The webinar “The Power of Data to Advance the SDGs. The role of publishers to support the SDGs and examples from Elsevier”

On January 26, 2021, on Zoom platform, the webinar “The Power of Data to Advance the SDGs. The role of publishers to support the SDGs and examples from Elsevier”, organized by IFLA ENSULIB (Environment, Sustainability, and Libraries Section), was held.

Specialists of RNPLS&T International Cooperation Department and Ecology and Sustainable Development Group attended the webinar as observers.

Dr. Petra Hauke, Secretary of IFLA ENSULIB, opened the webinar with the presentation of the Section history and its current initiatives.

The keynote presentation was delivered by Dr. Anders Karlsson, Elsevier Vice President for Global Strategic Networks, Chair of International Association of Scientific, Technical and Medical Publishers Japan affiliate, member of Coordinating Committee of Asian office of the International Network for Governmental Science Advice (INGSA Asia).

The title of Dr. Karlsson’s presentation was the same as the webinar topic. The presentation was in three parts; the speaker described the SDGs complex structure comprising 17 goals, 169 tasks and 231 indicators to assess the progress. The speaker emphasized the role of publishers in the sustainable development agenda — over 150 organizations signed the SG Publisher Compact pact. The publishers, like the libraries, have to get deep understanding of the concrete SD goals and tasks within their policies and missions. The progress in achieving the SDGs can be assessed through measurable parameters and methods, including bibliometrical ones applied to scientific publications within the SDGs subject scope. The speaker demonstrated how the indicators like number of publications and citations, research topics, collaboration number, publications in social media, funding, number of patents, worked for the purpose. The Elsevier’s several SDG-related publications projects were discussed. Dr. Karlsson demonstrated what knowledge could be extracted from the data obtained. In particular, on this basis Elsevier published the “Pathways to Net Zero: The impact of clean energy research”.

In conclusion, the speaker answered numerous questions of attendees.