Prof. GUO Huadong, director general at the Center for Earth Observation and Digital Earth, the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), was newly elected as the president of CODATA (Committee on Data for Science and Technology) at its General Assembly held on Oct. 24 to 29 in South Africa.

Formerly the executive member of the organization, and the only Chinese candidate, Prof. GUO won the election at the 27th CODATA GA, or the 22nd International CODATA Conference. He is the first Chinese president of the Committee, which is established by theICSU (the International Council for Science) in 1966.

With a total of 20 national members and 16 union members, CODATA was set up to promote and encourage, on a world-wide basis, the compilation, evaluation and dissemination of reliable numerical data of importance to science and technology. China joined the organization in 1984 represented by the Chinese Academy of Sciences as the National Member, and then established a Chinese National Committee for CODATA, taking the efforts on promoting China's data activities of science and technology through the Secretariat located at the Computer Network Information Center of the CAS.

In accordance with the constitution of CODATA, a list of newly appointed members has been elected at the meeting: two vice-presidents from Russia and Japan, and eight Executive Members from the United States, Canada, South Africa, Britain, Brazil, France and Israel.

CODATA works to improve the quality, reliability, management and accessibility of data of importance to all fields of science and technology, as a resource that provides scientists and engineers with access to international data activities for increased awareness, direct cooperation and new knowledge. It is concerned with all types of data resulting from experimental measurements, observations and calculations in every field including physics, biology, geology, astronomy, engineering, environmental science, ecology and others. Particular emphasis is given to data management problems common to different disciplines and to data used outside the field in which they were generated.