CODATA: meeting the needs of the scientific community

Abstract

Before CODATA was established the collection, compilation, evaluation and publication of scientific numeric data was largely uncoordinated. These activities were in the hands of individuals whose interests were limited to rather narrow fields, public organisations such as atomic energy authorities, scientific Unions and societies, industrial associations and commercial firms. In the early 1960's the U.S.A. and the U.S.S.R. established national programs aimed at providing a systematic approach to the compilation of critically evaluated data. However the magnitude of the task is so great that fully international cooperation is necessary and, in 1966, CODATA (Committee on Data for Science and Technology) was established as a committee of ICSU (International Council of Scientific Unions).

Citation

Watson, D.G. (1982), "CODATA: meeting the needs of the scientific community", Aslib Proceedings, Vol. 34 No. 2, pp. 103-105. https://doi.org/10.1108/eb050826