ICSU World Data System: Trusted Data Services for Global Science

The ICSU World Data System (ICSU-WDS) concept aims at a transition from existing stand-alone services to a common globally interoperable distributed data system that incorporates emerging technologies and new scientific data activities. ICSU-WDS strives to become a worldwide ‘community of excellence’, providing trusted data services for global science with searchable common data directories and catalogues, and thus ensuring the long-term stewardship and provision of quality-assessed data and data services.

Many organizations that manage scientific data and data services and networks thereof have already joined us, and our community is striving and steadily growing.  WDS Regular and Network Members undergo a lightweight certification procedure through an application system. WDS Members are reviewed by the WDS Scientific Committee on criteria such as access to high-quality data, data stewardship, and participation in broad harmonization and interoperability efforts.

We would like to build on the fact that some of our Members are active participants in the ESIP Federation to find synergies and establish mutually beneficial collaborations. This town hall meeting will be an opportunity for those with an interest in ICSU-WDS, both current and prospective Members, to liaise with some members of the WDS Scientific Committee and the International Programme Office in an informal environment. Discussions will no doubt include—but will not be limited to—an introduction to ICSU-WDS, the benefits of your organization becoming a WDS Member and the application procedure, as well as the current initiatives that ICSU-WDS is undertaking and those planned for the future.