7 May 2026

The WDS Scientific Committee has approved moving the proposed updates to our membership structure forward for a membership vote. The changes are designed to better reflect and support our global community of trusted data repositories.

What’s Next?

Action Required:
Please confirm or update your designated voting representative’s contact information by clicking the button below.

Your timely confirmation is critical to achieving quorum and enabling your organization to participate in this important vote.

Further details and supporting materials will follow soon. If you have any questions, please contact us at wds-ipo@utk.edu.

Thank you for your continued engagement with WDS.

The process leading to these changes was informed by extensive analysis and recommendations from the WDS-SC Subcommittee on Standards and Certification. We encourage members to review recent presentations and discussions providing additional background:

Key Recommendations Adopted:

We’re excited to announce the publication of “Certification Frameworks for Scientific Data Repositories: Strengthening Repository Trustworthiness” by the WDS Subcommittee on Standards and Certification in the Data Science Journal, offering practical guidance and recommendations for implementing trustworthy practices and certification frameworks in scientific data repositories. It highlights lessons learned, challenges encountered, and best practices to support greater transparency, quality, and trust in research data stewardship.

Castle, D., Santos Oliveira, D., Peters, D., Medeiros, C.B., Popescu, I., Madalli, D., Koskela, R., Goins, M. and Allard, S. 2026 Certification Frameworks for Scientific Data Repositories: Strengthening Repository Trustworthiness. Data Science Journal, 24: 16, pp. 1–13. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5334/dsj-2026-016

We are delighted to announce the recipients of the 2026 WDS Data Stewardship Awards, honoring individuals who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to open data and the advancement of best practices in data stewardship.

After a rigorous review of an outstanding pool of nominations, the WDS review committee is proud to recognize three exemplary leaders whose contributions are making a global impact:

South African Environmental Observation Network, South Africa

Carnegie Institution for Science, USA

Phoenix Bioinformatics, USA

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to this year’s honorees. Their dedication, innovation, and leadership are advancing the frontiers of data stewardship and fostering a more open, trusted research ecosystem.

WDS also expresses sincere appreciation to all applicants for their ongoing commitment to excellence in data stewardship, as well as to our panel of reviewers for their expertise and thoughtful evaluation throughout the selection process.

To learn more about each awardee’s achievements, explore details about the Data Stewardship Awards, and stay informed about upcoming announcements, please visit:
https://worlddatasystem.org/news-events/data-stewardship-awards/

The World Data System has introduced an important update to how it classifies and tracks the scientific disciplines represented within its global membership. Previously, WDS used the highly detailed Web of Science Citation Schema, which, while granular, often made it difficult to select appropriate categories and to efficiently sort or analyze member organizations by discipline. To better reflect the diversity and breadth of the WDS community—and to simplify navigation and analysis—WDS is now transitioning to the DFG (German Research Foundation) Classification System.

The DFG schema offers a balanced approach, providing enough specificity to capture members’ expertise without becoming unwieldy or overly fragmented. This change streamlines the organization, search, and analysis of the WDS membership directory, making it more accessible and consistent across all platforms.

All current members have already been reclassified under this new system, and no action is required. If any organization finds their new classification does not accurately represent their focus, updates can be made directly via their profile or by contacting WDS staff. This update is part of WDS’s ongoing commitment to clear, equitable, and effective data stewardship for the entire scientific community. Questions? Reach out to us at wds-ipo@utk.edu.

Join the World Data System for an engaging introduction to data spaces, a rapidly evolving approach transforming how institutions share, access, and leverage sensitive and non-sensitive sovereign data across organizational and national boundaries. We will unpack the concept of data spaces and explore the DataSpace Protocol (DSP) alongside a suite of emerging ISO standards (e.g., DCP) advancing via the International Data Spaces Association. Discover a variety of data space efforts relevant to basic and applied research, and join peers in the scientific repository community to explore how to advance data spaces in federation with other efforts.

Learn about real-world applications through concise recordings provided by four leading dataspace initiatives: the Australian Shared Environmental Analytics Facility, the OA Book Usage Data Trust, the Computer Network Information Center, and the Canadian National Data Spaces Pilot. Learn how these efforts are shaping interoperable, trusted environments for research.

This session offers an excellent opportunity to connect with peers in the repository community, discuss strategies for federating dataspaces, and gain practical insights on developing or integrating dataspaces within your own context. A live Q&A session with the use case speakers will follow their presentations, providing direct access to experts and fostering an open dialogue about current challenges and future directions.

We invite all data repository professionals to join us in advancing collaborative, standards-based approaches to data stewardship through data spaces.

Two 60-minute sessions will be offered via Zoom.

Dates:

8 May 2026 at 9:00-10:00 EDT | 13:00-14:00 UTC

11 May 2026 at 15:00-16:00 EDT | 19:00-20:00 UTC

The WDS seeks member repositories in the United States who are willing to share their accessibility journey as they relate to meeting the ADA Title II Digital Accessibility Deadline, which was recently extended to 26 April 2027.

If you are willing to share your story, please book time with our Executive Director, Meredith Goins, to discuss the successes and challenges, and potential gratitude for the extension. A 15- or 30-minute meeting that meets your schedule will help WDS meet repository needs.

The United Nations Commission on Science and Technology for Development (UN CSTD) Working Group on Data Governance, which includes representation from the WDS-ITO Associate Director Reyna Broadhurst as a technical community representative, has now released synthesis notes from each of four tracks (fundamental principles, interoperability, benefits of data sharing, and data flows). This is an important milestone towards a report with recommendations on equitable and interoperable governance arrangements.

Join WDS for our upcoming webinar "CoreTrustSeal 2026–2028: Key Changes, Challenges, and Community Support." This webinar will provide an update on recent developments within the CoreTrustSeal certification framework. The session will introduce the 2026–2028 CoreTrustSeal Requirements, which came into effect earlier this year, and present key findings from the latest community consultation survey, highlighting areas of consensus on key changes compared to the previous version. In addition, the webinar will address recurring challenges that repositories face when meeting specific requirements, with particular attention to areas that consistently require additional guidance or interpretation. The discussion will also explore how CoreTrustSeal endorses and engages with community-led initiatives and good practices designed to support repositories in overcoming these challenges.

Date: 10 June 2026

Time: 18:00 UTC | 14:00 EDT

The Ocean Biology Distributed Active Archive Center (OB.DAAC), operated by the Ocean Biology Processing Group (OBPG), houses all data produced or collected under the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)’s Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS). The OBPG supports the collection, processing, calibration, and validation of ocean-related products from a number of NASA, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and international missions. They continue to evolve and expand to meet the demands and challenges of future missions.

OB.DAAC and WDS exemplify a shared commitment to open, high-quality, and accessible scientific data, prioritizing long-term data stewardship and interoperability. OBPG’s rigorous archiving standards, collaborative approach with international partners, and continuous innovation in data services align seamlessly with WDS’s mission to foster trusted global data infrastructures. Together, they strengthen the foundation for interdisciplinary research and informed decision-making on ocean health, climate change, and environmental stewardship, advancing the principles of FAIR data across the scientific community. The Ocean Biology Distributed Active Archive Center became a regular member of the World Data System in April 2018.

The World Data Centre for Geomagnetism, Edinburgh, operated by the British Geological Survey, houses digital records of geomagnetic observatory data from institutes around the world. It also holds data from land, marine, satellite, and aeromagnetic surveys and repeat stations, as well as charts and computations from main field models, magnetic and solar activity indices, and an archive of historical and analogue records. Their mission is to collate, store, and distribute high-quality geomagnetic data and metadata, ensuring these resources remain accessible to both scientists and the public for generations to come.

WDC for Geomagnetism, Edinburgh’s dedication to data preservation and stewardship aligns perfectly with the mission of the World Data System. Their comprehensive approach to data curation, encompassing both digital innovation and the safeguarding of historical records, mirrors WDS’s dedication to trustworthy data infrastructures and international collaboration. Together, both organizations strive to foster a research environment where critical geoscience data are preserved, discoverable, and put to use in addressing pressing scientific and societal challenges worldwide. The World Data Centre for Geomagnetism, Edinburgh became a regular member of the World Data System in July 2012.

Crossref will be hosting their midyear community update on 13 May 2026. This webinar will discuss what Crossref has been working on, what their upcoming plans are, and will include time for questions and discussions. This webinar will include the following topics: Operations and governance, Membership, New Member Practices Working Group, Metadata schema updates, Service Providers Program, and DEMOS (data citations endpoint, funder matching, and new Metadata Manager features).

Session Times:

Eastern Session, 7:00 UTC

Western Session, 16:00 UTC

Join the AI Discussion Group’s seventh session in their Solutions Showcase Series. This session will host Tim Lloyd, Chief Executive Officer of LibLynx, and his colleagues Paul Dixon (Chief Technology Officer) and George Andrei (Senior Software Engineer). They will introduce a tool they are developing to automatically classify and categorize bot traffic: the Bot Filter. The goal of this tool is to enable service providers to identify robotic traffic upfront with no impact on the user or privacy concerns, and to tag those access requests with metadata that can help platforms make informed decisions about management of bots downstream (e.g. send to headless architecture; include in usage analytics).

Date & Time: 13 May 2026, 9:00 EDT | 13:00 UTC

Knowledge Equity and Open Scholarship Week 2026 will take place from 19-21 May 2026 and be fully online. This global gathering aims to advance inclusive, equitable, and collaborative approaches to knowledge creation, dissemination, and access. It will bring together a mix of voices from across the globe, including practitioners, scholars, educators, librarians, students, policymakers, technologists, and community leaders in an effort to create an open space to learn, share, and connect.

Session Times: 9:00-10:00 UTC & 11:45-13:00 UTC

The ICSTI Annual Conference 2026, being hosted by WDS member Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information (KISTI), will be held in Seoul, South Korea from 6-7 August 2026. Registration for the conference is now open.

The BitCurator Consortium Forum 2026 will be held online on 17 June 2026. The theme of this event is “Hitting Reset.” The forum will balance discussion of theory and practice of digital forensics, curation, and related digital analysis workflows and will include a keynote speaker, lighting talk sessions, and a Great Question Session.

Time: 10:00-17:30 EDT | 14:00-21:30 UTC

iPRES 2026 will take place in Copenhagen, Denmark and online from 21-25 September 2026. The conference themes are Community, Preservation, and Horizon, which encourage reflections on the evolving practices, innovations and collaborations shaping the future of digital preservation.

The Singapore Open Research Conference 2026, being organized by WDS regular member DR-NTU (Data) and hosted by Nanyang Technological University, will take place in Singapore from 4-5 November 2026 with the theme “AI and Open Research: Building Trust, Ensuring Security, Driving Impact.” This conference aims to bring together researchers, research managers, librarians, research service providers, policy makers, funders, publishers, and leaders to explore how artificial intelligence is shaping open research and will examine important questions around trust, security, and impact, offering a platform to share insights, experiences, and best practices.

The Earth Science Information Partners (ESIP) has an open call for session proposals for their 2026 July ESIP Meeting being held from 28-31 July 2026 in Austin, Texas, United States, and online. The meeting theme will be “Bridging Divides: Data, Technology, Community.” Individuals submitting proposals are encouraged to submit proposals for high-quality, 90-minute sessions that are relevant to ESIP areas of interest and the meeting’s theme.

Submission Deadline: 15 May 2026

The Research Data Alliance (RDA) 27th Plenary Meeting (P27) will take place in London, United Kingdom, as an in-person event, 6-8 October 2026. P27 will be hosted by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) with the theme “Shaping a global open research commons.” Three open calls are being held for various submission types:

Call for Sessions: RDA Groups and Birds of a Feather organizers are invited to submit session proposals to discuss and develop their ongoing work or present a new idea at P27. 

Submission Deadline: 15 May 2026

Call for Ideas Pitch Sessions: These sessions are fast-paced, collaborative sessions where you pitch your idea to the RDA community in just 7 minutes, giving you the chance to share your vision, connect with others, and discover potential collaborators, supporters, and resources. 

Submission Deadline: 9 June 2026

Call for Posters: RDA members are invited to submit a poster as an opportunity to share your work, ideas, and research data challenges with the global RDA community.

Submission Deadline: 26 June 2026

The International Digital Curation Conference 2027 (IDCC) will be held in Lisbon, Portugal from 9-12 February 2027. The theme of this conference will be “FAIR DO's: Centring People in the Stewardship and Curation of Digital Objects.” The conference is accepting five submission types: Papers, Lightning Talks, Posters, Demos, and Workshops.

Submission Deadlines:

The Generative Decision Science Conference, being held from 26-27 November 2026 in Johannesburg, South Africa, aims to explore the transformative role of data-driven decision-making in addressing complex societal challenges and emphasizes open science, data stewardship, and evidence-based decision-making as critical enablers of inclusive development, particularly in emerging economies. The conference has an open call for papers and invites submissions from scholars, industry practitioners, and post-graduate students with research interests in the fields of Decision Science, Data Science, Information Science, Information Management, Knowledge Management, Information Systems, and other information studies.

Submission Deadline: 31 August 2026

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), in collaboration with the International Science Council’s Committee on Data (ISC CODATA), is seeking participation in their Implementation survey on Data Policies for Times of Crisis (DPTC) facilitated by Open Science survey, which will assess how organizations have implemented data policies for times of crisis in alignment with open science principles, building on the Data Policies for Times of Crisis Facilitated by Open Science (DPTC) resources introduced in June 2025 as part of the UNESCO Open Science Toolkit. The questionnaire takes approximately 10–15 minutes to complete.

Deadline to Participate: 11 May 2026

RDM (Research Data Management) Weekly is a weekly roundup of research data management resources that is curated by Crystal Lewis. This weekly newsletter includes links to webinar recordings, older resources, job opportunities, and more.

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) has released a common set of parameters, the IEEE Recommended Practice for Provenance of Indigenous Peoples' Data, for the provenance of Indigenous Peoples' data, which supports the appropriate disclosure of Indigenous Peoples' relationships and/or links to all data. Access will be free for the first year through an institutional account or through creating an account with the IEEE.

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