Introduction to the Electronic Geophysical Year, INFSO-eGY meeting, 14 September 2006, Brussels Charles BartonAlan Rodger Mauro MesserottiEliot Christian

Courtesy: Mark Parsons

Courtesy: Mark Parsons

philosophy In the geosciences, as in other disciplines, ready and open access to the vast and growing collections of cross-disciplinary digital information is the key to understanding and responding to complex Earth system phenomena that influence human survival. We have a shared responsibility to create and implement strategies to realise the full potential of digital information for present and future generations.

vision We can achieve a major step forward in geoscience capability, knowledge, and usage throughout the world for the benefit of humanity by accelerating the adoption of modern and visionary practices for managing and sharing data and information.

“Knowledge is the common wealth of humanity.” Adama Samassekou Convener of the UN World Summit on the Information Society

The mystery of mysteries is to view machines talking to machines, a spectacle that fills the mind with curious and even awful spectacle. (With acknowledgements to Benjamin Disraeli, 1844, Coningsby) The information era - interoperability

eGY embraces and extends IGY principles… International cooperation and data sharing Universal access to data and information Timely and convenient access to data Global, cross-disciplinary scope Data preservation Capacity building, especially in developing countries Education, public outreach, information for decision making

GEOSS

An IUGG initiative led by IAGA sponsored by NSF, IUGG, IAGA, NASA in-kind support from LASP, NCAR, NOAA, USGS NSIDC, BAS, INAF, … eGY Secretariat, LASP, Boulder, CO

What is eGY? eGY is a cooperative international effort to address the challenges of modern data stewardship, interoperability, e- Science, and integrative science: –Ready and open access to distributed data, information, and services –Access to large, complex, and cross-disciplinary data sets –Real-time access and assimilation of data into models –Data integration and knowledge discovery –Data discovery (who holds what, where, how? Metadata issues) –Data release (secure access permission) –Data preservation (preserve existing and future data) –Data rescue (identify and rescue critical data sets at risk) –Education and public outreach; informing decision makers –Advancement of science in developing countries (reducing the digital divide)

role Provide an international, cooperative environment to –inspire –facilitate –encourage –promote –inform

is an opportunity to Find out who is doing what Share experience and expertise Coordinate activities Reduce replication of effort Promote common practices (standards) Widen participation Reduce the digital divide Raise awareness of the need for modern, professional data stewardship Educate; influence decision makers Inspire public interest.

themes Data access Data discovery Data release Data preservation Data rescue Outreach & Education Capacity building VHO architecture

What value can eGY add? Q. Lots of informatics, Virtual Observatory, and e- Science initiatives, as well as GEOSS, are already taking place - why bother with eGY? A.IGY+50 provides a natural focus and timely opportunity to help existing efforts and inspire new activities in the geosciences.

deliverables Messages and visibility Publications, eGY News, Showcase demonstrations Meetings, workshops, and symposia (see calendar) Facilitation A mandate for action -international science year program -Declaration for a Geoscience Information Commons Connectivity to experts and peers Network of National Committees Services E/PO program e-Africa

Declaration for a Geoscience Information Commons “Knowledge is the common wealth of humanity” Adama Samassekou, Convener of the UN World Summit on the Information Society The principles on which eGY is based have been articulated by ICSU, the World Summit on the Information Society, CODATA, and other bodies. The principles are encapsulated in the eGY Declaration for a Geoscience Information Commons - a statement of aspirations and principles of data stewardship.

Declaration for a Geoscience Information Commons PREAMBLE Article 1: Data access Earth system data and information should be made available electronically with interoperable approaches that facilitate open access. Article 2: Data release Owners, custodians, and creators of Earth system data should work together to share their digital information with the world community, though in a manner that respects propriety requirements and security constraints. Article 3: Data description Providers and users of Earth system data and information should share descriptions of structure, content, and contexts to facilitate interoperability and the discovery of relationships within and between information resources. Article 4: Data persistence Data and information about the Earth system should be preserved and sustained in forms that are both software and hardware independent so as to be openly accessible today and in the future. Article 5: Data rescue Effort should be made to identify and rescue critical Earth system data and ensure persistent access to them. Article 6: Common standards and cooperation Standards for interoperability should be identified, created, and implemented through international collaboration. Article 7: Capability building Communities with advanced information technology and communications capabilities should contribute to developing such capabilities elsewhere to reduce the digital divide. Article 8: Education and public outreach Students, scientists, decision-makers, and the public should be informed about and be enabled to contribute to our understanding and management of the Earth system phenomena that influence human survival.

Challenging the “heroic” science funding paradigm Do our reward systems recognise that making data and information easily accessible shifts work and responsibility from the user to the provider?

structure Secretariat (at LASP, Univ. Colorado) Director Dan Baker, LASP Secretary: Bill Peterson Communications: Marissa Rusinek Public Relations and E/PO: Emily CoBabe-Ammann International Committee Chair: Charlie Barton Representatives from key participants and countries Thematic Working Groups Virtual Observatories: Peter Fox Data Integration & Knowledge Discovery Paul Berkman Best Practice (joint with CODATA): Herb Kroehl, Jean Bonnin Data Rescue and Preservation: Jefff Love Education and Public Outreach: Emily CoBabe-Ammann

Should you participate? Can a modern data-information-services environment help you? Will such an environment help other? If yes, then consider participation in eGY …..

Explore the website: Review recent eGY presentations and posters Get eGY News (sign up on the home page) Subscribe to the eGY list of your choice: eGYTeam (for management correspondence), eGY_Participants (for most people), or eGY_Observers (main notices only) by request to: Contact the eGY Secretary: 1. Learn about eGY

Identify the eGY theme areas that interest you in relation to your work Undertake eGY-related activities to build your own and other’s capabilities Consider creating a Virtual Observatory Encourage agencies, programs, national bodies, and committees within your community to become active in issues of modern data and information management Use the eGY interval, Jul Dec 2008, as a target date. Assign eGY -related responsibilities to a Task Group or Committee. Report eGY developments and opportunities to your community. Access expertise through the eGY networks. Use the eGY newsletter, website, and meetings to promote your activities. Use eGY to help justify bids for national and international funding. 2. Use eGY in your workplace

Sign the Declaration for a Geoscience Information Commons Advertise and promote eGY nationally and internationally Display posters and distribute eGY literature at meetings Publish news articles about eGY and its messages Use the eGY logo and brand name to mark activities, events, publications, communications, and so on Join an existing eGY Working Group Create a new working group of interest to you Form an eGY Committee for your country/region if none exists Serve on the International Committee Identify new opportunities for eGY; notify the eGY Secretary of conference and meetings relevant to eGY Arrange for a resolution supporting eGY to be passed by authoritative bodies. 3. Support and promote eGY

events Jul 2006 AOGS, Singapore Jul 2006 COSPAR, Beijing Oct 2006 CODATA, Beijing Dec 2006 Fall AGU, San Francisco Feb 2007 eGY General Meeting, NCAR, Boulder Apr 2007EGU, Vienna May 2007AGU Joint Assy, Accapulco I Jul 07Launch of eGY (and IGY+50 event) Jul 2007IUGG General Assembly, Perugia Dec 2007 Fall AGU, San Francisco Mar 2008eGY General Meeting, NCAR Aug 2008IGC-33Oslo, Norway Oct 2008CODATA Conference Dec 2008Fall AGU, San Francisco 31 Dec 08Close of eGY

eGY News lists Sign the ‘Declaration for a Geoscience Information Commons’ Interested in getting involved?