OrganizationGovernance

WDS Scientific Committee

The Scientific Committee (WDS-SC) is the governing body of the ICSU World Data System (ICSU WDS).

Background

Taking the recommendations from the Priority Area Assessment report (December 2004) as a starting point, as well as the vision for Scientific Data and Information developed in the ICSU Strategic Plan 2006-2011, an ad hoc Strategic Committee on Information and Data (SCID) was established by ICSU (September 2006). This Committee had, as one of its main remits, to guide the reform of two ICSU Interdisciplinary Bodies: The ICSU World Data Centres (WDCs) and the Federation of Astronomical and Geophysical data analysis Service (FAGS). The SCID committee produced a report that was published in June 2008.

The key recommendations in the report included the establishment of the World Data System (WDS) as a new ICSU Interdisciplinary Body by incorporating the WDCs and FAGS as well as other ‘state of the art’ data centres and services. SCID also recommended that the new system be overseen by a dedicated Scientific Committee (WDS-SC). The 29^th ICSU General Assembly (Maputo, October 2008) decided to establish the ICSU-World Data System as an ICSU Interdisciplinary Body to replace the WDC and FAGS.

The World Data System is established for an initial period of ten years. The WDS Scientific Committee is appointed by ICSU and shall report to the Executive Board and the General Assembly of ICSU. WDS-SC shall be the governing body of WDS with the following tasks:

Term of Reference

To ensure that the WDS clearly supports ICSU’s mission and objectives by ensuring the long-term stewardship and provision of quality-assessed data and data services to the international science community and other stakeholders;
to develop, and keep under continuous review, an implementation plan for the creation of the World Data System by incorporating the ICSU World Data Centres (WDCs), the Federation of Astronomical and Geophysical data analysis Service (FAGS) and other data centres and services;
to define agreed standards, establish and oversee the procedures for the review and accreditation of existing and new facilities;
to monitor the geographic and disciplinary scope of the system and to develop strategies for the recruitment and establishment of new WDS facilities as necessary;
to consider resource issues and provide guidance on funding mechanisms for facilities within WDS when appropriate;
to develop strong cooperative links with the ICSU Strategic Coordinating Committee on Information and Data (SCCID);
to develop close links and cooperation with the ICSU Committee on Data for Science and Technology (CODATA).

Membership

Members of the Committee are normally appointed for a period of three years, renewable once. Tenure is staggered to ensure both continuity and turnover. The WDS-SC shall consist of a Chair and no more than eleven additional members serving in their personal capacity. The committee shall include ex-officio members from the ICSU Strategic Coordinating Committee on Information and Data (SCCID) and the ICSU Secretariat. A member of the WDS-SC shall serve as ex-officio on SCCID. The committee should be composed of leading scientists with experience in using large data resources and data centre/service Directors. The committee shall be gender and geographically balanced insofar as possible.

In performing its functions, the WDS-SC shall be ideally supported by at least a half-time Secretary who might be located within one of the centres or services.

Finances

During the initial 3-year period of the development of the WDS, ICSU shall provide financial support for the Scientific Committee. In the longer-term alternative mechanisms of support will be explored.

Members

Chair: Minster, Jean-Bernard (France)