Global Community

The Committee on Data for Science and Technology (CODATA) is an interdisciplinary Scientific Committee of the International Council for Science (ICSU) which works to improve the quality, reliability, management and accessibility of data of importance to all fields of science and technology. CODATA is a resource that provides scientists and engineers with access to international data activities for increased awareness, direct cooperation and new knowledge. CODATA was established 33 years ago by ICSU to promote and encourage, on a world-wide basis, the compilation, evaluation and dissemination of reliable numerical data of importance to science and technology. Today 23 countries are members, and 14 International Scientific Unions have assigned liaison delegates. CODATA is concerned with all types of data resulting from experimental measurements, observations and calculations in every field of science and technology, including the physical sciences, biology, geology, astronomy, engineering, environmental science, ecology and others. Particular emphasis is given to data management problems common to different disciplines and to data used outside the field in which they were generated. CODATA's objectives are: (1) The improvement of the quality and accessibility of data, as well as the methods by which data are acquired, managed, analysed and evaluated, with a particular emphasis on developing countries; (2) The facilitation of international cooperation among those collecting, organizing and using data; (3) The promotion of an increased awareness in the scientific and technical community of the importance of these activities; and (4) The consideration of data access and intellectual property issues. In short, the reason for CODATA is to help foster and advance science and technology through developing and sharing knowledge about data and the activities that work with data.

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