ABSTRACT
“A fundamental characteristic of the age is the rising tide of data—global, diverse, valuable and complex. In the realm of science, this is both an opportunity and a challenge.” Modern information and communication technology gives researchers improved access to data-intensive sensors; increasingly comprehensive analysis and simulation facilities; and efficient large-scale communication platforms, enabling, for example, crowd sourcing that engages vast numbers of citizens in data creation and enrichment. The availability of suitable data is a key pillar of e-Science, enabling teams of investigators to work with, or independently from, the researchers who derived the data, thus reusing and recombining data in new scientific contexts. Major efforts over a longer period are needed to meet the challenges of integration, interoperability, data life cycle management, and trust-building. Only a systematic and focused approach, encouraging collaboration between the various stakeholders and covering the entire life cycle of data objects, will help us to achieve global reach across disciplines.
