A new joint International Forum with the general theme of 'Polar Data Activities in Global Data Systems' will be held on 15–16 October 2013 at the National Museum of Nature and Science in Tokyo, Japan. Co-hosted by the WDS Scientific Committee, the Standing Committee on Antarctic Data Management of the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research, and the International Arctic Science Committee, this Forum will cover all aspects of effective polar data management. In particular, the Forum aims to ensure the data legacy of the International Polar Year 2007–2008.
Abstract submission for the Forum is now open, and presentations from any scientific discipline are welcomed. Interdisciplinary data management topics are especially encouraged.
For more information on the International Forum (including abstract submission), please visit: http://www.polar-data-forum.org/

The World Glacier Monitor Service (WGMS; WDS Regular Member) have anounced the launch of their new MetaData Browser*; a web interface developed in collaboration with ESRI Switzerland that enables browsing and searching of glacial observations examining changes in length, thickness, and mass. In addition, it provides direct access to minimal data records including observations, related survey and reference years, and source information as reported to WGMS. These data have been compiled through WGMS' network of scientific collaborators over many decades with the support of hundreds of observers around the globe.

* Requires a recent version of your chosen web browser and Adobe Flash Player.

ICSU-WDS had a good presence at the recent First Plenary of the Research Data Alliance (RDA) in Gothenburg, Sweden (18-20 March 2013); with Françoise Genova and Wim Hugo of the WDS Scientific Committee, and Mustapha Mokrane (WDS-IPO Executive Director) attending. Reinforcing the common links between ICSU-WDS and RDA, this launch event resulted in the initiation of two RDA/WDS Interest Groups: one on Publishing Data—building on the existing framework of the newly established ICSU-WDS Data Publication Working Group, and another on Data Repository Certification—in light of the experience gained by ICSU-WDS in this area. An exchange of ideas also took place between the ICSU-WDS Working Group on Knowledge Networks and the proposed  Contextual Metadata working group in RDA, including a possible cross-membership for the two groups.

In March 2013, Mustapha Mokrane (Executive Director) and Rorie Edmunds (Programme Officer) of the ICSU-WDS International Programme Office attended the 22nd Session of the International Oceanographic Data Exchange (IODE-XXII) in Ensenada, Mexico. Following close collaboration between the Membership and Accreditation Subcommittee of the WDS Scientific Committee and the IODE Project Office, it was formally agreed at this Session that IODE will adopt a Quality Management Framework  aligned with the catalogue of criteria for WDS certification for its National Oceanographic Data Centres (NODCs). IODE has thus taken responsibility over the certification of its NODCs.