International Data Exchange Workshop Report Released
Convened in May, 2007, this group of international practitioners discussed the current state of data exchange, and future opportunities for growth. The recently released workshop report provides an excellent overview of the discussions, recommendations, and clear "next steps". The report also includes information about each of the collaborative partners, and current projects.
See http://www.nsf-margins.org/Datawkshp07/ for more information!
During the workshop, participants separated into various working groups, including the following:
- Science User Needs
- Data Documentation and Publication
- Data and Metadata Interoperability
- Opportunities and Obstacles for International Data Sharing
Each group discussed current issues in their respective areas, and opportunities for international collaboration. Based on these discussions, which are detailed in the Workshop Report, the following "next steps" were identified:
- develop test-bed sites for a data discovery service across globally distributed data resources;
- establish forums for guidance and development of best practices in the areas of data acquisition, metadata, vocabularies, and interfaces;
- formulate a dedicated task group to advance international alliances; and
- establish opportunities for annual meetings of the international marine geoscience data management community.
Many of these recommendations represent important work, which is currently underway in the international community. If you are interested in participating in any of these activities, please visit the International Data Exchange Workshop website.