Breaking new ground: the African Open Science Platform
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Transcript of Breaking new ground: the African Open Science Platform
Breaking new ground: the African Open Science
PlatformPresented by Susan Veldsman & Ina Smith
Agenda
• About the African Open Science Platform (AOSP) incl. ICSU, CODATA, ASSAf• Key stakeholders• Accord on Open Data in a Big Data World• Open Science in the context of AOSP• Rationale for & value of an African Open Science
Platform• Focus areas of AOSP• Challenges faced in terms of open science, open data
About the African Open Science Platform (AOSP)• Funded by the National Research Foundation (NRF)
(SA Dept. of Science and Technology)• Directed by CODATA (ICSU)• Managed by Academy of Science of South Africa
(ASSAf)
About ICSU & CODATA
• ICSU: International Council for Science – consists of 17 interdisciplinary bodies e.g. CODATAhttp://www.icsu.org/ • CODATA: Committee on Data for Science and
Technologyhttp://www.codata.org/ • Mission: Strengthen international science for the
benefit of society by promoting improved scientific and technical data management and use.
About ASSAf (1)
• Recognise scholarly achievement & excellence• Mobilise members in the service of society• Conduct systematic & evidence-based studies on
issues of national importance• Promote the development of an indigenous system
of South African research• Publish science-focused journal
http://www.assaf.org.za
About ASSAf (2)
• Develop productive partnerships with national, regional and international organisations to building capacity within the National System of Innovation (NSI)• Create diversified sources of funding for sustainable
functioning and growth of a national academy• Communicate with relevant stakeholders
http://www.assaf.org.za
AOSP Governance
• Advisory Council• Terms of Reference
• Technical Advisory Board• Terms of Reference
• Platform Office (ASSAf) & ICSU/CODATA Office• CODATA Executive Director• 2x Senior Project Officers • 1x Junior Project Officer
Key Stakeholders
• Committee on Data for Science and Technology (CODATA) (ICSU)• The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS)• Regional Office for Africa (ROA)(ICSU)• World Data System (WDS)(ICSU)• Research Data Alliance (RDA)• SCiGAIA (Science Gateways and e-Infrastructures in Africa)• Association of African Universities (AAU)• African Research Councils• African Universities• African Governments• NRENs (Internet Service Providers for Education)• Other
Accord: Open Data in a Big Data World
• Values of open data in emerging scientific culture of big data• Need for an international
framework• Proposes comprehensive set of
principles• Provides framework & plan for
African data science capacity mobilization initiative• Proposes African Platform
Open Science Defined (1)
“Open Science is the practice of science in such a way that others can collaborate and contribute, where
research data, lab notes and other research processes are freely available, under terms that
enable reuse, redistribution and reproduction of the research and its underlying data and methods.” -
FOSTER Project, funded by the European Commission.
Open Science Defined (2)
“Open Science moves beyond open access research articles, towards encompassing other research
objects such as data, software codes, protocols and workflows. The intention is for people to use, re-use and distribute content without legal, technological or social restrictions. In some cases, Open Science also entails the opening up of the entire research
process from agenda-setting to the dissemination of findings.” - Open and Collaborative Science in
Development Network project, funded by IDRC.
Open Data, Open Science and the Research Lifecycle (Foster)
https://www.rri-tools.eu/-/research-lifecycle-enhanced-by-an-open-science-by-default-workflow
African Open Science Example
Citizen Science
AOSP Deliverable
Rationale for an African Platform• AOSP will be basis for shared investment in infrastructure• Harvest and circulate good ideas• Spread and support good practice• Develop capacities of individuals and institutions• Promote key applications of relevance to African economies
and societies• Act as conduit for links with international open data and open
science programmes and standards, vital for it to flourish• Coordinate and develop activities to enhance capacity of
individuals, institutions, national systems• AOSP to become basis for Open Science in Africa
Value of an African Platform (1)• Properly manage African research data, overview• Showcase African research data• Contribute to global knowledgebase• Increase the return on investment• Track usage and impact• Identify lack of data/opportunities/gaps
Value of an African Platform (2)• Cross-use data across disciplines/studies• Protect Intellectual Property (IP)• Protect privacy of research participants• Make data more discoverable/visible• Participate in collective problem-solving• Avoid duplication of effort
5 Focus Areas
• Promote development & adoption of data policies, principles, practice• Determine infrastructure available• Address issues of incentives, best practice, benefits• Foster training & capacity building activities• Create an awareness, stimulate dialogue (frontiers)
Challenges faced in terms of Data
https://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2013/12/scientific-data-lost-forever/356422/
http://thefreethoughtproject.com/cdc-scientist-admits-destroyed-data-showed-vaccines-caused-autism-children/#cZz6lzEjivPoTZ80.99
SA Weather Service Climate Databank
http://www.weathersa.co.za/climate
Managing Intellectual Property
Protecting Privacy
https://mybroadband.co.za/news/security/202208-massive-flaw-in-old-ster-kinekor-website-leaked-clients-private-data.html
Power & Internet Access
Incentives for Data Sharing
Capacity Building
Stimulate Dialogue
OA to Scientific Information in Emerging Countries
http://www.dlib.org/dlib/march17/schopfel/03schopfel.html
Survey: Status of Openness in Africa• Preliminary findings from survey• Launched 1 November 2016; due date 31 January
2017• 35 responses received
Focus of data initiatives
69% = training; 60% = stewardship; 54% = policy
Funding of data initiatives
51% = host institution; 34% = international grant; 20% = national grant
AOSP Actions & Deliverables 2017• SFSA Side Event & Panel Discussion• Visit http://africanopenscience.org.za/ • Planning Phase• Advisory Council & Technical Advisory BoardNext:• Identify & train representative on national level (each country
actively producing data, with research interest) • Coordinate national workshops to introduce AOSP, Open Data, Open
Science• Desktop research to Identify initiatives on national level & populate
database• Engage on meetings as opportunities arise, engage with
stakeholders
Sci-GaIA Open Science Platform
http://www.sci-gaia.eu/osp/
Conclusion
• Africa to manage & share data – contribute to the international knowledgebase• Survey & country representatives to contribute
information; desktop research• Africa has lots to offer, if all work together
Acknowledgments
• SA Dept. of Science & Technology• National Research Foundation (NRF)• CODATA• All African partners