Codata workshop

Day 2

Present:

Surname	Name	Title	Affiliation
Arnold	Robyn	Ms	Write Connection (scribe and rapporteur)
Chantson	Janine	Dr	ICSU-ROA
Chuntharpursat	Avinash	Mr	SAEON
Cooper	Antony	Dr	CODATA SANC
Dubi	Alfonse	Dr	University of Dar es Salaam
Gevers	Wieland	Prof.	Academy of Science of South Africa
Guwa	Nontando	Ms	Academy of Science of South Africa
Haoses-Gorases	Lischen	Dr	University of Namibia
Kaniki	Andrew	Dr	National Research Foundation
Laughton	Paul	Mr	University of Johannesburg
Liu	Chuang	Prof.	Chinese Academy of Sciences and e-SDDC, UN GAID
Mati	Xola	Dr	Academy of Science of South Africa
Meese	Geoff	Dr	CSIR / EU Africa Projects
Mloza-Banda	Henry	Mr	University of Malawi
Muhongo	Sospeter	Dr	ICSU-Regional Office of Africa
Mukanganyama	Stanley	Dr	University of Zimbabwe
Odido	Mika	Dr	UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission
Pienaar	Heila	Dr	University of Pretoria
Roman	Henry	Dr	CSIR / WAYS Africa
Rossouw	Steve	Prof.	CODATA SANC
Selematsela	Daisy	Dr	CODATA SANC
Sentoo	Naresh	Dr	Durban University of Technology
Sharif	Raed	Mr	Syracuse University
Uhlir	Paul	Mr	CODATA USNC
Van der Berg	Henda	Ms	CODATA SANC
Van Deventer	Martie	Dr	CSIR
Xiao	Yun	Prof.	Chinese Academy of Sciences and CODATA Chinese NC

SESSION 4: ENVIRONMENTAL AND GEOSPATIAL, HEALTH AND BIOMEDICAL, BIODIVERSITY, AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC DATA AND INFORMATION IN THE SADC REGION

• 
  Developing measures of data and information value and improving the quality of scientific information resources in the SADC region.
  
• 
  Compiling directories of SADC scientific data sources.
  
• 
  Establishing a data management “academy” or online training and instructional materials.
  

Chair: Prof. Liu Chuang, Chinese Academy of Sciences and e-SDDC, UN GAID

Panellist: Dr XIAO Yun (Chinese Academy of Sciences and CODATA Chinese NC)

The experience, progress and challenge to the data-sharing policy of the scientific database

Background

• 
  The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) is China's supreme institution for natural science research.
  
• 
  Scientists accumulated a large amount of precious data resources over a long period of scientific research practice, but these data were not fully developed and applied because of the lack of sophisticated management methods before the Scientific Database Project was initiated.
  
• 
  During the 1960s, the effective storage, management, development and application of large amounts of scientific data became possible.
  
• 
  During the 1970s, some chemical institutes of CAS began to build their own databases.
  
• 
  In 1983, CAS launched the project ‘Scientific Database and its Information System’.
  
• 
  The scientific database system is the large-scale and multi-subject group of scientific databases. The scientific database is not only a research project, but also an engineering project. It has played important roles in many areas, including scientific research, science and education, enterprise and economy, and information and service.
  

Framework of organisation

The Scientific Database (SDB) is advised by an Expert Committee of leading academics, comprising experts from institutes of CAS. The committee is responsible for policy-making, funds management, project evaluation, etc.

The Scientific Database Centre comprises the organised construction of the platform and standards. It provides the basic environment for operating the service, as well as data integration and support services.

Data resources

• 
  503 specialised databases have been established.
  
• 
  Total data amount has reached 16.7 terabytes.
  
• 
  Data of 10.3 terabytes has been put into service via the Internet.
  
• 
  Over 40 websites have been established on the China Science and Technology Network (CSTnet).
  
• 
  A portal website of SDB has been established and put into service at http://www.csdb.cn.
  
• 
  45 institutes and hundreds of researchers have participated in the construction of SDB.
  

Data sharing demands

The challenges faced by modern science requires that data be shared:

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  The scientific research issue is complicated; scientific research is no longer simple and isolated.
  
• 
  The real-time obtaining and processing of scientific information and data, simulation and large-scale calculation have become the main methods of scientific research and need the support of large amounts of scientific data.
  
• 
  The drive to share comes from closer cooperation and communication among scientists.
  
• 
  Modern network information technology has provided the necessary technical conditions for large-scale and large-scope data sharing without restrictions of time and space.
  

Move to share data

• 
  Data sharing is a systematic project of the scientific database.
  
• 
  The scientific database has adopted a data-sharing policy and developed the technical means to implement it.
  
• 
  The core is provided by data sharing regulations; it also includes the corresponding system platform, standards, data resources development and auxiliary measures.
  
• 
  The data-sharing regulations provide important guidelines for the programming, construction and service activities of the scientific database.
  

Purpose

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  To provide guidelines and regulations for sharing scientific data that are adhered to by participating units
  
• 
  To promote and extend the sharing of scientific database, as well as to protect the rights of the data proprietor
  

Main problems to resolve

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  Data classification (including public, secret and protected)
  
• 
  Data usage (to protect the rights of the customer, the data owner and the governor)
  
• 
  Data release and sharing (whether for profit or non-profit)
  
• 
  Data management (concentrated or distributed)
  

Sharing regulations

The framework of the sharing regulation has 10 chapters and 52 articles, including:

• 
  (1) General rules, (2) Share management system for scientific data, (3) Classification and grading, (4) Issues and sharing, (5) Gathering of scientific data, (6) Integration management, (7) User grading, (8) Application and protection of intellectual property rights, (9) Rewards and penalties, (10) Annexes: terms.
  

• 
  The regulations define the rights, obligations, responsibilities and protocols associated with data sharing activities according to the management system, participating roles and data-sharing styles.
  

Sharing principle

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  Do not damage the interests of the database developers, effectively protect intellectual property rights, allow the scientific data to be used and shared widely and freely.
  
• 
  The data resources should be accessible to society so that the government sectors, scientific research staff and public can share and use them in a broad scope.
  

Management system

Intellectual property rights

The regulations deal as follows with intellectual property rights:

• 
  Article 37: The ownership of all databases and branch databases built by the CAS Scientific Database project belong in principle to the database-developing institute.
  
• 
  Article 38: CAS has the right of access to all databases and sub-databases developed as part of the Scientific Database project for free and without restriction.
  
• 
  Other development applications based on the scientific database should be permitted by CAS and corresponding database developing institutes in writing. The CAS Scientific Database must be acknowledged as the source of the data.
  
• 
  The returns and interests gained by the scientific database should be rationally distributed between development participants and data producers or providers, the concrete distribution methods should be determined by contract.
  

The regulations deal as follows with the supervision of data sharing:

• 
  They provide details of rewards and penalties.
  
• 
  The Scientific Data Centre evaluates the results of data-sharing work and the legal responsibilities of anyone that violates the intellectual property rights protocol or the Data Privacy Law.
  
• 
  The detailed implementation rules can be formulated for any subject area within the framework and principles of the sharing regulations.
  

Other data sharing measures

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  Develop standards for data and metadata
  
• 
  Develop the middleware for SDB data
  
• 
  Provide technical training on the SDB
  
• 
  Work through organisations such as CODATA and the World Data Centre (WDC) System.
  
• 
  An inevitable step in promoting data sharing is to develop the necessary standards for the construction, management, integration and sharing of the scientific database.
  

Implementation and current progress

• 
  The draft data-sharing regulations have been formally approved by the SDB experts committee.
  
• 
  According to the draft regulations, members of SDB should release and implement their data-sharing declaration.
  
• 
  The SDB experts committee should organise the groups to examine and approve the data-sharing declaration.
  
• 
  The data-sharing declaration approved by SDB will be released and managed in the SDB Centre, and will be implemented under the supervision of the SDB experts committee and Data Centre.
  

Development planning

Future development will entail:

• 
  Perfecting the sharing regulations and making them more operable on the foundation of current draft data-sharing regulations of SDB.
  
• 
  Research into detailed regulations for data sharing in geography, chemistry and biology has begun and investigations into other subject areas will be promoted to further advance and guide data sharing.
  
• 
  Combining the development planning and data sharing of scientific data, following the principle of data sharing in the construction of data resources, standards, system platform, training, communication, and application system development, etc.
  
• 
  Enhancing the implementation and management of data-sharing regulations through SDB project mechanisms and related software tools
  
• 
  Rapidly developing the metadata project application of the scientific database, developing a directory system of data resources, and finalising the implementation of data sharing methods.
  
• 
  In order to standardise and deliver on data-sharing obligations, members of SDB should be required to submit their work plan on data sharing in the future.
  

Comments on presentation

• 
  Response: The data-sharing regulations are not available in an English translation; there is only a Chinese version.
  
• 
  Response: The Chinese Academy of Sciences works in conjunction with the data sharing regulations of the country, namely the Regulation of Access to Government Information.
  

Panellist: Dr Lischen Haoses-Gorases (University of Namibia)

Geographical perspective: aspects of trends in malaria with specific reference to Namibia

Introduction

• 
  Namibia has an annual average of 400 000 outpatient malaria cases, 30 000 inpatient cases are reported, and there are 1 000 deaths from malaria, out of a total population of 2 million.
  
• 
  In 2002, malaria accounted for 26.4% of outpatient cases, 21.6% of admissions and 8.6% of all hospital deaths.
  
• 
  Malaria is mainly distributed in the northern part of the country and is endemic in certain areas. In the north-eastern part (Kavango and Caprivi), malaria has a longer time of transmission. The perennial rivers in that part of the country (Kavango, Zambezi, Cuaudo, Chobe) provide standing water in which the malaria mosquito can breed.
  
• 
  The peak season for malaria outbreaks is between January and June.
  
• 
  Pregnant women and children under 5 years of age are most vulnerable due to their immunity status.
  

Mortality and morbidity rates

• 
  There was an increase of malaria cases in 2001 because of heavy rains.
  
• 
  In 2005 and 2006, there was a decrease compared to the previous five years.
  
• 
  In recent years, there have been malaria epidemics in 1990, 1996, 1997 and 2001.
  

Early diagnosis and prompt treatment

• 
  Namibia uses National Vector-borne Disease Control Programmes. This programme should be stopped in order to make early diagnosis and implement prompt treatment.
  
• 
  Artemether lumefantrine is the first line treatment drug for malaria and Sulphadoxine the second line. Chloroquine is being phased out, as mosquitoes have become resistant to this drug.
  

Selective vector control

The three dominant programmes for vector control are:

• 
  Indoor residual house spraying with DDT and pyrethroids
  
• 
  Larvacing with Themophos
  
• 
  Distribution of long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets.
  

Mass mobilisation

• 
  Communities are being mobilised through media campaigns and information, education and communication (IEC) material in all languages.
  
• 
  Namibia observes national and international malaria days (Africa Malaria Day: 25 April, SADC Malaria day: 9 November, National Malaria Awareness week: 2–9 November)
  

Roll back malaria

The Roll Back Malaria commitment was signed by African heads of state in Nigeria in 2000. Funding in the form of a development budget from the Minister of Heath and Social Services has increased. Routine regional budgets have been increased to combat, prevent and treat malaria. There have been contributions from local partners including the donation of mosquito nets by commercial banks and private companies, and there has been some technical support from United Nations agencies.

Applied and operational research

• 
  There has been a susceptibility study and bioassay test on DDT and pyrethroids.
  
• 
  KAP (Knowledge, attitudes and practices) studies are ongoing.
  
• 
  Drug efficacy studies are carried out annually.
  
• 
  Prevalence and vector stratification studies are also done.
  

Forecasting and prevention of epidemics

• 
  Health workers are trained.
  
• 
  Weather forecast data are disseminated to the 13 geographic and health regions.
  
• 
  The epidemic threshold has been established at facility level.
  
• 
  Morbidity and mortality data are monitored on a weekly basis to detect epidemics.
  
• 
  Malaria cases increased during peak season relative to increased rainfall during January to May.
  
• 
  In 2002/2003, malaria cases decreased partly as a result of the drought situation.
  
• 
  Malaria was the foremost cause of morbidity in 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005.
  
• 
  The Roll Back Malaria campaign has been a vital vehicle in terms of resources, strategies and interventions, and the strategic plan and guidelines have shown positive outcomes in terms of the behaviour of communities, early health-seeking behaviour and the application of health education tools.
  
• 
  There has been closer collaboration between the weather bureau and the National Vector Control Programme.
  

Constraints

• 
  High staff turnover is threatening the progress that the programme has made so far and creating continuous demand for in-service training.
  
• 
  Lack of expertise in different areas of malaria control, such as epidemiology, parasitology and tropical medicine, is hampering the success of the programme activities at all levels.
  
• 
  There is poor supervision of malaria control activities at all levels due to lack of transport.
  

Recommendations

• 
  Collaborative efforts should be strengthened.
  
• 
  Methods need to be found to increase the health-seeking behaviour of communities.
  
• 
  Increased human resources are needed to operate the programmes.
  
• 
  The Weather Bureau should work towards quality data.
  
• 
  In Namibia, there is only one entomologist, for example. The establishment of critical mass in relevant fields is needed, which may be possible as part of the SADC region.
  

Comments on presentation

Comment: It seems as if malaria outbreaks are dealt with through disaster management. Is there coordination with the Weather Bureau to anticipate outbreaks and mitigate the disaster?

Response: The Minister of Health receives weather data weekly and coordinates with key people in the regions, especially the malaria-prevalent northern region.
Comment: Is local knowledge tapped in combating malaria?

Response: No, but this could be followed up.
Comment: Namibia has recently created a database for HIV projects. Will it be expanded to include malaria projects?

Response: There are several HIV projects, especially in the university, but not of the database and will follow this up.

Panellist: Stanley Mukanganyama (Department of Biochemistry, University of Zimbabwe)

Screening for potential therapeutic compounds from plant natural products: Interactions with biomolecules

The Department of Biochemistry at the University of Zimbabwe conducts the following biomolecular interactions:

• 
  Measurements of direct binding of small chemical species with target proteins
  
• 
  Interaction of novel biomolecules with xenobiotics such as drugs and medicinal herbal products with respect to their therapeutic efficacy, carcinogenicity or toxicity.
  

Genomic sequences have been done for the Homo sapiens (human), Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Plasmodium falciparum and Anopheles gambiae genomes. However, these sequences have not delivered the expected quantum leap in understanding certain disease processes. New biomolecules are expressed and cloned in heterologous systems.

Biomolecules include ATP binding cassette proteins (ABC Proteins), Cytochrome P-450 (CYP) and Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs).
Environmental conditions in southern African countries include a high prevalence of HIV infection (which may or may not occur concurrently with Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection), the tropical parasitic diseases, schistosomiasis and malaria, micronutrient deficiencies, and general protein-energy malnutrition.
As regards malaria, there are half a billion clinical cases worldwide every year, and the disease kills up to 2 million people per year. The highest mortality rate (of 80%) is in sub-Saharan Africa. Malaria costs Africa US$12 billion of its GDP. Malaria is the biggest single cause of death in Africa.
In 2001, African governments declared 25 April each year Africa Malaria Day in order to build awareness of one of the continent's biggest killers, especially among children under five and pregnant women in sub-Saharan Africa.
African countries must participate in raising awareness in their countries. There is a need to invest in interventions that work, including bed nets, therapeutic drugs (with new drugs being required as mosquitoes build up resistance to old drugs) and insecticides that kill mosquitoes.

Mosquito resistance to DDT

Insecticides such as dichlorodiphenyl trichloromethane (DDT) have been used for the vector control of crop-eating and disease-carrying insects, including Anopheles gambiae, which is the vector for malaria. However, DDT resistant glutathione S transferases have emerged.

History of DDT

• 
  In 1948, Paul Hermann Muller discovered the high efficiency of DDT as a contact poison.
  
• 
  In 1955, the World Health Organisation (WHO) launched a malaria-eradication programme worldwide using DDT. DDT proved less effective in tropical regions due to the continuous life cycle of the mosquito and poor infrastructure. The use of DDT was not pursued in sub-Saharan Africa because of these perceived difficulties.
  
• 
  The ban on the use of DDT in the 1960s and 1970s is estimated to have caused over 50 million needless deaths.
  
• 
  In September 2006, WHO announced that DDT would again be used against malaria.
  

Rationale

• 
  Zimbabwe is to import 70 tons of the pesticide DDT for use in its malaria control efforts (World Health Organisation country representative Everisto, 21/11/2006)
  
• 
  There is a need to sensitise DDT-resistant mosquitoes to DDT and reverse the adaptations of A. gambiae
  
• 
  The aim of the project is to provide bioassays from plant natural products to assist in the identification of a potential chemosensitiser.
  

The lab is also doing work on drug-resistance in tuberculosis.

Laboratory data management

Data management in the laboratory involves the following aspects:

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  Raw results recorded in lab book
  
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  The following on desktop or CDs:
  
  • 
    Analysed results
    
  • 
    2-week lab reports
    
  • 
    Monthly literature reviews
    
  • 
    Draft manuscripts
    
  • 
    Thesis/project dissertations
    
  • 
    Pdf files of published work
    
  • 
    Published papers, which can be provided to meet requests either in hard copy or pdf version.
    

The need for sharing among scientists is acknowledged, but the threat exists that others could take the ideas and pursue them. There is, however, collaboration with trusted partners.

Comments on presentation

Comment: The fact that the group at the University of Zimbabwe that is synthesising molecules from plants for malaria resistance is aware only of groups in Botswana and the University of Cape Town doing related work highlights the lack of data sharing. The CSIR, for example, has a bioprospecting team that has found a plant in Mozambique that has an active component against malaria. The groups appear to be working in isolation.

Response: Students at the University of Dar es Salaam are investigating anti-malaria compounds from marine sponge species.
Comment: Are the literature reviews by the students based only on open access journals?

Response: The students use PubMed online journals with open access. In certain cases, colleagues working abroad who have access to other journals may download and forward pdf versions of relevant papers.
Comment: Is there a requirement for students to deposit electronic copies of their theses at the university?

Response: No, the University of Zimbabwe requires only three hard copies, although the student’s supervisor may have an electronic copy. This is a shortcoming.

Panellist: Mika Odido (Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO)

The Ocean Data and Information Network for Africa

The Ocean Data and Information Network for Africa (ODINAfrica) is an active Africa-wide project and began in 1996. The membership comprises 25 African coastal states.

For each participating coastal state of Africa, a national oceanographic data centre has been set up. The centres collaborate in data collection, data management and information management.

Goals of ODINAfrica-III

• 
  Consolidate the achievements of ODINAfrica-II
  
• 
  Improve data flows into the national oceanographic data and information centres in the participating countries
  
• 
  Develop data and information products required for integrated management of the coastal areas of Africa
  
• 
  Increase the delivery of services to end-users.
  

Specific activities highlighted

• 
  Strengthen the GLOSS (Global Ocean Systems) network in Africa
  
• 
  Install additional sensors at sea level stations
  
• 
  Create an African Ocean Biogeographic Information System
  
• 
  Meet the data and information requirements of these and other initiatives, including development of services and products
  
• 
  Reinforce the capacity of national oceanographic data centres (NODCs) to provide better services
  

Thematic work packages

The project is divided into thematic work packages, namely:

• 
  Coastal observing systems
  
• 
  Data management
  
• 
  Information management
  
• 
  Products development and dissemination.
  

Each country implements part of the four work packages.

1. Coastal observing systems

• 
  Upgrade and expand the African network for in situ measurements and monitoring of ocean variables (e.g. sea-level, temperature, salinity, currents, winds, etc). Nineteen sea level stations been installed or upgraded, and some of them have been fitted with additional oceanographic sensors.
  
• 
  Provide near real-time observations of ocean variables
  
• 
  Build adequate capacity for collection, analysis and management of sea-state variables.
  

It was proposed in 2003 that the GLOSS Africa Network comprise the following 19 sites:

• 
  Angola: Lobito
  
• 
  Cameroon: Kribi
  
• 
  Cote D'Ivoire: Abidjan
  
• 
  Ghana: Tema, Takoradi
  
• 
  Kenya: Mombasa
  
• 
  Madagascar: Nosy Be
  
• 
  Mauritania: Nouadhibou
  
• 
  Mauritius: Port Louis, Rodrigues
  
• 
  Morocco: Casablanca, Agadir
  
• 
  Mozambique: Inhambane, Pemba
  
• 
  Namibia: Luderitz
  
• 
  Nigeria: Lagos
  
• 
  Seychelles: Pt De La Rue
  
• 
  Tanzania: Zanzibar
  
• 
  Tunisia: Sfax
  

Status of network

• 
  There are about 40 installed stations of varying operational status and quality of observations.
  
• 
  There have been initiatives by other regional and national institutions to install/upgrade tide gauges.
  
• 
  The Indian Ocean tsunami of 26 December 2004 impacted greatly on the implementation plan developed. One of the results was the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning System in Kenya, Mauritius, Seychelles and Tanzania and the plan to upgrade satellite transmitters in South Africa.
  

Data quality assurance and sustaining the tide gauge network

• 
  Tide gauge operators are required for: provision of metadata, weekly tide staff readings, communication of the readings to sea level centres, annual levelling, and routine inspection of equipment
  
• 
  An annual visit by a technician is needed to check the status of the tide gauges, assist with levelling/local training, data quality issues, and also confirm that the tide gauge operators/tide staff readers carry out assignments to GLOSS standards.
  
• 
  A technical node is to be established to provide telephone/e-mail support for maintenance of the tide gauges.
  

ODINAfrica sea level data facility

• 
  Data capture via the global telecommunications system (GTS) and archive in relational database as an ODINAfrica backup to national and GLOSS data centres
  
• 
  Web-display (including plots and raw data provision) and provision of tide-gauge operator alert in case of equipment malfunction
  
• 
  Semi-automatic data quality control, communication with technician and provision of line management.
  

Training: Sea level data analysis, tide gauge maintenance

• 
  13–23 November 2006, covering:
  
  • 
    Introduction to tidal theory
    
  • 
    Analysis of tide gauge data
    
  • 
    Introduction to harmonic analysis
    
  • 
    Introduction to tidal analysis software package
    
  • 
    Use of data within local and regional ‘operational oceanography’
    
  • 
    Tide predictions.
    
• 
  Attendees came from: Angola, Cameroon, Congo, Cote D’Ivoire, Djibouti, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritania, Mozambique, Nigeria, Seychelles and Tanzania
  
• 
  Tide gauge operators are in place in most countries. ODINAfrica conducts annual technical visits and a technical node is to be established to provide technical support by telephone and e-mail.
  

2. Data management

• 
  Further development and strengthening of National Oceanographic Data Centres (NODC) to manage data streams from the coastal ocean observation network
  
• 
  Upgrading infrastructure in the NODCs (including Internet access and computer systems)
  
• 
  Integrating biogeographic and hydrological data into NODC systems
  
• 
  Building capacity for data and information managers for new NODCs established as part of this project
  
• 
  Rescue historical data (especially sea level data)
  

Databases and services

• 
  ODINAfrica intends to offer:
  
  • 
    Data locator service
    
  • 
    National marine metadata-bases
    
  • 
    Collection of all data related to the country's waters from international data centres
    

National data collections

• 
  Enrichment of databases with locally available data
  
• 
  National Marine Atlas
  
• 
  National data CDs
  

Data management training

• 
  There is a series of data management training courses, including training in the application of satellite altimetry to oceanography.
  

3. Information management

• 
  Public awareness
  
• 
  Improvement of Internet access
  
  • 
    VSAT installation in Madagascar and Nigeria
    
• 
  ODINAfrica website improvement
  
  • 
    Two training courses have been held (December 2005, October 2006) for all 25 countries. The website is registered as: www.nodc-benin.org.
    

4. Products development and dissemination

• 
  African Marine Atlas
  
  • 
    The African Marine Atlas incorporates existing geo-referenced datasets available in the public domain (but tailored to meet specific scope requirements), as well as data products created from national and international marine data collections. The atlas covers the following aspects: geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, biosphere, geopolitical and human socio-economic.
    
• 
  Marine Biodiversity Databases
  
  • 
    Five workshops have been held, each lasting two weeks, to compile input for the OBIS system on taxonomic groups of particular importance.
    
  • 
    The priority groups, identified on the basis of commercial importance, were molluscs, sponges, polychates, echinoderms and stony corals.
    

Beyond ODINAfrica-III

• 
  The drive for ocean-based services and industry to sustain an increasing population is gaining momentum.
  
• 
  Tourism, maritime transport and emerging oil and gas industry are taking centre stage.
  
• 
  Requirements for meeting the 2009 deadline for extension of the continental shelf beyond 200 m (Article 76, Law of the Sea Convention [LSC]).
  
• 
  Climate change and its possible impact on coastal areas will have to be taken into account, including marine biodiversity, floods/storm surges and droughts
  

Future focus

• 
  Integrated coastal area management (ICAM) related products:
  
  • 
    Development and improvement of databases and atlases
    
  • 
    Study of trends (e.g. population of cities along the coastline, fisheries or evolution of shorelines)
    
  • 
    Scenario development (e.g. impact of a rise in sea level, impact of oil spills, impact of reduction in flow of main rivers on coastal areas etc.).
    

Future requirements

• 
  Further strengthening of NODC capacities
  
• 
  Improvement of observations network (more sensors)
  
• 
  Collaboration between ODINAfrica NODCs
  
• 
  Improving collaboration between the oceanographic and meteorological communities
  
• 
  Reaching out to national management and development agencies
  
• 
  Skills in modelling, remote sensing and GIS
  
• 
  Improvement of quality of datasets available in NODCs
  

Comments on presentation

Comment: Are any of the projects on historical sea level data and climate change registered as IPY projects?

Response: No, however, we are collaborating in some IPY projects.

European Union Sixth Framework Programme (FP6): Dr Geoff Meese (CSIR)

Science and Technology – Europe Africa Project (ST-EAP): An FP6 SSA (Specific Support Action)

During the past ten years, the CSIR has become the most successful organisation in Africa, and South Africa as a whole is now one of the most successful third countries, along with China, Argentina and Brazil, at working within the Framework Programmes to harness science and technology expertise in cooperation with the programme.

However, sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has generally not performed well in this area, with the possible exception of Kenya. The CSIR project, a few years ago, started to drive increased cooperation between South Africa and the EU, out of which grew a request from the EU to try to do the same thing for SSA. From this, ST-EAP emerged. It was officially launched in April 2007. The goal is to increase cooperation between SSA and the EU in the framework programmes. Two critical issues are that in most cases, Europeans do not know what Africa can offer in terms of science and technology, and many African organisations are not aware of the potential offered by the framework programmes for cooperation and human capacity development or how to become involved in the programme. North Africa is not part of the project as it has its own initiatives with the EU.

Primary objectives

• 
  The overall aim is to form a dedicated platform for the advancement of EU–sub-Saharan Africa scientific and technological (S&T) co-operation.
  
• 
  ST-EAP aims to heighten awareness of European S&T co-operative instruments that support the creation of African/European consortia. In particular, ST-EAP seeks to create an increased awareness of the role of the Framework Programmes (FPs) and a greater shared knowledge of the S&T capacity of the two regions.
  
• 
  ST-EAP will seek mechanisms to facilitate increased EU–Africa/NEPAD collaboration, and provide a greater input into future Framework Programmes.
  
• 
  The tools intended to address these goals include workshops, conferences, dialogue with National Contact Points (NCPs), the Informal Group of Liaison Officers and the S&T community of Africa.
  
• 
  ST-EAP will also promote the ‘internationalising’ of the European Research Area (ERA)
  
• 
  ST-EAP is supportive of and aligned with NEPAD's recently adopted ‘Africa's Science and Technology Consolidated Plan of Action’
  
• 
  ST-EAP offers a significant opportunity to increase overall S&T cooperation in Africa and with Africa
  

Consortium partners

• 
  Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), South Africa
  
• 
  African Academy of Sciences (AAS)
  
• 
  The work and budget are split as far as possible 50/50 between the two organisations and it takes the form of a cooperative activity.
  

Input providers

• 
  The following are not partners in the project but are working together with the two official partners to provide information and assistance:
  
• 
  Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW)
  
• 
  New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD)
  
• 
  Department of Science and Technology (DST), South Africa
  
• 
  Network of African Science Academies (NASAC) and individual country academies
  
• 
  ICSU (International Council for Science)
  
• 
  WAITRO (World Association of Industrial and Technological Research Associations)
  
• 
  Others to be determined.
  

ST-EAP forms part of a linked series of EU supported projects, which will provide Africa with critical networking platforms to position African S&T in the upcoming FP7.

Some examples

• 
  ESASTAP (European–South Africa Science and Technology Advancement Programme) through INCO-Dev
  
• 
  SIMBA: Strengthening road transport research cooperation between Europe and emerging international markets (Theme 6)
  
• 
  AFSAGA: Satellite telecommunications; the potential applications that could be unlocked as a combination of Galileo and satellite communications in South Africa and the SADC region (Theme 4)
  
• 
  START: Developing a strategic R&D partnership between the EU and Africa in the ICT field (Theme 2)
  
• 
  EUDEVLAS (European Union–Developing Countries Laser Processing Initiative): A framework for innovation comprising EU and developing country researchers in the field of laser manufacturing (Theme 3)
  

ST-EAP forms part of a linked series of EU supported projects which will provide Africa with critical networking platforms to position African S&T in the upcoming FP7

Some examples

• 
  COEUR4LIFE: Improving project and research management skills in third countries to stimulate their cooperation with Europe for Life Sciences (Theme 5)
  
• 
  INT-ER-LINK: Promoting international cooperation for environmental research through dissemination and networking activities (Theme 6)
  
• 
  IST (Information Society Technologies) Africa: Regional impact of information society technologies in Africa (Theme 2)
  
• 
  Food-N-Co (International Cooperation in Food, Agriculture and Biotechnology): Co-operation network of National Contact Points with a special focus on Third Countries in the area of Food Quality and Safety (Theme 5)
  
• 
  African Water: Supporting African involvement in the EU Framework Programme (Theme 6)
  
• 
  Discussions have been initiated with SSA countries and bodies such as NRF, WAITRO (World Association of Industrial and Technological Research Organisation), WAYS, ICSU etc. to share information in areas such as database compilation.)
  

Synergy

• 
  ST-EAP will use the opportunity to present the project at related conferences and workshops, for example:
  
  • 
    EuroAfrica
    
  • 
    ICT: Atelier d’Information et d’Echanges – Soutenir l’implication d’organisations d’Afrique sub-saharienne dans le 7ème Programme Cadrede R&D de l’UE (FP7/ICT) (working language: French) (21–22 March, 2007, Dakar, Senegal)
    
  • 
    START
    
  • 
    EuroAfrica-ICT Awareness Workshop - Supporting FP7/ICT proposals (28–29 March 2007, Pretoria, South Africa)
    
  • 
    IST-Africa 2007
    
  • 
    Second annual conference. ST-EAP contribution to workshop (9–11 May 2007, Maputo, Mozambique)
    
  • 
    ESASTAP (European–South African Scientific and Technological (S&T) cooperation)
    
  • 
    Presentations in South African universities and provinces throughout 2007
    

Work packages

• 
  WP1: Establishment of ST-EAP
  
• 
  WP2: Communicating ST-EAP and African S&T expertise with the EU
  
• 
  WP3: Communicating information on EU cooperative instruments across Africa
  
• 
  WP4: Project management
  

Consideration will have to be given to how to support ST-EAP if it proves to be successful.

1. WP1: Establishment of ST-EAP

• 
  D1.1: Identification, definition and prioritisation of services and activities in co-operation with research communities
  
• 
  D1.3: ST-EAP launch functions in Kenya, Brussels and other African regional centres.
  
• 
  D1.4: Recommendations as to the future ST-EAP structure in consideration of sustainability requirements
  

2. WP2: Communicating ST-EAP and African S&T expertise with the EU

• 
  D2.1: African S&T catalogue including analysis of Africa's past FP participation
  
• 
  D2.2: ST-EAP promotional brochures and website
  
• 
  D2.5: Two expert group seminars per annum at selected venues in Africa, one-on-one meetings and four workshops per annum
  
• 
  D2.8: Targeted initiative to connect potential EU participants with African participants and EU hosting institutions for FP7 Marie Curie calls
  

3. WP3: Communicating information on EU co-operative instruments across Africa

• 
  D3.1: Minimum of two generic FP7 briefing sessions and a minimum of one specialist workshop / annum in Africa, minimum of three project preparation workshops over the 24 month period
  
• 
  D3.4: Host NCP content on website, promote NCP concept and identify African experts for nomination as evaluators
  
• 
  D3.6: Source and disseminate information on EU Technology Platforms
  

Interface between ST-EAP and the NASAC Draft Strategic Action Agenda

Direct support

• 
  Develop and share expertise on funding opportunities for African research, both within Africa and worldwide
  
• 
  Create visibility for African science and stimulate scientific networking between Africa and the outside world
  
• 
  Identify criteria and best practices for successful research collaboration
  

Indirect support

• 
  Develop a website to enable the Network of African Science Academies (NASAC) to function internally as a community of like-minded Academies and externally as a voice of African science
  
• 
  Undertake fore-sighting exercises to define priorities for African research and associated needs
  
• 
  Position NASAC as an attractive partner for institutions within and outside Africa in matters of Africa-wide S&T policy-making and collaboration
  

Key issues to be addressed for development of implementation plan and current status

• 
  Alignment of consortium partners with regard to FP7 content and modalities, especially regarding investments for international cooperation
  
• 
  Review composition and responsibilities of the consortium partners
  
• 
  Rapidly identify the input providers and focal activities in the regions
  
• 
  Explore potential co-funding opportunities
  

Status

• 
  Final contract received completed by both partners and signed by the EU
  
• 
  CSIR and AAS determine proposed responsible persons for project management, work package leaders and task leaders
  

Comments on presentation

Comment: What is the role of the African Academy of Sciences in ST-EAP deliverables, given that the AAS provides the secretariat to NASAC, the network of African academies? Are there concrete plans to involve the secretariat of the Academy or to use this means of sharing information so as to foster a bottom-up approach? There are only two years to achieve tangible results, and the project has to cope with the loss of the project manager and the change in position of Prof Agong.

Response: The major role identified for the African Academy of Sciences is as a partner to provide information on institutions that the project should link with, as there is a lack of an overview of the scientific enterprise in individual countries. Prof. Agong will remain involved to some extent, and this is on the agenda for a meeting with his assistant next week.
Comment: What is the intention with the EU Framework Programme project?

Response: The intention is to increase knowledge of S&T capability in the region to foster partnerships e.g. human and animal diseases of the developing world are occurring in the North. There are many areas of potential cooperation. It is necessary to find out who will be compiling databases of S&T expertise so that these could be accessed by European scientists looking for potential partners. Even in South Africa where there are many databases, not all the information on research groups is readily available (e.g. there is little available information on researchers in the private sector).

Panellist: Raed Sharif (US National Academies of Sciences)

Summary report: Relevant Ideas, recommendations, and projects from Latin American Workshop on ‘Strategies for Open and Permanent Access to Scientific Information in Latin America: Focus on Health and Environmental Information for Sustainable Development’: 8–10 May 2007, Atibaia, Brazil

The workshop generated good discussions and came up with ideas that could be shared to assist with efforts in Africa.

The following ideas, recommendations and projects were generated from the breakout sessions on:

• 
  Health and biomedical data and metadata
  
• 
  Environmental and geospatial data and metadata
  
• 
  Biodiversity data and metadata
  

The sessions addressed the following questions:

• 
  What are the current challenges and barriers to providing open and permanent access to data and information in this field, including legal, political, economic, social and cultural, and technical?
  
• 
  What are some of the most promising existing models or mechanisms for providing such access?
  

Suggestions and recommendations

• 
  Open Source Software is key and has the potential to help overcome many of the challenges and barriers to providing open and permanent access to and use of scientific data and information.
  
• 
  Stakeholders involved in the area of open access to and preservation of scientific data and information need to agree on the approaches and methodologies that will be used to overcome these challenges and barriers before starting with implementation.
  
• 
  A systematic approach to these challenges is required, according to the following pattern: research, data, models, information, synthesis, knowledge, judgment, decision, action, monitoring and feedback
  
• 
  Educational toolkits should be developed for accessing data, archiving and creative commons for international funding agencies and global programmes in order to build awareness of these issues.
  
• 
  Create a forum (probably online) to discuss issues related to open access and its importance to global change issues.
  
• 
  Promote organising sessions about access to data, archiving, and creative commons at academic, practitioner, government, and international conferences and meetings.
  
• 
  Convince foundations of the importance of open access to and archiving of their funded projects; start with them before governments and private sectors.
  
• 
  Involve more young scientists in the discussions and decision-making processes related to open access and archiving.
  
• 
  Promote more academic research (interdisciplinary) in these areas, and publish best practices and case studies related to these subjects.
  
• 
  Take these discussions and recommendations to the funding, governmental, and international agencies in their next meetings.
  

Another question that was considered was:

• 
  What are some potential realistic cooperative activities in Latin America to help address the challenges and barriers that have been identified?
  

Data management and sharing-related projects

Suggestion 1

HOW?

• 
  Develop/promote reward system(s) for data management, sharing and publication
  

WHO?

• 
  CODATA to consider forming a working group/task group comprising the Amazon Basin Information Facility (ABBIF), Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), Brazil Center for Strategic Studies and Management (CGEE)
  

Suggestion 2

HOW?

• 
  Identify and leverage existing ongoing initiatives at regional and national levels towards linking health information systems with other social and environmental systems.
  

WHO?

• 
  Brazilian and the US Science Academies
  
• 
  CODATA, Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS)
  

Health-related projects

Suggestion 1

HOW?

• 
  Capacity building and training in health & biomedical data area:
  
• 
  Internships (young professionals), sabbaticals (experienced professionals).
  
• 
  Link virtual campuses in Latin America
  
• 
  List available online teaching/training programs on health and environment
  

WHO?

• 
  Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO)
  

Suggestion 2

HOW?

• 
  Develop methods/mechanisms to validate health data. What kind of validation criteria?
  

WHO?

• 
  A Rede Interagencial de Informações para a Saúde (RIPSA) to take the lead
  
• 
  Partners: PAHO, RIPSA, National Health Information Systems
  

Suggestion 3

HOW?

• 
  Create a network of Telehealth Programmes/Centres in Latin America
  
• 
  Based on national Telehealth programs of Brazil and Mexico
  
• 
  Based on Telehealth initiatives in Columbia, Ecuador, Chile
  

WHO?

• 
  Organisations: REDClara, Rede Nacional de Ensino e Pesquisa (RNP) (National Education and Research Network), Brazil's academic Internet backbone, Instituto Centro de Ensino Tecnológico (CENTEC), Consorcio Ecuatoriano para el Desarrollo de Internet Avanzado (CEDIA), FUNDATEL (Fundacion de Telemedicina), RENATA (Red Nacional Académica de Alta Tecnologia, Colombia), Fiocruz, (Organización del Tratado de Cooperación Amazónica (OTCA), Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), Inter-American Development Bank and World Bank
  

• 
  Coordinators: Luiz Ary Messina, Carlos` Castillo-Salgado
  
• 
  Start date: 1 June 2007, end date: 30 August 2007
  

Geospatial and biodiversity-related projects

Suggestion 1

HOW?

• 
  Geospatial Data for Health and Environmental Applications in Latin America: A Focus on Poverty Reduction and Sustainable Development.
  

WHO?

• 
  The US National Academies to take the lead
  
• 
  The Inter-American Network of Academies of Sciences (TBC) and the Pan-American Institute for Geography and History (PAIGH)
  

Suggestion 2

HOW?

• 
  Share lessons learned of successful biodiversity informatics centres/projects.
  
• 
  Develop a way of sharing these lessons learned on a continuous basis.
  
• 
  Create virtual communities through a collaborative tool.
  
• 
  Colombia willing to share what they are already doing.
  
• 
  Brazil: CRIA (Centro de Referência em Informação Ambiental), INPA (Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia); Colombia: Sistema de Información sobre Biodiversidad de Colombia (SIB), IavH; Peru: (Instituto de investigaciones de la Amazonía Peruana (IIAP).
  
• 
  New GBIF protocols added to leapfrogging, e.g. DiGIR (Distributed Generic Information Retrieval).
  

WHO?

Brazil: CRIA (Centro de Referência em Informação Ambiental), INPA (Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia); Colombia: Sistema de Información sobre Biodiversidad de Colombia (SIB), IavH; Peru: (Instituto de investigaciones de la Amazonía Peruana (IIAP)

New GBIF protocols added to leapfrogging, e.g. DiGIR (Distributed Generic Information Retrieval)

Suggestion 3

HOW?

• 
  Create an ABBIF (Amazon Basin Biodiversity Information Facility)
  
• 
  Create a network of institutions to share and disseminate species and specimen data and information about the Amazon Region
  
• 
  Mobilise more institutional partners
  
• 
  Improve decision-making
  
• 
  Promote more country-driven initiatives
  
• 
  Products: checklist of Amazonian flora and fish
  

WHO?

• 
  Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) nodes in the Amazon Region, IIAP, Alexander von Humboldt Institute (IavH), Instituto amazónico de investigaciones científicas (SINCHI), Institut de Recherche Pour Le Développement (IRD), CAY Herbarium in Cayenne, French Guiana, Inter American Biodiversity Information Network (IABIN) plus collaborating institutions in the region – INPA, CRIA, Venezuela, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador (PUCE)
  

Summary

• 
  This was the product of three days of discussions and exchange of ideas.
  
• 
  There are common problems between the two regions (Latin America and Africa) in terms of data management and sharing issues and how these data can be used to solve serious problems in areas such as poverty and public health.
  
• 
  It is hoped that the summary will help generate similar ideas and projects for Africa.
  

Comments on presentation

Comment: Projects suggested in the Latin American breakout sessions and mentioned in Paul Uhlir’s presentation should also be considered with respect to potential overlap, synergies and linkages.

Discussion

Developing methods of data and information value and improving the quality of scientific information resources in the SADC region?

The following considerations were raised in the discussion:

• 
  Standards are key. These are well entrenched in some environments but not in others. Learning from areas where standards are entrenched should be transferred to other areas.
  
• 
  It is necessary to focus on a particular discipline and develop methods of validation and verification, e.g. take malaria and practitioners in malaria and come up with methods of validation. Taking steps to link clinical and geospatial data with respect to malaria is a suggested course of action.
  
• 
  Malaria occurs in Latin America but was not identified as a priority at the workshop in Brazil.
  

Compiling directories of SADC scientific data sources

The following considerations were raised in the discussion:

• 
  The goal is interoperable networks, but in the interim, it might be possible to keep one another informed by sharing data on projects that could be of interest in the networks of others and possibly establishing a blog for that purpose, thereby creating a short-term grouping that would have the potential to draw others in.
  
• 
  That would be a beginning but would not be sufficiently comprehensive. It would also be necessary to investigate and register research groups in a directory.
  
• 
  A directory of available databases on malaria in the region is needed. This ought to be a focus of the task group over the next 18 months if it wants to work within the European Framework Programme, so that it is in a position to make a proposal to them for consideration. The task group could work with SAMI, which already has a project coordinator, as well as with VRE. A focal area should be identified to demonstrate that the approach and techniques are valid, as well as to serve as a role model that can be extended to other areas.
  
• 
  CODATA needs to identify partners with which it could work in this regard, preferably a partner in each SADC country.
  
• 
  It would be import to measure the impact of any initiatives to compile directories and assess whether they are being used.
  

• 
  Who would drive the process and develop the proposal?
  
  • 
    The initiative is bigger than one organisation or country.
    
  • 
    SADA (hosted by the NRF) could be the starting point, as it includes national and international data sets. If this were agreed, partners could be identified and approached with a view to signing an MoA with the task group. A decision would be needed on the capacity required to extend the database.
    
  • 
    Possible partners include the SADC secretariat (for information on who could assist in the various countries), DST, NEPAD and ICSU.
    
  • 
    It would be a challenge to maintain the database. Even within a single country, upkeep is difficult. It needs multi-country, multi-organisational partnerships with people already working with databases. An oversight role for the African Academy of Sciences could therefore be considered.
    
  • 
    It was questioned whether the task group was considering a continental database to promote the EU–Africa partnership? Dr Meese commented that he had described a focused project to respond to calls for partners in the EU Framework Programme, so that teams could be brought together with the right balance of expertise to address gaps on knowledge of expertise in Africa. The needs of the current initiative are far broader.
    

• 
  Which fields would be included? The following possibilities were suggested:
  
  • 
    Health
    
  • 
    Geospatial
    
  • 
    Millennium Development Goals.
    

• 
  The following comments were made in response to the question of whether the task group would focus on data sources or expertise:
  
  • 
    The focus should be on data management with a complementary database of expertise.
    
  • 
    A two-pronged approach could be used focusing on: (1) experts and (2) data sources.
    
  • 
    Data rather than individuals should be the point of departure.
    

Establishing a data management ‘academy’ or online training and instructional material

The following considerations were raised in the discussion:

• 
  There are several examples of international online learning initiatives, and CODATA could explore whether there is any possibility of using, adapting and localising their materials, for example:
  

• 
  Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO (online training on data management)
  
• 
  World Data Centre
  
• 
  The Pan American Health Institution has online training together with Johns Hopkins University, which they have made available to Latin America (the material is available in English).
  

• 
  Suggestions for the way forward:
  

• 
  Start with an inventory of what already exists in the various disciplines through an online search. Different disciplines may have different approaches and needs. Harvest and reorganise the material.
  
• 
  A threshold directory of data sources in SADC was posed as a start, as well as associated professionals. Identify potential data users, partners, CODATA members
  
• 
  A needs analysis would be required
  
• 
  SADA could be used as the platform, possibly with the equivalent of a SADA in each participating country, and links between them. However, it should not be perceived as a South African-driven initiative, but rather as driven by CODATA in coordination with ICSU and AAS. The CODATA task group, which would be the driver, is already a SADC regional initiative.
  
• 
  As a beginning, training material could be provided on CD.
  
• 
  Training could be provided according to generic standards, with application to a particular field.
  

Directory of data producers in South Africa (Henda van der Berg, NRF)

The South African Data Archive (SADA) is an archive of computerised raw quantitative data of large-scale regional, national and international research projects, mainly in the humanities and social sciences. These datasets are available to the research community for further analysis, comparative studies, longitudinal studies, teaching and decision-making purposes.

SADA initiated a small-scale project in 2006 to identify data-producing organisations and obtain the contact details of data managers. Data producers from a number of fields have already been identified and included in the database, including the following broad search terms:

• 
  Agricultural science
  
• 
  Arts
  
• 
  Biological sciences
  
• 
  Chemical sciences
  
• 
  Earth and marine sciences
  
• 
  Economic sciences
  
• 
  Engineering sciences
  
• 
  Health sciences
  
• 
  Humanities
  
• 
  Information and computer science
  
• 
  Law
  
• 
  Mathematical sciences
  
• 
  Medical sciences
  
• 
  Physical sciences
  
• 
  Social sciences
  
• 
  Technologies and applied sciences
  
• 
  General.
  

The fields per data-producing organisation include the name of the organisation, website address, postal address, type of organisation, description of organisation, broad subject fields, name of database/data set, description of database/data set, keywords and contact information of data manager(s). It is a searchable database using a simple search engine. It also includes a page with the above search terms as links to the records in the database. In some cases, there are direct links to the actual databases of these organisations, while in other cases, users would have to contact the data manager of the remote database to obtain access.

The database of data producers provides a potential model for expansion to include data producers in Africa. Thereafter, policy issues linked to the initiative could be taken up within SADC and collaborative projects launched to take the database further, perhaps eventually moving to the SADA model.
If the task group were to proceed in this manner, it would have to give careful consideration to the strategy for obtaining and maintaining the information. It would also be important to get stakeholders to agree on the content of the platform and the products it would host.

Comments on presentation

Comment: How often is the database refreshed?

Response: An annual manual request is sent to data producers requesting them to update their information. There is also a form on the Internet that they can use at any time to update their information. Strategy is more important than platform.
Question: On the issue of labelling, could a front end be provided for the CODATA task group rather than SADA?

Response: Appropriate rebranding would not present a problem.
Comment: This is the kind of structure needed for translation from the national to the regional. SADA could be replicated and extended with partners throughout the continent. The NASAC (Network of African Science Academies) database is another model that could be replicated at continental level.