Reyna Jenkyns Appointed as World Data System International Technology Office Director
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Reyna Jenkyns Appointed as World Data System International Technology Office Director
VICTORIA, BC – 10 July 2023 – The World Data System (WDS), an affiliated body of the International Science Council (ISC), is pleased to announce the appointment of Reyna Jenkyns as the new Associate Director of the World Data System’s International Technology Office (ITO). The WDS aims to promote long-term stewardship of scientific data and ensure universal and equitable access to quality-assured data and data services across various scientific disciplines. Reyna’s extensive experience and expertise make her the ideal candidate to lead the WDS-ITO in fulfilling its mission.
Reyna brings a wealth of knowledge and leadership from her previous role as the data stewardship manager at Ocean Networks Canada (ONC), hosted by the University of Victoria. Throughout her tenure at ONC, she successfully managed a team of data stewards and geographical information system specialists, ensuring the consistent quality of metadata of the observatory infrastructure and datasets. Reyna’s dedication to advancing interoperability and promoting standard formats and schemas has contributed to the seamless integration of data services. In addition, Reyna is also on the Board of CoreTrustSeal, the organization that defines the criteria for research data repositories to belong to the WDS.
As the ITO Director, Reyna will oversee the WDS-ITO’s strategic priorities and projects, working closely with the WDS International Program Office (WDS-IPO) and key stakeholders. She will lead the coordination and integration of Global Research Data Infrastructure (GRDI) components with other organizations, fostering collaboration with DataCite/re3data, ORCID, science publishers, and international programs such as the Group on Earth Observations (GEO) and ISC programs like Future Earth, in addition to continuing her role at CoreTrustSeal. Reyna will also play a vital role in creating and leading technical working groups and supporting the development of technical concepts and standards in alignment with the WDS partners.
Reyna’s academic background, including a Master’s Degree in Ocean Physics from the University of Victoria and a Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Math from the University of Waterloo, equips her with a strong foundation in numerical computation, modelling, and data analysis. Her experience in scientific programming and her extensive co-op terms in engineering and environmental fields further reinforce her multidisciplinary expertise.
The WDS and its partners, including Ocean Networks Canada, the Canadian Astronomy Data Centre, and the Canadian Cryospheric Information Network/Polar Data Catalogue, are confident that Reyna’s visionary leadership and commitment to data stewardship will significantly contribute to the success of the WDS-ITO. Her appointment reflects the WDS’s dedication to promoting open science and enhancing access to valuable research data globally.
See the ITO news announcement at https://wds-ito.org/ito-welcomes-new-director/
For more information about the World Data System, please visit www.worlddatasystem.org.
About the World Data System (WDS)
The World Data System (WDS) was established by the International Science Council (ISC) to promote long-term stewardship and universal access to scientific data across a range of disciplines. It aims to facilitate scientific research by coordinating and supporting trustworthy data services, ensuring the provision, use, and preservation of high-quality datasets, and strengthening links with the research community.
Media Contact: Vinnie Bernabeo, Communications Specialist for the WDS-IPO, vbernabe@utk.edu