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<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Dear colleagues,</span></p>
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<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Greetings to all colleagues meeting in Gaborone, Botswana for the second edition of International Data Week (IDW 2018) [1] from 5-8 November 2018 . Co-organized by the
</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">ISC World Data System</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> (WDS), the
</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">ISC Committee on Data for Science and Technology</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">(CODATA), the </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Research Data Alliance</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> (RDA),
</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">University of Botswana</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> and the</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Academy of Science of South Africa</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> (ASSAf), IDW 2018 combines the
</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">12th RDA Plenary Meeting</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> and
</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">S</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">ciDataCon 2018</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">, the scientific conference addressing the frontiers of data in research. </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The
theme of this landmark event is ‘</span><b><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Digital Frontiers of Global Science’</span></b><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">.</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </span></p>
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<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">In a hyperconnected world where the internet is pervasive and web technologies are driving major changes in our lives, research has become more than ever before digital and international.</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Furthermore, the major societal and scientific challenges facing humanity in this digital age are profoundly global in character, requiring the participation of researchers from all countries and disciplines. The data
revolution is also a major source of the scientific opportunities to address these issues but to realise these potentials the frontiers of science, data analysis and stewardship must be advanced.</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Likewise, the data revolution must be inclusive, benefitting all,</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">and harnessing all energies: no parts of the world and no disciplines should be left behind.</span></p>
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<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">It is excellent that the International Data Week 2018 is held in Africa. I am requesting all colleagues to work for reducing the digital divide and enable opportunities for everyone to benefit from digital economy opportunities
[2].</span></p>
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<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Best wishes,</span></p>
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<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"></span></p>
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<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Suchith</span></p>
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[1] <a href="http://www.internationaldataweek.org" class="OWAAutoLink" id="LPlnk352443" previewremoved="true">http://www.internationaldataweek.org</a></p>
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[2] <span style="color: rgb(228, 175, 10);"><a href="https://www.osgeo.org/foundation-news/harnessing-the-digital-potential-to-drive-higher-education-transformation-in-africa/" id="LPlnk857613" class="OWAAutoLink" previewremoved="true">https://www.osgeo.org/foundation-news/harnessing-the-digital-potential-to-drive-higher-education-transformation-in-africa/</a></span><br>
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