Scientific Disciplines

Classification of Scientific Disciplines

Issue

EGI is a multidisciplinary e-Infrastructure where users belong to a variety of different scientific disciplines. EGI needs to categorise users by disciplines through a number tools (e.g, AppDB, operations portal, training marketplace, CRM). Currently, these tools adopted different approaches because a coherent, consistent and authoritative classification was never defined. It is essential to agree on a common classification that can be expanded in the future and that all tools align with it.

Background

Classifying scientific disciplines is an issue that has been faced in many areas (e.g., governments, universities). Within the European Grid, a simple classification was proposed in the early period and it is not anymore suitable for the expanded user base as having many virtual organisations falling into the "other" category. As any re-classification affects every single VO (approx. 200), it needed to be authoritative with limited chance of future changes. Given the complexity of the issue and the generally close nature of early adopter user communities, it was decided to revisit the issue as grid moved to a more open ecosystem and necessities arose.

Current Status

EGI is currently operating as a large-scale service provider in an open ICT ecosystem, but is still using a variety of different classifications across a number of channels (e.g. portals, databases, presentations, reports). A summary of these uses and comparisons to other publicly available classifications can be found here: http://go.egi.eu/lbhrc.

Key Considerations

In order for EGI to undertake any potential reclassification that would result in the collaboration with every VO manager, a comprehensive study needs to take place in order to analyse not only the inclusion of current user communities, but future ones as well.

The result will need consensus by VO Managers and tool operators as well as the EGI Council for implementation.

Options / Next Steps

• Propose a Unified Classifcation of Scientific Disciplines
• Conduct a review of the classification via a dedicated focused group (or Virtual Team)
• Present the proposed list for comments and recommendation by VO Managers, tool operators and potentially the NILs
• Sumbit to EGI Management and Council for approval

Recommendation

Here we propose the new unified classification of scientific disciplines to be used across EGI tools. This proposal is based on the Field fo Science and Technology (FOS) classification from the "Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development". It has been adapted to match the EGI needs and serves as a basis for conversation within the evolved groups.

1. Natural Sciences

1.1 Mathematics

1.2 Computer and information sciences

1.3 Physical Sciences (Physics, Astronomy, Astro-Particle Physics, Astrophysics, High Energy Physics, Fusion)

1.4 Chemical sciences (Chemistry, Computational Chemistry)

1.5 Earth and related environmental sciences (Geophysics, Hydro-Meteorology)

1.6 Biological sciences (Biology, Structural Biology)

1.7 Other natural sciences

2. Engineering and Technology

2.1 Civil engineering

2.2 Electrical engineering, electronic, engineering, information engineering

2.3 Mechanical engineering

2.4 Chemical engineering

2.5 Materials engineering (Material Sciences)

2.6 Medical engineering

2.7 Environmental engineering

2.8 Environmental biotechnology

2.9 Industrial Biotechnology

2.10 Nano-technology

2.11 Other engineering and technologies (Energy, Civil Protection)

3. Medical and Health Sciences (Life Sciences)

3.1 Basic medicine

3.2 Clinical medicine

3.3 Health sciences

3.4 Health biotechnology

3.5 Other medical sciences

4. Agricultural Sciences

4.1 Agriculture, forestry, and fisheries

4.2 Animal and dairy science

4.3 Veterinary science

4.4 Agricultural biotechnology

4.5 Other agricultural sciences

5. Social Sciences

5.1 Psychology

5.2 Economics and business (finance)

5.3 Educational sciences

5.4 Sociology

5.5 Law

5.6 Political Science

5.7 Social and economic geography

5.8 Media and communications (multimedia)

5.9 Other social sciences

6. Humanities

6.1 History

6.2 Archaeology

6.3 Languages and literature

6.4 Philosophy, ethics and religion

6.5 Other humanities

Other classifications

• http://wiki.surf.nl/display/standards/info-eu-repo#info-eu-repo-ClassificationSchemes
• http://www.mii.lt/support/matematika/straipsniai/str/GlanzelClassification.pdf050529966.pdf
• http://www.acm.org/about/class/1998
• http://www.oecd.org/science/innovationinsciencetechnologyandindustry/38235147.pdf
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_academic_disciplines