By Elizabeth Leake (STEM-Trek)
More than 830 registered to attend International Data Week (IDW) in Gaborone, Botswana November 5-8, including data scientists, performance computing specialists and policymakers from 66 countries. Sixty percent were from African nations. Co-located meetings included a convening of the Executive Council of the Committee for Data of the International Council for Science (CODATA); the Research Data Alliance (RDA) Twelfth Plenary; #Drones4Good; and more.
Botswana’s President Mokgweetsi Masisi delivered the opening keynote on Monday, November 5. While he has only been in office since last April, his presence underscored the national commitment to science and technology. And he rarely travels alone; the many dignitaries who accompanied him were enlightened by his keynote and the IDW program, alike. When the tone at the top favors science, as it clearly does in Botswana, and that sentiment is echoed by all who support the leadership, research excellence …