Open access to data and information: the need for strategies and policies in Brazil

1
Open access to data and information the need for
strategies and policies in Brazil

• Dora Canhos
• (dora_at_cria.org.br)

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Some assumptions...

• Scientific progress depends on open access to
  data and information
• Information and communication technology are
  provoking an evolution on scientific thinking and
  organization
• and..
• There are sensitive data
• Retaining data/information may be strategic to
  certain sectors
• requires policy

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Data dissemination/sharing
Publications
data
Analysis / Synthesis
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What happens to the data?
Publications
data
Analysis / Synthesis
Time
5
The data pathway...
data
Publications Reports Thesis Web Pages
With time
No policy for data !!!
Storage
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Scientific publications

• Are vital for scientific progress
• They are the interpretation of data at a certain
  time
• They reflect the vision of the authors at a
  certain time
• If the data is to be reinterpreted by the
  author or by future generations it has to be
  available

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Internet
Interface A
Interface B
data
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Situation in Brazil

• Brazil holds 15 20 of the worlds biodiversity
• Only about 1 of the worlds specimens are
  deposited in biological collections in Brazil
• Brazil strongly depends on data from
  international collections

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International Scenario data intensive programs
initiatives

• Convention on Biological Diversity
• Global Taxonomy (GTI)
• International Pollinators Initiative (IPI)
• Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC)
• 2010 Biodiversity Target
• Amazon Cooperation Treaty
• GBIF Global Biodiversity Information Facility

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National Scenario Programs Projects

• Ministry of Science and Technology
• Programs PROANTAR, PPG7, Revizee, Institutos do
  Milênio, Xingó, ... all generate/generated data
  and information where is the data? No data /
  information policy
• Research Program on Biodiversity (PPBio) has a
  policy for data access and use. No long term
  policy

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National Scenario Programs Projects

• Ministry of the Environment
• a complex system of organisms responsible for the
  public dissemination of information (CNIA,
  RENIMA, SINIMA) and a recently launched Brazilian
  Portal about Biodiversity where is the data?

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National Scenario Programs Projects

• Biota/Fapesp Program
• Three information systems developed aiming at
  free and open access to data (Sinbiota, Biota
  Neotropica on-line only journal, and speciesLink
  Network)
• all initiatives were project based (maximum 4
  years)
• Where is the policy? What happens to data,
  databases, information systems when a project
  ends?

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Final Comments Opportunities

• Brazils megadiversity
• Communication infrastructure (RNP backbone, Red
  Clara)
• CBD requirements
• Established biological collections
• Research network (people, institutions,
  universities)
• Existing programs (such as PPBio)
• Amazon region as an national, regional, and
  international priority

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Policy and Strategies

• Data providers adoption of common standards and
  protocols, full control over data, strategy for
  data and information organization, storage,
  retrieval, dissemination.
• Data custodians conform to international
  standards and protocols, help data providers,
  guarantee data integrity and due acknowledgement,
  respect restrictions and ownership, follow new
  developments, long-term commitment for data and
  information organization, storage, retrieval, and
  dissemination.

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Government - financing agencies

• Policy for data that is born digital
• Create mechanisms for digitizing past data
• Develop long-term policies for the development
  and maintenance of data centers
• Develop clear policies concerning data that is
  obtained through public funding (by sector)
• Develop an inter-agency policy concerning the
  development, maintenance, and preservation of an
  infrastructure of biodiversity data
• Develop a public infrastructure for long-term
  data archiving

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• Thank you
• Dora Ann Lange Canhos
• (dora_at_cria.org.br)