Canadian National Committee for CODATAComité national canadien pour CODATAhttp://www.codata.org/canada

ITEM 10.3

Best Practices for CNC Administration:The Example of CNC/CODATA

Michel Sabourin, Ph.D.Chair, CNC/CODATA

Six Objectives

Article 1 of the CNC/CODATA Terms of Reference identifies six objectives or purposes.

This presentation will mention the specific actions done to achieve those objectives.

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First objective: To collect and reconcile the many views of its scientific community on relevant issues

Action 1Seminar on Access to Publicly Funded Scientific Data (NRC Partners’ meeting, May 2003)

Participants: 55 scientists in different disciplines

Format: Keynote speeches + Open Forum discussion

Objectives:• Explore accessibility in Canada of publicly funded natural

sciences research data;• identify possible deficiencies;• develop plans to address deficiency(ies).

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First objective: To collect and reconcile the many views of its scientific community on relevant issues (cont’d)

Action 2National Consultation on Access to Scientific Research Data (NCASRD)(Ottawa, November 2004)

Partnership: Three major funding agencies in the naturaland medical sciences

Organization: Blue Ribbon Task force (meeting in June 2004)Participants: 70 invited scientistsFormat: National Forum (two days)Objective:

• To help Canada maximize the value received from its publicly funded natural and medical sciences research by recommending an appropriate framework to facilitate open and long-term access to this research data

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First objective: To collect and reconcile the many views of its scientific community on relevant issues (cont’d)

NCASRD

http://ncasrd-cnadrs.scitech.gc.ca

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Second objective: To identify, represent and promote the capabilities and distinctive competence of its Canadian scientific community internationally

Action 1Facilitate the involvement of Canadian scientists in the ICSU/CODATATask Groups (created or renewed in November 2004)Continuing Task Groups:• Access to Biological Collection Data (Denis Lepage) • Data, Informationand Vizualization (Paul Mezey) • Virtual Laboratories in Earth, Physics and Environmental Sciences• (two names suggested; appointments soon to be made)• Data on Natural Gas Hydrates (John Ripmeester) • Fundamental Constants (Barry M. Wood)• Global Species Data Network (Guy Baillargeon) • Preservation and Archiving of Scientific and Technical Data

(D.R.F. Taylor)

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Second objective: To identify, represent and promote the capabilities and distinctive competence of its Canadian scientific community internationally (cont’d)

Action 1 (cont’d)New Task Groups:• Anthropometric Data and Engineering (Eric Paquet and Marc Rioux:

with Michel Sabourin acting as liaison for the Executive Board of ICSU/CODATA)

• Low Dimensional Materials and Technologies Network (one name suggested: appointment soon to be made)

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Second objective: To identify, represent and promote the capabilities and distinctive competence of its Canadian scientific community internationally (cont’d)

Action 2Enhancing the Canadian participation in ICSU/CODATA• Executive Board:

– Gordon Wood (2002-2004)– Michel Sabourin (2004-2006)

• Secretary General:– Gordon Wood (eight years)– Paul Mezey (six years)

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Second objective: To identify, represent and promote the capabilities and distinctive competence of its Canadian scientific community internationally (cont’d)

Action 3Encouraging Canadian participation in the CODATA Biennial

Conferences

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Third objective: To enhance the depth and breadth of the participation of the Canadian scientific community in the activities and events of CODATA and related organizations

Action 1Second Workshop on Information Vizualization (May 2001)

Partnership: Ottawa Centre for Research and Innovation

Participants: 113 computer scientists

(from 8 gov’t depts, 5 universities

and 46 companies)

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Third objective: To enhance the depth and breadth of the participation of the Canadian scientific community in the activities and events of CODATA and related organizations (cont’d)

Action 2Creation of the Sangster Award (in 2003)

Goal: To stimulate the interest of young Canadian scientists

in data activities

Recipient: First Sangster Award given (in 2004)

to Jau-Hsiung Wang (Geomatics

Engineering, Univ. of Calgary)

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Third objective: To enhance the depth and breadth of the participation of the Canadian scientific community in the activities and events of CODATA and related organizations (cont’d)

Action 3Web site expertise and consultation for ICSU/CODATA web site

(http://www.codata.org)• Mary Zborowski,

Exec. Secretary, CNC/CODATA

chairing International

Ad-hoc Review Committee

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Fourth objective: To establish the mechanisms for communicating to its Canadian scientific community the views of CODATA and information about its activities

Action 1Six CNC/CODATA “Members” recruited to reflect Canadian data

diversity:– Geographic (East-West representation)– Scientific discipline– Linguistic profile (English / French)– Sector (Government / Academia / Industry)

CNC membership augmented by seeking and recruiting “Observers”

(experts in data issues, who are interested, eager to contribute,

and willing to pay own expenses to attend Annual Meeting)

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Fourth objective: To establish the mechanisms for communicating to its Canadian scientific community the views of CODATA and information about its activities

Action 2Annual CNC/CODATA meeting• Action-oriented meeting with detailed Minutes available• CNC Members and Observers in attendance• Invitation sent to other CNCs, to send representative to

CNC/CODATA annual meeting; aim is to share similar data issues, stimulate data awareness in other disciplines, and learn from each other

• Upcoming meeting: Friday, Oct. 21st, 2005, NRC Ottawa

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Fifth objective: To distribute appropriate documentation, including the CODATA Newsletter

Action 1Since 1994, biennial Report on Data Activities in Canada,

prepared and distributed to the ICSU/CODATA General Assembly

+ all Canadian recipients of the CODATA

Newsletter

(circa 350)

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Fifth objective: To distribute appropriate documentation, including the CODATA Newsletter

Action 2 Action 3Housing of two data sets: Website maintenanceLogKOW (Dr. James Sangster)

and a mycotoxin database(Dr. Alan Taylor, in development)

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Sixth objective: To attract and stage international events of value to its Canadian scientific community

Action 1Organization of the 19th International CODATA Conference

(in Montreal, October 2002), in collaboration with

the US National Committee for CODATA

Participants: over 300 scientists from every continent

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Conclusion

I would like to express my deep appreciation and

sincere thanks to CISTI and its Director General,

Bernard Dumouchel, for its major support of CNC/CODATA

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