The SANC/CODATA had a long standing interest in data archiving and attended its first CODATA Workshop in Senegal during July 2001. The Chair of the SANC/CODATA was a member of the CODATA Working Group on Scientific Data Archiving. The working group compiled a list of key issues in this area, developed an annotated bibliography of Web-based resources, and supported the organization of a data archiving workshop in Pretoria, South Africa, in May 2002.

The CODATA Task Group on Preservation and Archiving of Scientific and Technical Data in Developing Countries was approved in October 2002. It grew out of the work done by the CODATA Working Group on Archiving Scientific Data that was established in October 2000.

This Task Group was renewed at the CODATA General Assembly in November 2004 in Berlin and the name changed to the CODATA Task Group on Preservation of and Access to Scientific and Technical Data in Developing Countries. Its renewal was approved by the CODATA 25 General Assembly, Beijing 2006.

CODATA Task Group on Preservation of and Access to Scientific and Technical Data in Developing Countries

Objectives:

• Promote a deeper understanding of the needs of developing countries with regard to long-term preservation, archiving, and access to scientific and technical (S&T) data.
• Advance the development and adoption of improved S&T data archiving procedures, technologies, standards, and policies, with special attention to these efforts in developing countries.
• Provide an interdisciplinary forum and mechanisms for exchanging information about S&T data preservation and access requirements and activities, with particular focus on the concerns and needs of developing countries. Publish and disseminate broadly the results of these efforts.

Workshops held in South Africa

The SANC/CODATA is key to the initiatives of the Task Group as listed:

2007

Data Sources for Sustainable Development in SADC

14–15 May 2007
National Research Foundation (NRF), Pretoria, South Africa

The workshop was convened in collaboration with the ICSU Regional Office for Africa (ROA), the National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa, the CODATA Task Group on Preservation of and Access to Scientific and Technical Data in Developing Countries, the South African National Committee for CODATA, and the United States National Committee for CODATA.

Download the Workshop report and Executive summary in PDF format

Download the Workshop report and Executive summary in MS Word format

2005

Strategies for Permanent Access to Scientific Information in Southern Africa: Focus on Health and Environmental Information for Sustainable Development

5–7 September 2005
CSIR Convention Centre, Pretoria, South Africa

Jointly organised by:
CODATA Task Group on the Preservation of and Access to S&T Data in Developing Countries
South African National Committee for CODATA
United States National Committee for CODATA
with support of
South African National Research Foundation

Presentations 2005

Download the Final Report and Executive Summary in PDF format

Download the Final Report and Executive Summary in MS Word format

2002

Workshop on Archiving Scientific & Technical Data

20–21 May 2002
National Research Foundation (NRF), Pretoria, South Africa

Jointly organised by:
South African National Committee of CODATA
CODATA Working Group on Archiving Scientific Data
National Research Foundation

Download the Final Report in PDF format

Website for the Task Group on Preservation of and Access to Scientific and Technical Data in Developing Countries