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