1. ICSU World Data Centers
David Clark
Secretary ICSU WDC Panel
eGY Meeting
March 5, 2008
Boulder, Colorado, USA
FAGS Meeting, April 2, 2007
J.B. Minster

2. ICSU WDC Panel meeting, 21-24 April 2008
Strategic Committee for Information and Data (SCID) Review of WDCs ( See Peter Fox’s report)
ICSU WDC Panel meeting, April 2008
29th ICSU General Assembly, Maputo, Mozambique,13-25 October 2008
FAGS Meeting, April 2, 2007
J.B. Minster

3. WDC Panel meeting
WDC Panel meeting, April 2008 at the new ICSU, Paris, Headquarters
Joint meeting with the FAGS Governing Council
Major agenda item will be WDC Panel response to SCID recommendations
Review WDC certification process
Plan IPY and GEO activities for the WDC system
FAGS Meeting, April 2, 2007
J.B. Minster

4. ICSU General Assembly
29th ICSU General Assembly, Maputo, Mozambique,13-25 October 2008
Adoption of SCID recommendations for changes in ICSU data activities
May include several major recommendations for the WDC System
IPY, Natural and Human-Induced Environmental Hazards and Disasters and Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Follow-up will be highlighted
FAGS Meeting, April 2, 2007
J.B. Minster

5. 2008 Activities
Expansion of the WDC system to as many as 15 new World Data Centers within the next year. These new WDCs will be with existing data centers in developed countries.
Establishment of a new data center in the LEDCs, using a new paradigm for its establishment. Possibly in Africa
Continue WDC certification process with the help of the eGY
Implementation of the SCID recommendations
Continue to work with IPY and GEO
FAGS Meeting, April 2, 2007
J.B. Minster

6. What can Earth and Space Science Informatics Can do…..
A WDC Panel opinion:
For all the GEO participating countries and organizatons: full and open access to metadata, data, and information for education, research and disaster response provided free or for the cost of reproduction in a timely manner.
Modern networking capabilities extended to the LEDCs; promoted and implemented by major global IT companies like Microsoft, Google, Intel, etc. Perhaps also supported by major corporations like Exxon, Shell, and others who have profited recently by world economic conditions.
Best practices for geoinformatics that includes data management and stewardship activities. This is an excellent opportunity to include data management in a framework which also deals with state-the-art IT applications.
FAGS Meeting, April 2, 2007
J.B. Minster