Importance and necessity of research data infrastructure: an exploration of visibility, access, and power
In the rapidly evolving world of data and information, the significance of research and understanding in Eastern Europe and Central Asia has never been more important. Two initiatives, the KoDaNetOst project at the German Institute for East European Studies (ZOiS) and the Roundtable Osteuropa podcast, are at the forefront of this endeavour.
The KoDaNetOst project, launched by ZOiS, focuses on investigating the complex historical and contemporary dynamics of Eastern Europe and Central Asia. With several key objectives, opportunities, and challenges, the project aims to provide valuable insights into the region. The objectives include tracing historical processes and movement strategies influencing socio-political developments in post-Soviet spaces, studying critical infrastructure legacies from the Soviet era, and addressing complex issues involving resource conflicts, ethno-religious diversity, and migration/refugee situations.
The opportunities presented by the KoDaNetOst project include utilizing interdisciplinary approaches and data-driven methods, hosting workshops and collaborations across institutions, and contributing to filling knowledge gaps and debunking myths related to contentious historical and political topics. However, the project also faces challenges such as dealing with incomplete or fragmented data, navigating sensitive ethno-religious diversity, and addressing the dynamic and evolving nature of infrastructural and societal changes amid ongoing conflicts and migration flows.
The Roundtable Osteuropa, a ZOiS podcast moderated by Kerstin Bischl, serves as a platform for discussions on research related to Eastern Europe. The podcast features ZOiS researchers and guests, and covers topics ranging from current political and societal events to lesser-known topics. The music used in the discussion is "Complete" by Modul, licensed under a CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 license.
The importance of data in today's world cannot be overstated. Citizens and consumers generate data trails, and scientists face a growing mountain of data. However, data can also fuel propaganda, and access to data is becoming increasingly restricted, with authoritarian regimes using data for surveillance and limiting outsiders' access to domestic data. The KoDaNetOst project and the Roundtable Osteuropa aim to counteract this by making local information accessible that counters state propaganda narratives.
Ivaylo Dinev, affiliated with ZOiS, and Felix Herrmann, affiliated with the Research Centre for East European Studies at the University of Bremen and Discuss Data, are participants in the discussion. The insights in the Roundtable Osteuropa come from sociology, political science, geography, social anthropology, literary studies, and theology. All episodes of the Roundtable Osteuropa are available for listeners.
In conclusion, the KoDaNetOst project and the Roundtable Osteuropa are vital initiatives in the pursuit of a deeper understanding of Eastern Europe and Central Asia. By leveraging multidisciplinary research frameworks and data-driven methods, these initiatives aim to shed light on the complex historical and contemporary dynamics of the region, while carefully managing the inherent difficulties posed by data limitations and regional complexities.
- The KoDaNetOst project, a ZOiS initiative, explores the data-and-cloud-computing technology's role in understanding the intricate historical and modern dynamics of Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
- Policy-and-legislation and general news are often discussed on the Roundtable Osteuropa podcast, moderated by Kerstin Bischl, with a focus on the implications of data in shaping politics in Eastern Europe.
- In the broader context of data restrictions and use for propaganda by authoritarian regimes, the KoDaNetOst project and the Roundtable Osteuropa aim to ensure an open flow of information, countering state narratives and filling knowledge gaps in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
