In the spotlight - showcasing international data
Article dated: 7 July 2008
On 20 May 2008 ESDS International launched 'Case studies using international
data', and submissions from the international data community have already
started coming in!
ESDS International wanted to know what was being done with the data accessed
through the Service, so decided to ask users to submit case studies of their
data use - for which they receive a £50 Amazon voucher*.
A number of existing users were enlisted to help produce the initial case
studies which include: a study on the relationship between public attitudes and
public knowledge about science; research investigating the changing sources of
finance for development; and an examination of European identity and attitudes
to the European Union (EU).
Also included is a research project funded by the Swedish Environmental
Protection Agency on 'Low emission European energy scenarios'. Using the
International Energy Agency data, Mark Barrett from University College in
London investigated three environmental and energy problems that policy makers
in many countries face, and constructed a number of low emission energy
scenarios that achieve the following environmental, social and economic goals
for twenty-five countries of the EU:
-
reducing the impacts of air pollution on human health and ecosystems
-
controlling climate change and its impacts
-
securing long-term energy supplies adequate for providing services to people
and the economy
The case study describes how energy consumption is a major cause of carbon
dioxide emission, and that it largely determines the uncontrolled emissions of
many other pollutants. Mark writes that, as a consequence, "energy scenarios
are key inputs to the projection of pollution emission, and the formulation of
strategies to reduce pollution and achieve environmental objectives". The
methodology used to produce the energy scenarios is described and the results
summarised to show that "CO2 reductions of more than 30% are feasible by 2030".
The findings from this research have been presented at a series of
intergovernmental events and conferences including the United Nations Economic
Commission for Europe’s Task Force on Integrated Assessment Modeling (Prague,
May 2007), the Centre for European Policies Studies European Energy Conference
(Brussels, November 2007), and the Catalonian Conference for a Sustainable and
Non Nuclear Future (Barcelona, April, 2008).
As well as highlighting the diverse use of international data in research and
teaching, the case study feature allows ESDS International users to showcase
their work and enables others in the international data community to see
interesting examples of current research.
ESDS International intends to use case studies as publicity material both on its
web site and in paper documentation to raise awareness of the data available
through the Service and to demonstrate how they can be used in research, and
learning and teaching. Users are invited to visit
Case studies using international data to read current case studies or
submit a case study for possible publication.
*if published on the ESDS International web site
