Please see < http://twas.org/article/leading-science-groups-urge-global-open-data-accord> 7 December 2015 Leading science groups urge global open data accord Science International 2015 launches a campaign for "Open Data in a Big Data World" at Science Forum South Africa in Pretoria. Four international science organizations – ICSU, ISSC, IAP and TWAS – are behind the campaign. PRETORIA, South Africa – Four major international science organisations are calling for global endorsement of an accord to help assure open access to volumes of "big data" that increasingly are the basis of research and policymaking. The four organisations have developed and support an accord <http://www.icsu.org/science-international/> that includes a set of guiding principles on open access to big data, necessary to protect the scientific process and assure that developing countries can participate more fully in the global research enterprise. Limits on access to big data knowledge, they warn, raises the risk that progress will slow in areas such as advanced health research, environmental protection, food production and development of smart cities. Leaders of the organisations that participated in the 2015 Science International meeting called a press conference for 09.15 a.m. Wednesday 9 December 2015 at Science Forum South Africa to discuss the accord and the plans to seek endorsements in a 12-month global campaign. Phil Mjwara, director-general of South Africa's Department of Science and Technology, is expected to attend. The press conference will be held in the Amber Room of the CSIR International Convention Centre in Pretoria. [more ... ...] Arun http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4398-4658 http://www.researcherid.com/rid/B-9925-2009 -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean.