID).
WDS Vision
The new WDS will support ICSU’s mission and objectives, ensuring the long-term stewardship and provision of quality-assessed data and data services to the international science community and other stakeholders.
WDS Goals
- Enable universal and equitable access to scientific data and information
- Facilitate better access to data
- Strive for simpler access to data
- Work to provide quality-assured data and information
- Promote improved data stewardship
- Work to reduce the digital divide
- Ultimately, provide data for better science