The World Data System: Serving as a Voice for Trusted Data Repositories as a Critical Piece of the Scientific Enterprise

The World Data System (WDS) is an international membership organization of scientific data repositories, representing a worldwide community of excellence in scientific data. It ensures the long-term stewardship and provision of quality-assured data and data services to the global science community. WDS builds on the 60+ year legacy of the World Data Centers established in 1957 by the International Council for Science (ICSU), the predecessor to the International Science Council (ISC), to manage data generated by the International Geophysical Year (1957–1958). It became clear after the 2007-2008 International Polar Year that these bodies were unable to respond to modern data needs fully. Consequently, they were disbanded by the 29th ICSU General Assembly in 2008 and replaced by the World Data System in 2009. This poster shared details on the WDS aims to enhance the capabilities, impact, and sustainability of its 146 member organizations by creating trusted communities, strengthening the scientific enterprise, and advocating for accessible data and transparent, reproducible science. WDS has two offices: the International Program Office (IPO), located at the University of Tennessee Oak Ridge Innovation Institute in the USA, and the International Technology Office (ITO), based at the University of Victoria in Canada. Meredith P. Goins, MSIS and Executive Director of the World Data System, presented this poster and took questions from attendees.