|
|
Biography |
|
|
Ina Smith’s research focus is on promoting digital skills, open access, open science and open data publishing in the global South, with specific emphasis on Africa. She holds a Masters’ Degree from the University of Pretoria in Computer-Integrated Education, a Higher Education Teaching Diploma (permanently registered with the SA Council of Educators (SACE), and an Honours Degree in Library and Information Science. She has vast experience working in open access during her employment at the Univ. of Pretoria and Stellenbosch University – in repositories, journal publishing and conference publishing, and vast experience in developing training material in digital skills, as well as presenting training as part of continued professional development. She is currently employed as a project manager at the Academy of Science of SA, where she is managing the African Open Science Platform project. She is also a DOAJ Ambassador for the southern Africa region. In 2014 she received the LIASA President’s Acknowledgement for Exceptional Contribution (2014), in 2011 she was a Runner-up in the international EPT Award for Open Access, and in 2016 she was awarded LIASA Librarian of the Year. Ina served on the LIASA Executive Committee during 2014 to 2016, and during the same time she also served as Chair of the LIASA Higher Educational Library Interest Group (HELIG). She has a keen interest in the research process in general, and are actively promoting all to become digital citizens and to remain lifelong researchers and self-learners. Her involvement in digital citizenship and open research/science takes her all over the world, and she frequently presents papers at conferences.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Abstract |
|
|
|
|
Overview of the African Open Science Platform |
|
|
|
|
|
The Science International Accord on Open Data in a Big Data World (Science International, 2016) presents an inclusive vision of the need for and the benefits of open data for science internationally, and in particular for Lower and Middle Income Countries (LMICs). In addition to benefiting from data from the international community, African countries have much to contribute in terms of FAIR (findable, accessible, interoperable, re-usable) data for all to benefit in making progress towards implementing the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) (United Nations, 2016). Although there is a huge global movement towards making data openly accessible, concerns remain – particularly among researchers from LMICs, characterised by limited capacity and a deep mistrust, digital illiteracy, inadequate infrastructure, and minimal investment in data science training. During this presentation, an overview will be provided of the African landscape in terms of open data and open science policy, the need for capacity building, the required ICT infrastructure to support the sharing of data and science, and possible incentives for sharing research data and science. This paper will introduce the four other papers as part of this session, which will each in turn focus on specific areas related to the project. |
|
|
|
|