Geospatial data needs workshop

London, 19 January 2010

As part of the programme of work to inform the development of the National Data Strategy, a consultation and review was undertaken to examine the need for and use of geospatial data resources for research in the social sciences.

A half day workshop at the Royal Society, Carlton House Terrace, London on the 19 January 2010 took place to discuss the findings from this review and to help promote further actions to improve access to and use of data and related resources in this area.

Presentations were given by experts in this field from Edinburgh and Virgina (USA), together wtih perspectives from both the public and private sectors.

Useful documents:

Speaker's presentations:

Additional documentation:

Workshop summary:

An electronic version of the Geospatial Review document (PDF, 1.10Mb) is now available for download.

This can also be viewed via the Flash-based viewer below:

Developing Infrastructure for Research Across the Biomedical and Social Sciences - Workshop held on 14-15 October 2009 at the Wellcome Trust, London

A workshop was convened by the ESRC, MRC and Wellcome Trust to explore the research potential of existing and planned longitudinal data resources. The workshop brought together key investigators to explore ways in which the potential benefits from a complex and diverse range of resources could be maximised.

The workshop had three aims:

  • assist in delineating the major research questions and challenges that social and medical scientists can address collaboratively using these resources
  • help clarify the enhancements required on specific studies to facilitate such research 
  • assist in determining how to achieve the highest degree of complementarity across the full range of these resources.    

The event included a series of presentations from lead investigators of existing longitudinal studies followed by a panel discussion focussing around issues relevant to the aims of the workshop.  Participants also broke into discussion groups, tasked with addressing these issues.  

Participants also entered into an open discussion about issues raised during the event, with the aim of trying to achieve some consensus about the research issues that require interdisciplinary research across the social and biomedical sciences and helping to establish mechanisms that will promote and foster such research across the range of these important research resources. 

Recommendations and next steps

A number of key points, issues and themes emerged during the course of the event. The main recommendation was that the ESRC, MRC and Wellcome Trust need to work together to develop a more strategic approach to the future funding, development, enhancement and exploitation of major longitudinal resources at the interface of the social and biomedical sciences.

The three organisations have therefore agreed the following next steps in order to carry forward the main outcomes of the Workshop.

  • The development of a Longitudinal Studies Strategy to provide a coherent framework through which to develop and maintain the UK's unique collection of longitudinal studies.
  • The development of a web portal to enhance the visibility of the UK's major longitudinal studies as a collective resource, conveying their research potential and impact to a wider audience.
  • The development of a cross cohort research initiative on Obesity.    

Further information

Further details on the event can be found in the Summary Report (PDF, 70.2Kb).

Please also see links below for the Workshop Programme and Presentations from Lead Investigators:

Presentations from lead investigators