KALRO (KAINET) OPEN DATA AND OPEN SCIENCE IN AGRICULTURE WORKSHOPJACARANDA HOTEL, WESTLANDS, 15TH TO 18TH JUNE 2015

Prof Muliaro Wafula PhD. FCCS,FCSK Prof Muliaro Wafula PhD. FCCS,FCSK Director ICT Centre of Excellence and Open Data –iCEODDirector ICT Centre of Excellence and Open Data –iCEOD

JKUATJKUATE-mail: director.iceod@jkuat.ac.keE-mail: director.iceod@jkuat.ac.ke

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•Data is the 21st century’s new raw material•Its the new Oil. Just like oil, in its raw form, has little value. But once processed and refined, it helps power the world.

What is “Big Data”?– Large volumes– Valuable insight, but difficult to extract– May be extremely time sensitive

Big data technologies are now available . This are technologies and architectures, designed to economically extract value from very large volumes of a wide variety of data, by enabling high velocity capture, discovery and/or analysis.

DATA

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What is Open Data?

• data that is publicly available and structured in a way that enables it to be fully discoverable, accessible, complete, timely and useable by end users.

• Championing for open data means seeking to realize better quality, reliability, management and accessibility of data of importance to all fields of science and technology.

• We need open Data polices developed and implemented.

Open Data

…set data free3

Open Data Global Ranking

• According to the Open Data Barometer report of 2013 http://www.opendataresearch.org/dl/odb2013/Open-Data-Barometer-2013-Global-Report.pdf, the UK was ranked the most advanced country for open data readiness, implementation and impact, scoring above the USA (2nd), Sweden (3rd), New Zealand (4th), Denmark and Norway (joint 5th).

• Kenya was the leading developing country ranked (22st), higher than Ireland (29th) and Belgium (31st).

• KAINET Open Data and Open Science workshop is timely and a major contributor towards improving Kenya's open data ranking

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JKUAT Support for Open Data1. JKUAT co-hosted the International Workshop on Open Data for Science and Sustainability

in Developing Countries last year 2014. 2. Acting on the recommendations and resolutions of the workshop, JKUAT has established a

special vehicle for advancing open data interest in science and technology called the ICT Centre of Excellence and Open Data -iCEOD. Link http://www.jkuat.ac.ke/directorates/iceod/

3. JKUAT is seeking partners to build Open Data Infrastructure at iCEOD with Capacity to ensure storage and publication of data in desired format with digital preservation capability.

4. JKUAT joined the Committee on Data for Science and Technology (CODATA) in 2014 and is the official representative of Kenya.

5. JKUAT has taken a major step towards creating an enabling environment for open data by drafting an Open Data Research Policy in line with the Nairobi Open Data Principles and the newly released CODATA Strategy 2013-2018.

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Capacity Building for Big and Open Data Era

1. Reviewed data management courses in Computer Sc. and IT courses

2. Currently teaching Business and Data Analytics as part of coursework for PhD IT students.

3. Developing MSc in Data Science targeting September this year for launch. Partners/sponsors welcomed to join create much needed capacity for managing the Big and Open data in support to researchers and publishers.

4. Offering professional training and certification in partnership with IBM in Data Management, Business/Data Analytics, Cyber Security, Cloud Technologies, and Mobile Application Development

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Open Data Challenges

1. Five years after the new constitution was promulgated, public institutions have not opened their information. • Access to information is enshrined in the bill of rights

in Kenya, but not yet institutionalized in law. • A draft bill is still pending in parliament but the need

for an Access to Information Law to action the above constitutional right is necessary to adequately support the advocacy for open data and science in Kenya.

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Open Data Challenges…2

2. The public is not adequately sensitized on open data.3. The tradition and culture of the Kenyan government

has been to keep data private by default.• A deliberate strategy need to be taken to change

this mindset of public institutions.• Innovation of suitable applications needed to

increase transparency, access and usage of open data• iCEOD is working on innovating simpler ways to

access information and data that is open.

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Way Forward• We need to explore how opening data can unlock latent value,

stimulate innovation and increase transparency and accountability. • For instance, by utilizing the capacity we are building in

Business and Data analytics, KAINet),(KALRO), (MoA-AIRC), (KEFRI), and (FAO), can be enabled to gain deeper insight of their data if made available in open data format. • Let us make data free to end user as much as possible.• We acknowledge that it cost to get data into desired formats. • Open Data Champions must be willing to spare some funds

towards making this possible.  

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Thank You!