Action Line C3 (Access) - Access to Scientific Knowledge (A2SK): Lessons Learned and the Way Forward for SDG2030

The rapid development of Information and Communication Technologies is not only transforming the way people communicate, learn and interact with each other, but is also providing new possibilities for information gathering and sharing. ICT has also contributed to transform science into science 2.0. From the proliferation of big scientific data, to an increasing shift of basic to applied science, to the increasing popularity of open science, to the use of “virtual” science, and increasing utility of citizen science have all comprehensively changed how science currently works and delivers its outputs to advance humanity. These fast but profound transformations are impacting both scientific community as well as the public as these have given rise to new research questions, tools, terminologies, processes and products.
Access to Scientific Information thus will have to be examined differently as the process to achieve at least ten sustainable development goals will depend on continuous scientific knowledge feed. Amidst the changing contexts as noted above, within this domain, stakeholders will have to process, relay and consume information differently.  In essence, the context of A2SK will dramatically change.  From the context of achieving climate resilience to creating a condition for food security will depend on how information will be transacted between and among This shift will not only have to be in how the knowledge torch bearer to inform the public how the science itself is changing. This also rests upon the knowledge and abilities to communicate how these processes and their numerous interplays are shaping scientific outcomes.

This session will be a useful mix of erstwhile implemented (e-science and A2K).therefore discuss the following questions: 

• How is the access to information changing from its current shape and becoming interactive and interconnected status and how is it impacting the information collection and dissemination processes?
• What can be done to make the stakeholders understand their new role amidst a dynamic scientific environment where Big Data, Open Access and Open Data policies, common standards for openly-licensed educational resources, mandates for scientific repositories etc. have matured or  become standard norms in the new inclusive and open science?
• What are new data and information collection efforts underway and how they are likely to change the way science will be communicated in future?
• What can be done to institutionalize these processes?