Electronic Resource Preservation and Access Network (ERPANET)
Committee on Data for Science and Technology (CODATA)
Seminar on the Selection, Appraisal and Retention of Digital Scientific Data: Final Report

Rapid advances in technology are impacting the way scientists work, allowing greater amounts of digital data to be produced in the majority of scientific disciplines. These technological advances are also changing the way scientists interact, creating opportunities for collaborations across disciplines, institutions, and countries. The ever-increasing data that are generated through these advances require active curation to ensure their longevity. The international EPRANET/CODATA seminar examined the current state of practice of the selection, appraisal and retention among diverse scientific communities and discussed how archival concepts can best be applied to the management and long-term preservation of digital data.

The seminar, held from 15th-17th of December 2003 at the Biblioteca Nacional in Lisbon, brought together more than sixty-five researchers, data managers, information specialists, archivists, and librarians from thirteen countries to discuss the issues involved in making critical decisions regarding the long-term preservation of the scientific record. One of the major aims for this seminar was to provide an international forum to exchange information about data archiving policies and practices across different scientific, institutional, and national contexts. The seminar proved to be extremely successful in enabling discussions between scientific and archival communities. The seminar also highlighted some conceptual hurdles to overcome before effective collaboration between the diverse communities can take place.

This seminar was an important first step in the journey towards openness and collaboration between scientific disciplines, archivists, and other information specialists in the area of data curation and preservation. The seminar illustrated areas where each can learn from the others in establishing common frameworks and guidelines that will enable the effective selection, appraisal and long-term retention of digital scientific data.

The Electronic Resource Preservation and Access Network (ERPANET) and the Committee on Data for Science and Technology (CODATA) are pleased to announce the release of the final report for this seminar and invite all stakeholders involved in the creation and curation of digital scientific data to review the results at http://www.erpanet.org/www/products/lisbon/LisbonReportFinal.pdf.

Seamus Ross, Director ERPANET
Julie Esanu, National Academy of Sciences
William Anderson, Praxis 101

May 7 2004