Data Management for IPY 2007-2008

Contemporary technology allows to gather, process and save a big amount of data. One of important aims of the IPY is to manage those data in such a way as to gather and save them even after the research having been completed, and also to make them available to scientists worldwide. The rules governing data management have been recommended by the International Project Office of the World Climate Research Programme's Climate and Cryosphere Programme (WCRP-CliC) and the Joint Committee on Antarctic Data Management (JCADM) of SCAR-COMNAP.

Within the framework of IPY, data management includes the following:

1. to assure that all the data gathered will be always available, they must be prepared in a relevant format and provided with relevant information on metadata;
2. to guarantee free access to data in a user-friendly programme environment (within the network) allowing to find all the data needed;
3. to guarantee free data exchange for scientific needs;
4. to make good use of data centers, to introduce a few technological improvements within the sphere of communication infrastructure and international cooperation;
5. to make good use of the IPY 2007-2008 to improve in future the management of data gathered within the polar regions research.

Therefore, in order to acknowledge one's project accepted within the framework of the 4th International Polar Year, one's approval of making his data available to all the researchers concerned has been an indispensable condition. The body responsible for the elaboration of the strategy of data management is the Data Policy and Management Sub-Committee. On the other hand, the Data and Information Service (DIS) - the main information portal - will be engaged into spreading the up-to-date information among the public (after the information having been completed in IPY projects).

More information on the IPY 2007-2008, its aims and priorities one can find in the document: IPY Framework, and also on the website: www.ipy.org/.

Adapted from: www.ipy.org/ and International Council for Science. 2004. A Framework for the International Polar Year 2007-2008 produced by the ICSU IPY 2007-2008 Planning Group