Organizer: Simon Hodson
Format: Online, Morning
Abstract:
Accessing and integrating data from heterogeneous sources is a significant barrier facing evidence-based responses to the SDGs, which all require a capacity to consume data from many different sources. Discovery and interoperability mechanisms are frequently suboptimal, infrastructures to curate and preserve data in the longer term are lacking, as are cost effective mechanisms for processing and analysing data, particularly in low to middle income countries. The digital revolution is globally pervasive and has the ability to transform ways information is acquired, transformed and used. CODATA and the International Science Council (ISC), in partnership with UNESCO, United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), Earth Science Information Partners (ESIP), CSIRO, and multiple international research infrastructures, are collaboratively investigating the solutions needed for effective data integration across multiple SDGs. To provide scientific focus, we will apply a lens of three pilot case studies: resilient cities, infections diseases and disaster risk reduction. The workshop will explore topics of the digital revolution (e.g., the application of the FAIR principles, disaster data standardization, ‘fitness for use’ criteria, Operational Readiness Levels, alignment of metadata specifications, risk assessment, social awareness, etc.) that could contribute towards solutions needed to provide an evidence-based framework to accelerate achieving initially the pilots, and then other SDGs. The ultimate aim is to gain insight and feedback on the ISC-CODATA initiative and to engage new partners. Data collection and analysis at scale come with risks. There is a growing consciousness about the vulnerability of data to misinterpretation, misuse and misappropriation. In public and professional contexts there are concerns about increasing applications and dependencies on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data-driven decision-making. Participatory approaches are essential as they convert into the ‘how-to’ develop adaptive capacity of the community, which in turn contributes to community capacities to support transformative outcomes for effective SDG actions.
Themes: Sustainable Solutions from the Global South, Integrated Action for the SDGs, Knowledge-to-Action, Sustainability for Who?