Data for Development and the role of CODATA of the International Science Council (ISC)

Abstract

While the discussion on data for development gains traction in society especially with the focus on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), there is the need for more insight into the long-standing global perspectives on data and information for science. The International Science Council (ISC) established in 1932 as International Council for Scientific Unions (ICSU) aims to strengthen international science for the benefit of society. The key principle is the “Universality of Science”¹ which interprets science as a collective effort working for the common good, but a growing number of scientists, policy-makers, and social scientists argue that science is often too isolated from society to fulfil this promise. This brings in the concept of ‘Open Science’ to close the gap between science and society by democratizing scientific knowledge, for the benefit of everyone. The Committee on Data (CODATA), an interdisciplinary body of ISC is the focus of this paper, along with recent perspectives regarding its role and needs of science in the present information-driven society.