The CODATA Task Group on Preservation of and Access to Scientific and Technical Data in Developing Countries was newly approved in October 2002. It grew out of the work done by the CODATA Working Group on Archiving Scientific Data that was established in October 2000.

    The objectives of the Task Group are (1) to promote a deeper understanding of the conditions in developing countries with regard to long-term preservation, archiving, and access to scientific and technical (S&T) data; (2) advance the development and adoption of improved archiving procedures, technologies, standards, and policies; (3) provide an interdisciplinary forum and mechanisms for exchanging information about S&T data archiving requirements and activities, with particular focus on the concerns of developing countries; and (4) publish and disseminate broadly the results of these efforts.

    The activities of the Task Group include two workshops that build on the work done by the CODATA Data Archiving Working Group between 2000 and 2002. One of these workshops will be held in China (first half year of 2004) in cooperation with the China National Committee for CODATA, Ministry of Science and Technology of China (MOST), and the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). The workshop will focus on the management and policy areas of archiving and preserving access to scientific and technical data. This workshop complements the ongoing development in China of policies, practices, and technologies that support open access to publicly funded scientific research and development.

    A related workshop is expected to be convened in 2005 that will examine the strategies for preservation of and open access to digital scientific information resources in the southern African region with a focus on biomedical and environmental and earth science data and related scientific, technical, and medical journals in collaboration with CODATA, the South African and U.S. National CODATA Committees, and the South African National Research Foundation.