6 August 2026

WDS is pleased to share a recent paper by Samantha Campbell, former WDS Information Specialist, examining how Persistent Identifiers (PIDs) are being adopted across the WDS community. PIDs are a critical component of the research lifecycle, strengthening the discoverability of digital resources and the people and organizations behind them. While the benefits of PIDs are widely recognized, the paper notes that adoption remains inconsistent, often lacking standardization, clear policies, and broad awareness—factors that may contribute to uneven uptake among researchers and institutions. Focusing on PID types particularly relevant to WDS members—ORCIDs, RoRs, and NAANs—the study aims to quantify current adoption, identify barriers that limit wider use, and outline practical next steps to encourage more consistent PID implementation across WDS. 

We are delighted to congratulate Reyna Broadhurst, Associate Director of the WDS International Technology Office, on her appointment as Vice President of the Earth Science Information Partners (ESIP), a valued partner member within the WDS community. Reyna’s selection reflects the high regard in which she is held across our shared ecosystem and underscores the importance of sustained leadership in advancing data-intensive Earth science. 

This recognition highlights Reyna’s outstanding contributions and her ongoing commitment to strengthening open, collaborative data infrastructures that enable discovery, interoperability, and long-term stewardship. We look forward to the positive impact she will continue to make at ESIP and across our interconnected networks, further supporting the shared mission of improving access to and use of trusted scientific data.

In the coming weeks, WDS will begin preparing members for the formal vote on proposed governance and membership changes. Before the vote opens, members will receive a summary of the final proposal, a timeline of next steps, and guidance on how the voting process will work.  

This stage is an important milestone in this initiative, and WDS is focused on ensuring that all members feel informed, confident, and ready to participate. This month’s communications will emphasize clarity, readiness, and straightforward instructions to help members understand what is being proposed and how to engage effectively. 

We encourage all WDS members to: 

To support members ahead of the vote, WDS has scheduled two open office hour sessions on 16 September 2026 where you can ask questions and get clarity on the proposed governance and membership changes, the voting timeline, and how the process will work. We encourage all members to join one of these sessions to ensure you feel informed, confident, and ready to participate.

If you have questions or suggestions, please contact us at wds-ipo@utk.edu. Your engagement ensures that WDS remains a robust and responsive community serving trusted digital data repositories worldwide. 

Thank you for making your voice count! 

Join the World Data System Early Career Researcher Network (WDS-ECR) for a conversation with the winners of the 2026 Data Stewardship Award. This webinar will include an extended interview with the three winners in which they discuss their careers, data stewardship, what the Data Stewardship Award application process is like, and more, and will also feature a brief presentation from each winner in which they discuss their work in data stewardship. This session will also include an interactive Q&A session, giving attendees the chance to ask the speakers their own questions. 

Date: 3 September 2026 

Time: 11:00 EDT / 15:00 UTC

CODATA, RDA, and WDS invite proposals to host International Data Week 2029, a four-day event bringing together leaders in research data and open science. Successful host proposals must demonstrate strong local partnerships, venue/platform readiness, and robust financial support. We welcome you to reach out to wds-ipo@utk.edu for more information. 

Application Deadline: 2 November 2026 

International Data Week (IDW) 2027 will take place in Cape Town, South Africa, from 20-23 September 2027. Mark your calendars and plan to join us for this fantastic conference that brings together data professionals, researchers, policymakers, and innovators from around the world. Stay tuned for more details on the program and registration. 

INFRA-ART Spectral Library is a dynamic, open-access digital repository developed by the National Institute for Research and Development in Optoelectronics – INOE 2000 in Romania. Serving the heritage science community, INFRA-ART provides an extensive and meticulously curated collection of over 2,000 high-quality spectral datasets covering more than 1,000 reference materials commonly found in works of art, archaeological artifacts, and other cultural heritage objects. By offering open access to these datasets, INFRA-ART significantly advances material identification, supports research and conservation decision-making, and contributes to innovation and education in heritage science. 

The partnership between INFRA-ART and WDS is a natural fit due to their shared commitment to the FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) and TRUST principles. INFRA-ART’s strong focus on data accessibility, transparency, and long-term sustainability aligns perfectly with the WDS mission to promote reliable, quality-assured scientific data services globally. Their support for cross-disciplinary research and reliable data reuse actively strengthens the WDS network, fostering international collaboration and ensuring that vital heritage science resources remain openly available for current and future generations. INFRA-ART Spectral Library became a WDS candidate member in June 2026. 

The National Earth Observation Data Center of China (NODA) is a pioneering institution in China’s scientific data landscape, being among the first national scientific data centers officially recognized by the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Finance. NODA is entrusted with the comprehensive management of China’s earth observation scientific data resources and services, as well as the development of a national-level big data facility dedicated to public benefit. Central to its international outreach is ChinaGEOSS, NODA’s core service portal, which acts as the main conduit for sharing China’s high-quality earth observation data with the world. Through ChinaGEOSS, NODA integrates these valuable datasets, connects with the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS), and actively fosters international scientific collaboration and sustainable development initiatives. 

NODA’s integration with ChinaGEOSS forms a synergistic system that bridges national data infrastructure with global scientific communities—a mission perfectly aligned with the core values of WDS. Both NODA and WDS are committed to advancing open sharing, accessibility, and the responsible stewardship of scientific data on a global scale. By representing China in international efforts to promote open earth observation data and enabling collaborative research worldwide, NODA strengthens the WDS network’s capacity to support sustainable development and scientific progress. This partnership exemplifies how robust national data platforms can empower international frameworks like WDS, creating a more interconnected and effective global data ecosystem. The National Earth Observation Data Center of China became a WDS network member in June 2026. 

The in-person conference will take place in Leiden, the Netherlands, from 27–29 October 2026 at the Naturalis Biodiversity Center and the LUMC Research Building. All plenary sessions will also be live-streamed for those unable to attend in person. Information about the online option will be released soon.  

PIDfest is the global meeting place for everyone who cares about keeping knowledge connected–across people, systems, disciplines, borders, and time. Whether you are fairly new to persistent identifiers (PIDs), embedding them in practice, or shaping national and global infrastructure, PIDfest offers a space to learn, connect, and help strengthen the foundations of open science. 

The full program is still being developed, but an outline agenda is already available on the PIDfest website.

Curious about artificial intelligence (AI) but not sure where to begin, or how today’s AI systems actually work? Mark Bell and Bernard Ogden from the United Kingdom’s National Archives will lead a one-hour introductory session designed for professionals working with archives, digital records, and cultural heritage materials. The webinar offers a practical, accessible starting point to help participants build confidence in understanding AI and its relevance to the archival sector. 

The session will introduce core AI concepts, trace key moments in the history and evolution of AI, and develop an intuitive understanding of how modern AI systems work. Through practical case studies, it will also explore real-world examples of AI in archival, research, and cultural heritage contexts, highlighting both opportunities and challenges. The event will be delivered via Zoom, with a joining link shared in advance. Questions can be directed to ASL@nationalarchives.gov.uk. 

Session Date: 19 August 2026, 7:30 – 9:00 EDT 

The International Geographical Union (IGU) is hosting its IRC Regional Conference 2026 in Istanbul, Turkey, 17-21 August 2026. Participants can attend sessions reflecting the comprehensive perspective of Geography, meet with experts who will address important issues such as sustainable management of natural resources, climate change effects, protection of cultural heritage and digital geography,  share their knowledge and experiences, as well as establish new collaborations.

The Research Data Alliance (RDA)'s 27th Plenary Meeting (P27) will be held in London, United Kingdom, as an in-person event, 6-8 October 2026. P27, hosted by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), will have the theme “Shaping a Global Open Research Commons.” 

Early Bird Registration Deadline: 27 August 2026

Fedora Camp is back for 2026, returning to Vienna, Austria, for a three-day, in-person gathering at the University of Vienna, 2-4 September 2026. The program schedule is live now, expanding workshop offerings and featuring new presentations for technologists, developers, and repository administrators working across the Fedora ecosystem. 

Hosted at Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1, Fedora Camp emphasizes hands-on learning and peer exchange. Registration includes access to all sessions and workshops, a guided tour of the Cerabye Labs digitization facility, lunch and snack breaks, and a social evening dinner sponsored by PHAIDRA.  

Registration Deadline: 31 August 2026

To celebrate Peer Review Week 2026 (14-18 September), PREreview is organizing a global Review-a-thon, bringing together newly formed and existing PREreview Clubs to synchronously carry out collaborative reviews of preprints and datasets. The initiative spotlights how human, community-driven peer review can strengthen research quality and help shift research evaluation culture toward more open and inclusive practices.

Registration is open through 31 August 2026. Clubs that complete at least one collaborative review during Peer Review Week and publish the resulting co-authored PREreview(s) (two or more reviewers) within the following two weeks will be entered into a raffle for a USD 500 fund to support future review activities. PREreview especially encourages participation from communities reviewing in languages other than English, groups reviewing datasets and data papers, and clubs in the social sciences and humanities—whether you register an existing club, join one, or start a new club with your lab, classroom, or scholarly community.

To strengthen coordination across the rapidly growing ecosystem of AI-related activity within the Research Data Alliance (RDA), the RDA Secretariat and RDA-US will host two virtual AI Cross-Fertilization Meetings in September. The sessions are designed to connect AI-focused groups and Birds of a Feather efforts that are currently spread across the RDA community, helping participants identify shared priorities and collaboration opportunities before convening at RDA’s 27th Plenary Meeting (P27) in London. 

8 September 2026, 15:00-16:00 UTC 

Focuses on trust, governance, and standards for AI agents in research data workflows, with pitches on trust-centered strategies for agentic AI, standards for AI agents in research workflows, agent network and access governance, rethinking data discovery through AI, and automation tools for data curation. 

10 September 2026, 5:00-6:00 UTC 

Covers FAIR and AI-readiness across the technical stack, with pitches on building a FAIR machine learning management plan, data-software-environment interplay for AI (‘the AI triad’), aligning research software communities and infrastructures, AI-ready data infrastructure, and an introduction to the Global Open Research Commons (GORC) AI Slice. 

iPRES 2026 will take place in Copenhagen, Denmark, and online 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.  

Registration Deadline: 5 September 2026

The Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research (SCOR) is hosting its SCOR 2026 Annual Meeting 8-10 September 2026 in Helsinki, Finland. 

OpenAIRE, a WDS partner member, will be holding a series of OpenAIRE Graph Community Calls. This series will dive into the makings and workings of one of the world’s largest Scholarly Knowledge Graphs and give attendees the floor to ask questions, provide feedback, and make suggestions. 

Call Dates: 16 September & 18 November 2026 
Call Times: 5:00 EDT | 9:00 UTC

Common Language Resources and Technology Infrastructure (CLARIN), a WDS network member, is hosting its CLARIN Annual Conference 2026 in Brighton, United Kingdom, and online 29 September-1 October 2026. This conference is organized for the wider humanities and social sciences communities to exchange ideas and experiences within the CLARIN infrastructure, including the design, construction, and operation of the CLARIN infrastructure; the data, tools, and services that it contains or for which there is a need; its actual use by researchers and teachers, its relation to other infrastructures and projects; and the CLARIN Knowledge Infrastructure. 

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 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, policymakers, 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 Medical Institutional Repositories in Libraries (MIRL) Symposium is a free virtual event dedicated to institutional repository (IR) management, curation, and promotion in health sciences settings. Their sixth annual meeting will be 19-20 November 2026. Designed for librarians and information professionals supporting research dissemination and stewardship, MIRL offers a focused forum for sharing practices and strengthening IR services in medical and health sciences environments. 

While there is no cost to participate, registration will be required, with registration details and half-day agendas expected to be released shortly.

The International Science Council (ISC) is inviting applications from outstanding early- to mid-career researchers to serve as a Civic Science Fellow focused on science communication. Hosted virtually by the ISC, the 18-month fellowship is designed to support work at the intersection of evidence and international decision-making—specifically, exploring how multilateral organizations can communicate evidence more effectively within international policy processes, and how science can play a stronger role in multilateral decision-making. 

Submission Deadline: 16 August 2026 

The NOAA Center for Artificial Intelligence (NCAI) will host the 8th NOAA AI Workshop 25-27 August 2026 as a three-day hybrid event in Boulder, Colorado, United States. Positioned as the culminating gathering in this year’s workshop series, the event will convene NOAA researchers and the broader AI community for panels and sessions spanning AI applications across environmental sciences, highlighting both emerging methods and mission-focused use cases. 

NCAI is also inviting submissions of AI research and applications aligned with NOAA’s mission priorities for consideration in the program. Because presentation slots are limited, preference will be given to work not previously presented at other meetings. Interested participants are encouraged to learn more and register, and to submit proposed contributions as early as possible to be considered.

The International Digital Curation Conference 2027 (IDCC) will be held in Lisbon, Portugal, 9-12 February 2027. The theme of this conference is “FAIR DO's: Centring People in the Stewardship and Curation of Digital Objects.” The conference is still accepting submissions for posters, demonstrations, and workshops. 

Submission Deadlines: 

The International Science Council (ISC) and the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) are inviting nominations of experts to review the second-order draft of the 2027 Global Sustainable Development Report (GSDR). This call aims to assemble reviewers who can provide informed, constructive feedback to strengthen the report’s evidence base and policy relevance. 

Nominations must be submitted via the online nomination form by 16 August 2026. Interested organizations are encouraged to identify qualified experts across relevant domains and submit nominations promptly to support an inclusive and rigorous review process.

NASIG is accepting proposals for NASIG Autumn 2026, a fully virtual conference taking place 6-8 October 2026. Proposals are invited for three presentation formats:  

Submissions are welcome from presenters at all career stages on topics such as AI and emerging tools, electronic resources/serials, collections work, career development, and accessibility. Proposals are due by end of day Friday, 21 August 2026 via their Google Form. 

The Generative Decision Science Conference, being held 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 2026 Conference of the Barcelona Declaration on Open Research Information will be held in Berlin, Germany, and online 24-25 November 2026. Under the theme “Aligning policy and practical implementation,” the conference aims to create a practical forum to share experiences, surface challenges, and explore how policy and implementation can reinforce one another in accelerating the transition to open research information. 

Proposals are invited for presentations and posters that reflect on successes and setbacks in adopting and using open research information across institutional, national, regional, and international contexts, with an emphasis on contributions that address the interplay between policy and practice. 

In 2025, WDS endorsed the Barcelona Declaration on Open Research.  

Submission Deadline: 1 September 2026 
Notification of Acceptance: 15 September 2026

Crossref is inviting their community to submit abstracts for its annual meeting and board election, taking place online on 22 October 2026. The theme “What has your metadata made possible?” highlights practical, real-world outcomes enabled by metadata, tools, and APIs. Abstracts can be up to 250 words and may be submitted in any language. Accepted speakers will deliver a five-to-seven minutes flash talk and share a poster on the Crossref community forum, helping extend discussion beyond the live event. 

Submissions are welcomed across four areas: 

The submission deadline is Friday, 4 September 2026, and Crossref plans to reply to all submitters by 1 October 2026. Recordings, posters, and slides will be uploaded to Zenodo unless presenters request otherwise. 

The International Science Council (ISC) and the International Network for Governmental Science Advice (INGSA) have launched a new, free online training program, “Science Advice to Policy”, that already has over 500 researchers registered. The initiative responds to growing expectations on scientists to provide advice that is credible, timely, and usable in complex policy environments, from crisis response to long-term challenges like climate change and digital transformation. 

The program is structured as a five-module course that builds from the fundamentals of science–policy relationships to practical skills in evidence synthesis, knowledge brokerage, and communication, supported by interactive case studies and webinars. Registration is now open for the second cohort, expected to begin in early September, with plans to make the training more widely available later under a Creative Commons license. 

Registration Deadline: 6 September 2026

Open Science NL is inviting applications from individuals with expertise in the open science landscape to join its advisory panels, which support national efforts to accelerate the transition to open science in the Netherlands. The panels are made up of independent experts and are designed to keep community needs at the center of Open Science NL’s program development and implementation. Open positions are available across three panels: Citizen Science & Societal Engagement, Open Scholarly Communications, and Software, Hardware en Research Data. 

Panel members help shape Open Science NL’s work by sharing expertise and best practices, providing feedback on the design, feasibility, and progress of funding instruments, and identifying key challenges, opportunities, and emerging trends. Each panel includes up to 14 experts serving three–four year terms. Members are expected to participate in at least two English-language meetings per year (approximately two hours each) and to review and comment on work programs and related documents. 

Submission Deadline: 11 September 2026, 17:00 CET

Open Science Collaborative of Library and Information Professionals (OSCLIP) invites individuals to contribute their instructional resources to a new OSCLIP initiative dedicated to building a comprehensive knowledge bank for open science instruction for library and information professionals. Their goal is to collect, organize, and share high-quality instructional materials that OSCLIP members can use, adapt, and reuse to inform and enhance their own instruction practices. Carnegie Mellon University, the host of the OSCLIP project, was a Lyrasis 2026 Catalyst Fund Recipient. The awarded amount will be used to help transition the four OSCLIP projects from prototypes to community-validated resources. 

WDS is proud to support the development of the OSCLIP knowledge base with direct involvement in this working group. Join us by sharing your instructional resources.  

Submission Deadline: 25 September 2026 

The ISC Forum on Publishing and Research Assessment is inviting the global research community to share their perspectives on what types of scientific contributions often go unrecognized—beyond peer-reviewed journal articles. Data, software, policy advice, education, community engagement, and more all play vital roles in advancing science. 

Anyone involved in research, at any career stage or sector (including those outside academia), is encouraged to participate. The survey takes about 15 minutes and is open until 31 August 2026. Responses will help shape future recommendations on recognizing diverse scientific contributions. 

Have you encountered any issues when it comes to sharing, finding, accessing, and working with research data? If you're a researcher/professional working with research data, its management or curation, or the infrastructure that supports this, then your perspective on the future of FAIR long-term data preservation is invaluable.

Deadline: 31 August 2026 

Federated and consortium-based repository models are now common in digital preservation, offering benefits like shared expertise, reduced costs, and greater sustainability. However, these models raise important questions about responsibility and trust certification. 

The CoreTrustSeal Board has published a discussion paper clarifying how responsibility and accountability should be demonstrated in federated environments, especially when using shared or outsourced functions. The main message: shared infrastructure is valuable, but certified repositories must retain clear, active responsibility for preservation. 

Community members are encouraged to review the discussion paper and submit comments by 15 September 2026. 

A joint initiative led by the International Science Council (ISC), the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the Association of Scientific, Technical and Medical Publishers (STM) and the Global Young Academy (GYA) aims to develop a global reporting standard for transparent, traceable, and responsible use of Artificial Intelligence in research. The goal is to harmonize disclosure practices across disciplines and publication cultures, supporting research integrity. 

Community input is sought through an open survey; responses will help shape this standard. All researchers and professionals are encouraged to participate by 16 October 2026. 

Explore this search tool powered by DataCite Queries, a WDS associate member, to see how metadata completeness measures up against the FAIR use cases for data repositories. Visit the website to quickly identify gaps and opportunities to strengthen repository metadata quality and reuse. 

The American Library Association’s new guidance on AI in libraries offers a practical framework for developing or updating local AI policies—helping institutions decide when (and whether) to adopt AI tools and vendor integrations while keeping professional values and human accountability at the center. It also makes clear that choosing to pause, limit, or decline AI adoption can be a responsible, values-based decision, especially when risks to privacy, equity, intellectual freedom, or public trust can’t be adequately mitigated. 

Drawing on interviews across United Kingdom and European GLAM institutions and a pilot test of Google Cloud Vision SafeSearch on colonial-era photographs, this article argues for a governance-led approach to “qualified access” in which human-in-the-loop AI supports sensitivity review and discovery at scale without replacing curatorial judgement or source-community co-governance. 

Sign up to receive monthly WDS updates and news.

Have something to share in our next newsletter? Send us the information below!