Scientific and Technical Information
System
[SIST]
Support the planning and development of
information and communication systems for
education and research institutions
A project from the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Priority Solidarity Fund
Joël Sor - Cirad
www.sist-sciencedev.net
-SIST project – Scientific and Technical Information System
Starting point :
Research in the south
One statement : African
Research is extremely low in the
international scientific field
0,4 % of the web content
(0,02% without RSA)
Analyses from Roland Waast (IRD)
“Science condition in Africa”
-SIST project – Scientific and Technical Information System
Starting point :
Poorness of access to STI
An increasing marginalization of southern
research on international visibility
(0,7 % of worldwide publications).
Productions of its teams remain too thinly
spread
-SIST project – Scientific and Technical Information System
Starting point :
A lack of communication
Worldwide renown researcher teams
exist ...
… but they really are lacking of
appropriate means
This situation is one of the major constraint
to sustainable development in Africa.
-SIST project – Scientific and Technical Information System
SIST Objectives
3 years, 3 M €, 12 countries
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Improve and share knowledge and experiences
Promote existing and ongoing results
Build regional research networks
Introduce African research in international networks.
Contribute to the reduction of the digital and technological divide
(NEPAD priority)
• Part of the French contribution to the WSIS
Constraints:
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Fast implementation
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Operational, simple and pragmatique device (bandwidth)
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Technical, functional and financial autonomy of countries after the
project
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A geometrically variable structure that is transferable to the rest of
African countries
-SIST project – Scientific and Technical Information System
Participating Countries
-SIST project – Scientific and Technical Information System
2004 Actions
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Official launching meeting in March
Project Website : www.sist-sciencesdev.net
4 regional sensitization-training workshop (AUF)
Project Scientific Committee
CODC in 8 countries
Technical National Partner in 7 countries
Country studies in 8 countries (network)
Partnerships (Cirad, FAO, AUF, IRD, INASP, AAB…)
-SIST project – Scientific and Technical Information System
2005 Actions
• SIST platform V1 available
• Access to partners databases (FAO, CIRAD, WHO,
INASP, AUF, CNRS …)
• 3 pilots sites : Algeria, Ghana and Madagascar
• Sensitization and training
• Access to STI from African countries
• WSIS participation
• Steering Committee
• Platform installed in every participating country
-SIST project – Scientific and Technical Information System
3 – Technical composition of
the device
www.sist-sciencesdev.net
Users
Federated
Research
Module
Size of SIST Website
Changes in SIST Websites Computer
Scientists
SPIP-AGORA-SIST
SPIP-AGORA
Linux
Apache
Server
MySql
Network
DecisionMaking
Committee
National SIST Website
Php
Diverse Websites
Webmasters
Local
Databases
Scientists
• a modular device in layers
• totally open
Variable Elements
Elements of Free Software
Elements added by SIST to the free Software
• usable for other functions
outside the SIST context
-SIST project – Scientific and Technical Information System
• Technical limits
– Network available in each country
– main server hosted by Cirad (FR)
• Financial
– Agreement with commercial editors
– Access to bandwidth
-SIST project – Scientific and Technical Information System
5 – Perspectives, evolutions
The main developments considered are :
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Automated dissemination of SIST site contents to other websites ( creation of RSS lines)
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Device for selective information dissemination (from a recorded research equation, periodic
dissemination of results via the message system, via RSS lines, or via the supply of web pages on
the SIST.
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Harvesting of OAI (collection OAI metadata and exploitation via federated research module)
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Creation of centralised directory of experts
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Access control mechanism for sensitive database (Hinari, Agora)
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New connectors to the federated research ( LDAP directory)
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Improving the federated research module (post research relevant sorting, removal of “doublons”...)
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Exportation of federated research findings under other formats (XML, Word, Excel, Endnote …)
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Putting in place Blog and wiki tools in the collaborative work space
…..
BANDWIDTH
-SIST project – Scientific and Technical Information System
Contexte international
Europe Réseaux
Recherche :
Paris
Amérique
dont Internet 2
Asie
Pacifique
Lyon
Amérique
Latine :
Internet :
SFINX
(peering)
Corée : TEIN
puis TEIN-2
Bassin
Méditerranéen:
-SIST project – Scientific and Technical Information System
Thank you
Thank you
Joel.sor@cirad.fr
agaschignard@fara-africa.org
thierry.helmer@cirad.fr
www.sist-sciencesdev.net
-SIST project – Scientific and Technical Information System