Abstract

The National Committee for Data in Science (NCDS) was established earlier this year by the Australian Academy of Science (AAS) to provide an interdisciplinary focus for scientific data management. AAS Committees are expected to foster their domain of interest and serve as a link between Australian and overseas scientists working in the same field. There are already many discipline-specific, thematic and project-based data management fora operating within Australia actively addressing issues pertinent to e-research such as data discovery and access; data grids, systems and services interoperability; data integration and curation for long-term data re-use. So what value does the NCDS expect to add ? Many of the technological, methodological and skill-based issues being tackled across these existing fora are commonly encountered problems.

The goal of the NCDS is to encourage better communication and information dissemination between existing fora so that solutions, as well as problems, can be shared. As a hub for communicating cross-discipline based data management issues, the NCDS will be in a strong position to make submissions to government on matters that require strategic national action. The NCDS can also broker collaborations. Australian scientists are active in international collaborations and the NCDS will represent Australian interests on the International Committee on Data For Science and Technology (CODATA). CODATA is sponsored by the International Council For Science (ICSU) and is concerned with improving the quality, reliability, management, and accessibility of data of importance to all fields of science and technology. This presentation introduces the NCDS, explains its mission and anticipated role within the existing Australian and global data management landscape.

About the speaker

Jane Hunter is Professor of eResearch at the School of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering at the University of Queensland. Her research focus is the application of semantic web technologies to the management, publishing and preservation of scientific data. She is currently a CI on projects that are investigating and developing innovative knowledge management services for a wide range of disciplines including: protein crystallography, nano-materials, water resource management, Australian literature and art conservation. She is currently a member of the National eResearch Architecture Taskforce (NEAT); Australian Academy of Sciences Committee for Data in Science; and the OAI-ORE International Advisory Committee.