China Williams
Senior Research Officer (Science Policy)
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Open data for life: the importance of data stewardship in the cultural sector
Open Data
Wednesday, February 8 • 1:35pm-2:00pm GMT
St James, 4th Floor
Open data for life: the importance of data stewardship in the cultural sector
Open data has expanded into all walks of life, from improving transport ecosystems to tackling the climate crisis around the world. In the cultural sector, open access to data published by and about the sector provides researchers, policymakers and the public with new data sets and insights from some of the most important institutions of our time.
This data has huge potential, and opening it up and combining it with open data about the institutions themselves can help to tackle some of the biggest challenges facing society, and to reach the Sustainable Development Goals.
This session will explore the importance of data stewardship in the cultural sector, and discuss what’s coming next for the sector.
Bio
My role focuses on ensuring that Kew staff comply with the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources, as well as the national laws of our partner countries. This involves supporting Kew staff preparing for overseas collecting trips, developing legal agreements with partners, and making sure that policies in all research areas ensure that we are using material legally. In addition I represent Kew at national and international meetings and work with the UK government so that Kew’s breadth of science knowledge is used to guide policy decisions. I have developed and deliver a range of policy training modules for Kew staff, partners, others in the non commercial research sector and also at the graduate and post graduate level.