Copyright Clearance Center (CCC), a Danvers, MA, USA based organization established to help organizations integrate, access, and share information through licensing, content, software, and professional services recently organized a Town Hall special event titled "Making Research Data FAIR". The event hosted a VIP panel discussion to share best practices for developing research data that is FAIR through culture, training and technology. The event, held on 10th of May, 2023, brought together leading Researchers, Analyst, and Professors of Computer Science in a live broadcast to discuss the significance of FAIR data principles, the challenges faced and the steps needed to drive Innovation and Science in years ahead. The highlight of the session was the presence of our esteemed University Vice-Chancellor (Prof. Francisca Oladipo), a Professor of Computer Science and the founder of the Africa University Network, who served as one of the distinguished VIP panelists. Her participation underscored African countries and the University’s commitment to fostering a culture of Science and Innovation in coming future.
The event commenced with an engaging keynote address by Christopher Kenneally, Sr.Director of Content Marketing, Published Author and the host of CC’s Velocity of content podcast series. He emphasized the transformative power of openly accessible research data, highlighting its potential to accelerate scientific discoveries, enhance reproducibility, and drive innovation globally. Following the keynote, the interactive panel discussion commenced, featuring the Vice-Chancellor alongside other eminent figures in the research community (Debora Drucker,Analyst at Embrapa Digital Agriculture, Erik Schultes,FAIR Implementation Lead GO FAIR Foundation, George Strawn,Director of the NITRD NCO, Christine Kirkpatrick,Division Director Research Data services at San Diego Super Computer Center and Barend Mons, Professor at Leiden University Medical center, Ambassador of GO FAIR, President of CODATA). The panelists delved into the challenges and opportunities associated with making research data FAIR, discussing topics such as data management, privacy concerns, ethical considerations, and the role of academic institutions and research intensive organizations in promoting open science.
The Vice- Chancellor, known for her visionary leadership, shared insights on how Covid-19 pandemic and Ebola outbreaks affects research data in West ,East, and Central Africa. She also explained the challenges faced to collect all the data necessary for CCC program in Nigeria and Ethiopia, she further stated the need for fostering FAIR data across the globe especially in Nigeria. The session also included a vibrant question-and-answer segment, enabling participants from around the world to actively follow in the discussion.
The Making Research Data FAIR interactive session served as a significant milestone in advancing the principles of FAIR data and collaborative research. By featuring our Vice-Chancellor with other prominent Researchers across the world, Thomas Adewumi University affirmed its position as a leading institution at the forefront of Innovation, Science and Equitable access to knowledge.
The collaborative efforts showcased during the event would undoubtedly inspire researchers and institutions worldwide to embrace the power of open research data, ultimately accelerating scientific progress and fostering innovation for the betterment of society.
