5 September 2025

Discover how artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are transforming Arctic and Antarctic research! This webinar delves into the role of these technologies in managing large, complex datasets related to climate, ecosystems, and northern communities while emphasizing ethical data practices and Indigenous data sovereignty. 

What to Expect: 

Date & Time: 17 September 2025, 19:00 EDT | 17:00 MDT | 18 September, 9:00 AEST 

Join researchers, data scientists, policymakers, and Indigenous scholars to explore the future of ethical, data-driven polar science. 

Are you or someone you know an Early Career Researcher eager to showcase their work on a global stage? The 3-Minute Scientific Research Pitch Competition at International Data Week 2025 is the perfect opportunity! 

Date & Time: 13 October 2025, 14:30 AEST (local time) 
Venue: Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre 

This exciting competition offers participants the chance to: 

Application deadline: 3 October 2025 

Help spread the word and encourage Early Career Researchers to take advantage of this incredible opportunity. Attendance is restricted to registered delegates of IDW2025. 

The World Data System is pleased to welcome the University of Cape Town (UCT) as its newest Associate member. As South Africa’s oldest university and a leading research institution on the continent, UCT is internationally recognized for academic excellence, social responsiveness, and innovative approaches to research. With a diverse community and high-impact scholarship spanning natural sciences, social sciences, humanities, health sciences, and engineering, UCT exemplifies the multidisciplinary spirit of WDS. 

UCT embodies WDS’s mission with its CoreTrustSeal-certified data repositories, ZivaHub and DataFirst, which set a benchmark for trustworthy and sustainable data stewardship. The university actively participates in global data initiatives such as DataCite and the Inter-University Institute for Data Intensive Astronomy (IDIA), fostering international collaboration and advancing open science. UCT’s commitment to FAIR data principles and interoperability strengthens the WDS network and supports global efforts to promote open, accessible, and reliable research data. 

The World Data System is delighted to welcome the Leiden Initiative for FAIR and Equitable Science (LIFES) as a new Network Member. LIFES is an active, interdisciplinary community dedicated to implementing the FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) for advancing equitable science and innovation. Bringing together developers, providers, and users of FAIR-related services from public, private, and academic sectors, LIFES is committed to building a truly global and open ecosystem for the equitable reuse of data. 

LIFES plays an important role within WDS by championing high-quality, machine-actionable data that is both FAIR and “Fully AI Ready,” enabling distributed analytics and supporting equitable access to scientific resources worldwide. Their approach emphasizes that FAIR data need not always be open but should always be reusable under well-defined conditions—aligning closely with WDS’s vision of responsible, accessible, and trustworthy data stewardship. Through its focus on open standards, distributed methodologies, and inclusivity, LIFES strengthens the WDS network and advances the goal of equitable, global participation in science and innovation.  

Reciprocally, WDS has joined LIFES as a Recognized Expert Community (REC). WDS commits to contributing expertise and actively participating in LIFES activities, including the development, implementation, and evolution of FAIR and equitable data standards and practices. 

Registration is still open for the 2026 Charleston Conference Asia, to be held at the Royal Orchid Sheraton in Bangkok, Thailand, 26-28 January 2026. Attendees will have access to all conference sessions and events, including keynote presentations, interactive workshops, poster sessions, and sponsored activities, along with valuable networking opportunities to connect with librarians, scholarly publishers, and vendors. 

With a philosophy rooted in welcoming new voices and valuing all perspectives, Charleston Conference Asia aims to unite library and publishing professionals from across Asia, Oceania, and Middle East/North Africa. The event will provide a vibrant platform for sharing knowledge, sparking innovation, and building a global community within the information industry. 

The early bird rate ends 10 October, with full price registration open until 9 January 2026.  

You are invited to the 4th United Nations Open Science & Open Scholarship Conference, taking place 16–18 October 2025 both online and in-person at the United Nations University (UNU) in Tokyo, Japan. Organized by the Dag Hammarskjöld Library of the United Nations Department of Global Communications in partnership with the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Division of Sustainable Development Goals, and UNESCO’s Division of Science Policy and Capacity-Building, this event explores the theme “The Right to Participate in and Benefit from Science.” There will be panels and keynotes addressing AI and the global digital divide, science communication and public engagement, and the future of open infrastructure for scientific access. The conference will highlight the Pact for the Future, endorsed by all 193 UN Member States, which underscores open science as a catalyst for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and bridging global science gaps. As billions worldwide still face barriers to accessing and benefiting from scientific knowledge, this conference offers a timely platform to advance open science, foster collaboration, and support collective action toward a more inclusive global research landscape. 

Join the International Association for Social Science Information Service & Technology (IASSIST) for their 5th Africa Regional Workshop in Accra, Ghana, from 22-24 October 2025. Centered on the theme “Enhancing Data Management for Promoting Continuous Growth and a Sustainable Future for Africa,” this event brings together data professionals, researchers, and policymakers from across the continent to explore key topics such as:

Don’t miss this opportunity to network and collaborate with leaders driving data innovation for Africa’s future. Register now to secure your place! 

Send proof of payment to: secretariat@iassistafrica.org (cc: program@iassistafrica.org). 

Free and Open Source Software for Geospatial (FOSS4G) North America is a leading conference for open geospatial technology and business, bringing together technologists, end-users, academics, and decision makers in a vibrant, welcoming environment. The event to be held in Reston, Virginia, US, 3-5 November 2025 facilitates the exchange of experiences and information among users of geographic data and open source geospatial software, while also offering new and potential users opportunities to explore available systems, discover data resources, and connect with developers and experienced practitioners. 

The deadline for submitting to ACM/IEEE-CS Joint Conference on Digital Libraries (JCDL) 2025 has been extended! Being held 15-19 December 2025, this will be a fully virtual event to support broad international participation while fostering live interaction. JCDL serves as an international forum for research and practice in digital libraries, connecting professionals from computer science, information science, librarianship, archival and museum studies, and various other fields, including technology, medicine, social sciences, law, and the humanities. 

Guidelines and format requirements are available on their website. Topics of interest for submissions include: 

Important Dates:

There is still time to submit a contribution to the 3rd FAIR Digital Objects Conference! This conference brings together leaders from science, industry, and policy to explore the global impact of FAIR Digital Objects (FDOs). The event will highlight integration with dataspace technologies, the STAP Principles, and real-world demonstrations of interoperability. The program features invited talks, panels, posters, and hands-on sessions, including tutorials and a newcomer introduction. Organizers are seeking submissions that share practical developments, strategic adoption plans, or examples of FDOs supporting global trust frameworks.  

New submission deadline: 26 October 2025 

This is the last call to apply for the British Academy Writing Workshops program, which provides funding for researchers in the humanities and social sciences from developing countries. The program supports workshops that build academic writing skills, foster international collaboration, and increase publication success in peer-reviewed journals. Eligible applicants can request grants to organize sessions connecting early-career researchers, mentors, and editors, strengthening research networks and advancing global knowledge exchange. Submit your application now to be part of this valuable initiative! 

Application deadline: 17 September 2025 

The 9th World Conference on Research Integrity (WCRI) will take place from 3-6 May 2026, in Vancouver, Canada, providing an international forum for advancing responsible research practices. Recognized for its global reach and commitment to diversity, WCRI brings together participants from all disciplines, career stages, and sectors—including academia, research institutes, funders, publishers, and government—to discuss and advance responsible research practices in an inclusive, international setting. 

This year’s conference will spotlight three key themes: artificial intelligence, research security, and Indigenous Knowledge systems. Sessions will explore how AI can both strengthen research quality and integrity, such as by detecting misconduct, and introduce new challenges like facilitating fraudulent research or introducing ethical risks through bias. In addition, the program will feature discussions on Indigenous perspectives in research integrity and offer opportunities for early-career professionals to engage through doctoral forums, workshops, and meet-the-expert sessions. 

Known for producing influential policy statements, such as the Singapore Statement, the Hong Kong Principles, and the Cape Town Statement, WCRI 2026 promises a lively, interactive environment that blends research findings, policy development, and practical insights.  

Abstract submission deadline: 15 October 2025 

The Turkish Academy of Sciences is hosting the International Conference on iNCLUSION in the Heritage Sector, taking place 10 January 2026 at Boğaziçi University in Istanbul. This event brings together participants from a wide range of fields to explore how cultural heritage can be made more accessible and inclusive, addressing the persistent barriers faced by people with disabilities—such as the 30% of heritage sites, 25% of cultural venues, and 40% of cultural websites in the EU that remain inaccessible.

With sessions highlighting the latest in digital transformation, the conference aims to foster collaboration and share innovative solutions for a more inclusive future. Academics, policymakers, cultural professionals, digital innovators, disability organizations, educators, and all those interested in inclusive heritage are encouraged to join this important exchange of ideas and practical strategies. 

Topics for submissions include but are not limited to: 

Submission deadline: 15 October 2025 

The Bren School Capstone Projects, part of the University of California, Santa Barbara’s Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, offer organizations in the environmental sector the opportunity to collaborate with teams of Master of Environmental Data Science (MEDS) students for five months, addressing real-world challenges through data-driven solutions. These projects serve as MEDS theses and match clients, such as businesses, government agencies, NGOs, and researchers, with small groups of talented students whose work is equivalent to a full-time employee. Throughout the collaboration, students gain hands-on experience in project management, data analysis, reproducible workflows, and stakeholder communication, while clients benefit from actionable insights and expanded professional networks.  

The Bren School encourages creative, interdisciplinary proposals for the 2025–2026 cycle from any agency or organization facing an environmental data challenge. Selected projects will be reviewed and chosen by the Capstone Project Committee with notifications being sent out in December.  

Submission deadline: 17 October 2025 

The Belmont Forum has launched a new Collaborative Research Action (CRA): Ocean 2.  Ocean 2 supports transdisciplinary research addressing global ocean challenges and contributes to the Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. By bringing together people from different fields, this initiative encourages teamwork and new ideas to tackle ocean challenges—from conserving marine life to understanding how the ocean, climate, and biodiversity are connected.  

Projects are expected to last 36 months and involve research consortia with participants from multiple countries and disciplines, including societal partners. Proposals should focus on at least one of three key areas: 

Registration and proposal submission deadline: 5 March 2026 

The Open Research Community Accelerator (ORCA) and Academic Data Science Alliance (ADSA) have come together to create a working group to study values-based assessment for data science faculty. Current academic evaluation systems for hiring, tenure, and promotion rely heavily on misaligned traditional metrics that fail to capture essential open science practices. This Working Group focuses on developing tools for open science values-based assessment of data science faculty. Building on an existing values-based assessment framework, participants are creating data science-specific evaluation tools that center open science practices, identify barriers to adoption, meet their local contexts, and provide exemplars for other schools. This work addresses a critical bottleneck in open science adoption by fundamentally realigning academic incentives with community values.  

To join this working group, contact micaela@academicdatascience.org  

The International Development Research Centre of Canada’s (DRC-Canada) survey as part of a case study focused on the Venezuelan scientific diaspora is still open. Its purpose is to gather information provided by members of this diaspora, in order to make it available to international funding agencies interested in supporting scientific-academic engagement and collaboration initiatives between the scientific diaspora, their country of origin, and other Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) ecosystems in Latin America. This project takes the Venezuelan case as a reference, approaching it as a case study whose findings could be relevant and transferable to the analysis of other scientific diasporas in similar contexts. 

The survey will be open until 31 January 2026. 

Sign up to receive monthly WDS updates and news.

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