Global Open Science Cloud Workshop

Europe/Amsterdam
http://go.egi.eu/zoom3 (code: 202011)

http://go.egi.eu/zoom3 (code: 202011)

EGI Foundation, Computer Network Information Center Chinese Academy of Science, China, CODATA ISC
Description

The digital revolution has transformed the way in which data, information and knowledge are acquired, managed, repurposed, analysed, used and disseminated. We are at the threshold of an era with unprecedented opportunities for cross-disciplinary and cross-border collaboration for research and innovation. A new research paradigm is emerging which applies increasingly automated approaches and Machine Learning, and which harnesses the most advanced computing facilities and software, to handle huge and disparate cross-disciplinary data. The advanced infrastructure needed for this new paradigm and Open Science is emerging: it needs to be on demand, as a service, ubiquitous and seamless. In pursuit of this vision, infrastructures are beginning to emerge at institutional, national and regional levels, such as the show cases in European Open Science Cloud from European Commission, the CSTCloud from Chinese Academy of Sciences, the ARDC e-infrastructure in Australia, the African Open Science Platform,  etc.  

Is it possible to share experiences and make a global framework to align and federate such Open Science clouds and platforms? Is there a way to better support research collaborations across continents to resolve global science challenges, such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), climate change, infectious diseases and pandemics, COVID-19, coordinated and global disaster risk reduction, and so on? At the moment, a global, fully connected digital infrastructure is not in place, making it difficult for scientists to access digital resources across countries and continents. 

The idea of a Global Open Science Cloud (GOSC) was initiated during the CODATA 2019 Beijing conference. The mission of GOSC is to connect different international, national and regional open science clouds and platforms to create a global digital environment for borderless research and innovation. It aims to provide better ways to harness digital  resources from around the world, help bridge the division in infrastructure, technique and capacity building among different countries, support global science collaborations and foster truly international science. 

There are many challenges and difficulties, i.e., inconsistent access policies from country to country; lack of common standards for building a global-level data and e-infrastructure federation; differences in language and culture; highly varied funding schemes, etc.  

The workshop will gather representatives of international initiatives, research communities and public digital infrastructure providers, to review the existing work in GOSC, and to develop consensus about  an initial concept model, framework, and roadmap for GOSC. We will discuss the needs and typical use cases from research community representatives, examine available resources and possible contributions from international e-infrastructure providers, identify the key barriers in policy, governance, standard and technique, and identify possible funding opportunities. 

We welcome all GOSC stakeholders to join and contribute to the discussion. We invite attendance by:

  • Research community and research infrastructure representatives with needs and experience supporting global collaborations;

  • Digital infrastructure representatives open to participating in a global resource federation;

  • Experts on standards and technology developing and operating solutions for federated access to data, computing, software and applications;

  • Policy researchers and policy makers who can identify the key policy barriers and provide plausible solutions;

  • Funders who have the vision and interests of investment in the implementation of GOSC.

Participants are highly recommended to attend the session "Open Science Policy in Europe: state of play and EGI contribution", 3rd Nov, 9:45- 11:00, to have a good review about the Policy aspect of Open Science.

Note: Attendees would need to have formal registration to the main conference, so that you will get updates and notification of the conference:

Back to the conference page 

Registration
Participants
  • Tuesday, November 3
    • GOSC, the Concept and Preliminary Landscape

      The objective of this session is to review the existing work in Europe and globally, discuss the concept of GOSC, the landscape, and the roadmap.

      Convener: Simon Hodson (Executive Director CODATA; Vice Chair, UNESCO Open Science Advisory Committee)
      • 1
        The UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science
        Speaker: Ana Persic (Senior Programme Specialist, Chief of Section a.i.,UNESCO)
      • 2
        International Science Council Action Plan and Open Science
        Speaker: Geoffrey Boulton (Governing Board, International Science Council)
      • 3
        The ISC CODATA Decadal Program: Making Data Work for Cross Domain Grand Challenges
        Speaker: Simon Hodson (Executive Director CODATA; Vice Chair, UNESCO Open Science Advisory Committee)
      • 4
        GOSC, landscape and vision

        This talk will present the landscape of existing work at global level and the preliminary GOSC vision and objectives

        Speakers: Jianhui Li (Director of CSTCloud, CNIC, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS)), Hussein Sherief (AASCTC)
      • 5
        From EOSC out: sharing lessons and co-building a global open research commons

        This talk will reflect on progress made towards a European Open Science Cloud (EOSC) from an Executive Board perspective. Common challenges which need to be pursued in global fora will be explored to discuss how EOSC is looking out to global peers and seeking to co-build an interoperable set of services and data which facilitate collaboration across disciplinary and geographic boundaries.

        Speaker: Sarah Jones (EOSC Engagement Manager, EOSC Executive Board)
      • 6
        Coordination of global activities on the development of Open Science platforms - the RDA Global Open Research Commons (GORC) IG

        The so called “Open Science Commons” or “Data commons” provide a shared virtual space or platform that provides a marketplace for data and services. Examples include the European Open Science Cloud, the Australian Research Data Commons, the African Open Science Platform, open government portals and initiatives outside traditional research contexts. Coordinating across these initiatives to enable a network of interoperable data commons is the goal. The Interest Group works to reach a shared understanding of what a “Commons” is in the research data space; what functionality, coverage and characteristics does such an initiative require and how can this be coordinated at a global level. Collaborations will be sought with parallel initiatives in other spaces, whether in national / regional contexts or in other fora such as the OECD, G7 Open Science Working Group, UN’s Expert Advisory Group on a Data Revolution for Sustainable Development, CODATA, GO-FAIR and others. Recognising the broad scope, the IG will focus initially on Data Commons and extend to Open Science Commons as work progresses

        Speaker: Corina PASCU (Co-Chair of RDA GORG IG, Policy Officer of European Commission)
      • 7
        Panel

        The discussion will be driven by the following questions to the panel and the audience:
        - What is GOSC, the concept, scope?
        - What are the main challenges?
        - What should be on the GOSC Landscape?
        - What should GOSC do and how should it go about it?

    • 12:45 PM
      Lunch
    • Research Communities and Co-Design of GOSC

      The objective of this session is to discuss the co-design of GOSC, such that it is developed with international research communities and to meet their objectives. International scientific communities are invited to discuss their global collaboration(s), challenges and requirements for GOSC.

      Convener: Jianhui Li (Director of CSTCloud department in CNIC, CAS)
      • 8
        Overview by the Chair
        Speaker: Jianhui Li (Director of CSTCloud department in CNIC, CAS)
      • 9
        Global Science Collaboration in the Photon and Neutron Community
        Speaker: Rudolf Dimper (IT Advisor to the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) Directorate )
      • 10
        Global EISCAT
        Speaker: Ingemar Haggstrom (Head of Operation, EISCAT)
      • 11
        Potential collaboration and challenge between SYISR and EISCAT

        EISCAT is a multiple Incoherent Scatter Radar (ISR) system in Europe and has played a significant role in space physics community in the past decades. Recently, they are planning to update the system and named EISCAT-3D. Sanya ISR (SYISR) is an ISR under developing over low latitude China and almost completed. At the same time, we are turning to the development of SYIRS phase 2, which will double SYISR and build two other remote receivers. Both EISCAT-3D and SYISR Tristatic System use phased array antenna and will generate huge amount of scientific data. Scientifically, these two ISRs will complement each other due to the geographic location difference. In the talk, I will generally describe both radar system, the potential collaboration in the future, and also the main challenges.

        Speaker: Xinan YUE (Institute of Geology and Geophysics, CAS)
      • 12
        Regional Collaborations on Disaster Mitigation
        Speaker: Eric Yen (AS)
      • 13
        Virtual Observatory and Science Platforms in Astronomy

        The Virtual Observatory (VO) aims to provide a research environment that will open up new possibilities for scientific research based on data discovery, efficient data access, and interoperability. In the talk, basic concept of the VO and current status of the IVOA will be introduced. As whole life-cycle data management science platform, several examples will be given including NADC (China), NOAO Data Lab (US), CANFAR
        (Canada) and SciServer (US).

        Speaker: Chenzhou CUI (The PI for Chinese Virtual Observatory (China-VO) and the chair for International Virtual Observatory Alliance (IVOA), the deputy director of National Astronomy Data Center in China (NADC))
      • 14
        Big Data Analytics needs for the Earth Observation Science Community

        Earth Observation (EO) data from open access sensors, such as those from the European Copernicus Sentinel fleet, are streaming in at rates of multiple Terrabytes per day. Comprehensive processing of these data streams, their analysis and integration into scientific maritime and land
        disciplines requires adoption of Big Data Analytics. EO use cases cover a wide range of data processing patterns across varying access profiles and have long term data curation requirements. Effective uptake relies on Petabyte-scale storage solutions coupled with massive parallel processing
        and access to efficient, state-of-the-art geospatial data analysis routines. Open cloud solutions are expected to make major contributions in providing consistent long term storage, facilitate rapid on-demand data staging and marshalling advanced compute resources to apply open source algorithms. However, uptake of cloud solutions in science also requires efforts in education in order to apply scalable and reproducible science methods in disciplines that are beyond the “space data” domain.

        Speaker: Guido Lemoine (Joint Research Centre (JRC), European Commission)
      • 15
        Supporting Global Open Science with Collaboration in Geoinformatics
        Speaker: Kerstin Lehnert (Doherty Senior Research Scientist at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, Director of the NSF-funded data facility IEDA (Interdisciplinary Earth Data Alliance))
      • 16
        Panel

        Focused questions:
        -- Who are interested and what are the benefits from GOSC?
        -- What are the community's needs for GOSC?
        -- What are the main functions for the GOSC? What are the big challenges for GOSC from your own research community and your experiences?

  • Wednesday, November 4
    • Global e-Infrastructures: Challenges and Opportunities in Achieving the GOSC Vision

      The objective of this session is to consider how existing e-Infrastructure resources can participate and support GOSC. International e-Infrastructure providers are invited to discuss their challenges in the international collaboration efforts (i.e., service provision, community support, standards in use), and identify challenges to this collaboration that might be addressed through GOSC.

      Convener: Mark Dietrich (EGI Foundation)
      • 17
        Overview by the Chair
        Speaker: Mark Dietrich (Senior Advisor, EGI.eu)
      • 18
        African Infrastructure for GOSC: Challenges and Opportunities (Gold and Diamonds)
        Speaker: Happy Sithole (Center Manager, National Integrated Cyber-Infrastructure at CSIR-NICIS, South Africa)
      • 19
        The ARDC’s Nectar Research Cloud: Challenges and Opportunities for the GOSC

        The Australian eResearch infrastructure landscape is complex, spanning multiple organisations that provide: discovery, analysis and curation tools; national information infrastructure services, such as identifiers; outreach, training, support, advice, consultation and policy; as well as the necessary underpinning infrastructure. The ARDC contributes to a number of these areas, including cloud compute infrastructure through the Nectar Research Cloud.

        The ARDC Nectar Research Cloud operates on a federated model across multiple organisations and state jurisdictions, which presents a number of cultural, legal and technical challenges for accessing and sharing data. This presentation will consider how the ARDC Nectar research cloud can be viewed as a local model for a global cloud structure, and outlines some of the ways the ARDC is working to address these issues and the various opportunities for contributing to the Global Open Science Cloud.

        Speaker: Rosie Hicks (CEO, Australian Research Data Commons (ARDC))
      • 20
        Research e-infrastructure federation in China
        Speaker: Lili Zhang (International Project Manager, CSTCloud Department, CNIC, CAS)
      • 21
        Open Science in the Context of the Globalizing World

        Digital transformation is stimulating research towards a more collaborative, global and open ecosystem, shifting the new paradigm of science towards openness, participation, transparency, and social impact. Even though this shift has started a few years already, it is still unclear how we can take and sustain it at the global level as we are missing consensus on essential elements of the ecosystem, and specifically on the connecting elements. We are asking researchers to share, but this will only happen if we develop the right environment for them with incentives and services. This presentation focuses on how OpenAIRE is building bridges within Europe and with regional infrastructures around the world to bridge scholarly communication initiatives, by sharing and putting forward best practices on policy and services, by assisting communities to develop with open science in their core, by enabling all actors across the research spectrum to commit to local infrastructure, and by putting the connecting elements for a global effect.

        Speaker: Natalia Manola (Managing Director, OpenAIRE; Member of EOSC Executive Board)
      • 22
        EGI experience in supporting international scientific collaborations

        In the past 15 years the EGI Federation has been supporting multiple research communities and scientific collaborations thanks to collaboration agreements with peer e-Infrastructure operators in the world which allow the EGI federation to be part of a integrated system of international research infrastructures by endorsing common policies, interoperability best practices and by coordinating service delivery activities. This presentation will present approaches and lessons learnt from the current experience.

        Speaker: Tiziana Ferrari (Director of EGI.eu)
      • 23
        Global Open Science -- challenges and opportunities for global networks
        Speaker: Erik Huizer (CEO, GÉANT)
      • 24
        Panel

        Focused questions:
        -- What are the common opportunities for working with a GOSC?
        -- What are the common challenges for international cooperation that GOSC can help with?

        Speakers: Erik Huizer (CEO, GÉANT), Happy Sithole (Center Manager, CSIR-NICIS), Lili Zhang (CNIC), Natalia Manola (Managing Director, OpenAIRE), Rosie Hicks (CEO Australian Research Data Commons (ARDC), ), Tiziana Ferrari (EGI.eu)
    • 12:45 PM
      Lunch
    • Realizing the Vision of GOSC

      Summary of main points in previous session. Funding bodies (EC, CAS, US) are invited to give information about funding opportunities. Based on these, the discussion will focus on the next step priorities for different stakeholders.

      Convener: Tiziana Ferrari (Director of EGI Foundation)
      • 25
        Overview by the Chair
        Speaker: Tiziana Ferrari (Director of EGI.eu)
      • 26
        Introduction to Chinese Academy of Sciences International Cooperation and GOSC
        Speaker: Yan ZHUANG (Division Director, Bureau of International Cooperation, CAS headquarter)
      • 27
        EC support to the European Open Science Cloud and perspectives on international cooperation
        Speaker: Kostas Glinos (European Commission, Head of Unit for Open Science)
      • 28
        Perspectives on open science and open data from the US National Science Foundation
        Speaker: Manish Parashar (Director, Office of Advanced Cyberinfrastructure (OAC) National Science Foundation)
      • 29
        Mini Panel

        Q&A to Funders and short panel discussion

      • 30
        Panel
        • Summary of key findings on challenges and opportunities for a Global Open Science Cloud initiative
        • Gaps to be addressed in policies and governance for data and service sharing
        • Gaps to be addressed in technical interoperability and data sharing
        • The role of RDA and the CODATA decadal programme
        • Next actions
        Speakers: Jianhui Li (CNIC), Mark Dietrich (Senior Advisor, EGI.eu), Simon Hodson (CODATA)