World Data System (WDS)
The ICSU World Data System (WDS) was created through a decision of the 29th General Assembly of the International Council for Science (ICSU).
Building on the 50-year legacy of the ICSU World Data Centres (WDCs) and the ICSU Federation of Astronomical and Geophysical data-analysis Services, the WDS aims at transitioning from existing stand-alone data centres and data services to a common, globally interoperable, distributed data system that incorporates emerging technologies and new scientific data activities.
The new system builds on the potential offered by advanced interconnections between data management components to foster disciplinary and multidisciplinary applications for the benefit of the international scientific community and other stakeholders.
As of 1 October 2012, WDS has 49 Member organizations, including 2 Partner Members and 6 Associate Members, and numerous other applications are being reviewed by the WDS Scientific Committee.
WDS will enjoy a broader disciplinary and geographic base than its predecessor organizations and is striving to become a world-wide ’community of excellence' for stewardship and provision of scientific data. To this end, WDS enjoys strong collaboration with ICSU’s Committee on Data for Science and Technology (CODATA).
- More information is available on the ICSU WDS website : http://www.icsu-wds.org
by Howard Moore
