International Data Week 2018, Hosted in Botswana

International Data Week 2018 (IDW 2018) will be held on 5-8 November 2018 in Gaborone, Botswana. Hosted by the Botswana Open Science and Open Data Forum, IDW 2018 will bring together data scientists, researchers, industry leaders, and entrepreneurs, policymakers and data stewards from all disciplines and geographies across the globe.

Co-organized by the ICSU World Data System (WDS), the ICSU Committee on Data for Science and Technology (CODATA), the Research Data Alliance (RDA), University of Botswana (UoB) and the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), IDW 2018 combines the 12th RDA Plenary Meeting, the bi-annual meeting of the research data community, and SciDataCon 2018, the scientific conference addressing the frontiers of data in research. 

To a greater degree than at IDW 2016 in Denver, Colorado, the events will be integrated, such that each day will feature an inspiring and engaging range of activities. In a hyper-connected world where the Internet is pervasive and web technologies are driving major changes in our lives, research has become more than ever before digital and international.

With the theme of ‘The Digital Frontiers of Global Science’, this landmark event will be a rich week of science and data, featuring world-renowned keynote speakers, plenary panels and discussions, and the presentation of high-quality research and practical working sessions for international collaborations.  

Focus topics will include:

·         Research issues in a global and digital age

·         Applications, progress, and challenges of data-intensive research

·         Data infrastructure and enabling practices for international and collaborative research.

All areas of research are in scope, including the social sciences, humanities, and business and management sciences.

Similarly, the applications of data outside of research will also be considered. DW 2018 will be held in Gaborone, the capital city of Botswana, an excellent location for this compelling international conference for the following reasons:

The fundamental role of data for research, for economic development and ecological sustainability, are recognized as important and are supported by the government, research institutions, and community.

The government of Botswana has a strong and forward-looking policy to support education, technology, development, and research.

Botswana is active and well-integrated in regional (Southern African Development Community: SADC), African and international collaboration in various areas of research and in data activities.

The Botswana University and research sector are advancing greatly as a result of these policies and engagements.

Gaborone is easy to get to, with connecting flights for international participants from Johannesburg (JNB), Nairobi (NBO) and Addis Ababa (ADD), and boasts attractive venues and excellent quality, competitively-priced hotels.

Botswana is one of the safest countries in the world according to the Global Peace Index: http://visionofhumanity.org/indexes/global-peace-index/.  Since independence in 1966, Botswana maintained a stable representative democracy, with a consistent record of uninterrupted democratic elections and ranking 35 (out of 176 countries) in the Corruption Perceptions Index 2016 https://www.transparency.org/news/feature/corruption_perceptions_index_2016.

Gaborone offers a pleasant location and attractions; in the north of the country, there are unique UNESCO sites for participants who wish to visit before or after the conference.

Registrations: https://idw2018.optimumqbw.com/

For more information: http://internationaldataweek.org/