This document discusses open scientific data. It defines open access, open government, and open science. It addresses challenges in storing, sharing, citing, and connecting open scientific data to software developers and civil society. Specifically, it notes issues with long-term storage and resolution of data locations, appropriate licensing options, using identifiers like DOIs to cite data, making data accessible and understandable to different audiences through formats, documentation, visualization, and intermediaries. The document advocates for actions like hackathons to bring together domain experts and developers and help integrate open data into various communities.

1. Open Scientific Data
Richard Akerman
Geospatial Advancement Canada
March 3, 2014

2. Open
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http://data.gc.ca/eng/open-government-licence-canada
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3. 3
http://www.flickr.com/photos/notbrucelee/8016200072/

4. 2013 - G8 Science Ministers
“To the greatest extent and with the fewest constraints
possible publicly funded scientific research data should be
open”
http://www.g8.utoronto.ca/science/130613-science.html
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5. 2014 - Group on Earth Observations (GEO)
“promote the free and open access to Earth observing
data and information for the benefit of society” – John Kerry,
US Secretary of State
“Open government data is important for democratic
governance and supports innovation, business creation and
efficiency.” - Dr. Patrick Gallagher, Director of NIST, Under
Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology
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6. 6
http://www.flickr.com/photos/shevralay/466516545/

7. GeoGratis & data.gc.ca
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8. Open x 3
• Open Access
• Scientific journal literature
• Open Government
• Processes and information within government
• Open Science
• Entire scientific process
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9. Open scientific data online and offline
• Challenges of storing, sharing and citing datasets
• Linking data to publications
• Connecting open data to software developer and civil
society communities
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10. Problem
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nasa_goddard/8658706340/
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11. Storing
• Someone has to pay. Forever.
• The location has to be resolvable. Forever.
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12. Sharing
• Canadian Open Government License
• CC0 “Creative Commons Zero”
• CC-BY “Attribution”
• More information in Dr. Theresa Scassa’s session
Open Government: Intellectual Property And Other
Considerations
Wednesday at noon
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13. Citing: Problem
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14. Citing
• Unique identifier
• DataCite
• DataCite Canada
• DOI
• e.g.
DOI: 10.5194/essd-3-1-2011 (paper)
DOI: 10.1594/PANGAEA.737668 (data)
DOI: 10.5443/1643 (data)
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15. 15

16. Connecting: Software Developers
• machine-readable files ideally with well-supported
software libraries for parsing the format(s)
• well-documented API
• open license
• support & use platforms that provide the above
• hackathons to bring domain experts together with
software developers
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17. http://www.canadiangeographic.ca/blog/posting.asp?ID=1035
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18. http://mikepacione.tumblr.com/post/77509854564/drinking-stats-per-capita-by-province-and-sex
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19. Connecting: Civil Society
• plain-language explanations
• intermediary tools
• visualization (mapping)
• analysis
• intermediary experts
• community groups
• universities
• meetups, Open Data Day, speed dating
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20. To be continued...
• Deena Yanofsky will talk more about this at 1:40 in
The Nature And Future Of “Open Data”
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21. Richard Akerman
@scilib
© 2014 Government of Canada
Licensed in the Creative Commons CC-BY
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