Raed M. Sharif

Raed M. Sharif is a Ph.D. candidate in Information Science and Technology at the School of Information Studies, Syracuse University, USA. Raed's academic research focuses on access to and reuse of Public Sector Information (PSI), especially scientific and technical information, and its impact on scientific and socio-economic development. He is also interested in the measurement of the social and economic value of PSI. To that end, Raed has recently held two research fellowships at the Intellectual Capital Unit of the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), and at the Information and Knowledge Management Department at the University of Johannesburg. He was also hosted for a month by the Human Science Research Council (HSRC) of South Africa. While in South Africa, Raed collaborated with South African researchers and collected data for his dissertation titled: The Value of Public Sector Information as a Strategic Resource for Socioeconomic Development Research and Policy Activities in South Africa. Raed’s recent research papers and contributions appeared in the proceedings of national and international conferences and workshops such as Knowledge Management Africa (KMA) 2009 conference, Senegal, May 2009; the OECD-U.S. National Academy of Sciences workshop on “The Socioeconomic Effects of Public Sector Information on Digital Networks: Toward a Better Understanding of Different Access and Reuse Policies”, Paris, France, February 2008 (report published in 2009), the Japan-U.S. Cooperative Science Program: International Workshop on Designing Global Information Commons for Innovation in Frontier Sciences, Tokyo, Japan, November, 2007, the 20th CODATA International Conference in Beijing, China, October 2006, the 9th GSDI International Conferences in Santiago, Chile, November 2006, the International Federation for Information Processing (IFIP) 8.2 in Ohio, USA, August 2005, and the American Conference on Information Systems (AMCIS), Nebraska, USA, August 2005, and Acapulco, Mexico, August 2006. Raed also presented his work during the World Summit on Information Society (WSIS-II) in Tunisia, November 2005, during his visits to South Africa (September 2005 and May 2007), to Spain (March 2007), to Germany (April 2007), to Brazil (May 2007), to Egypt (July 2007), and during his participation in the Oxford University two-week Doctoral Students Program organized by the Oxford Internet Institute in July 2006. He also spoke at a number of international and regional workshops and meetings in Latin America and Africa focusing on "Strategies for open and permanent access to scientific information" (2005-2007). In addition to his studies, Raed is very active internationally in promoting better and easier access to and use of scientific data and information for scientific and socio-economic development, especially in the developing world. He worked for two years and a half (2005-2007) as a Research Associate with the Office of International Scientific and Technical Information Programs (Now the Board on Research Data and Information) at the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, and with the U.S. National Committee on CODATA, where he was involved in designing, launching and evaluating different science and technology policy projects and activities. He is also a member of CODATA task group on Preservation of and Access to Scientific and Technical Data in Developing Countries, and a steering committee member at the InterAcademy Panel on International Issues (IAP) Program on Digital Knowledge Resources and Infrastructure in Developing Countries. Raed is also active in promoting the participation and involvement of young scientists/professionals in the science and technology policy making processes. To that end, he is currently chairing the Young Scientists Forum at the UN Global Alliance for ICT and Development (GAID) Community of Expertise on Enhancing Access to and Application of Scientific Data in Developing Countries (e-SDDC), where he is also a steering committee member, and co-chairing the newly established CODATA Young Scientists Working Group. In these activities, Raed’s work focuses on enhancing the role of young scientists/professionals in maximizing the value of science, especially scientific data, in the information age. Raed spoke about these issues at different international scientific events including the Abdus Salam Center for Theoretical Physics International Workshop on “Open Access Models for Science Dissemination”, Trieste, Italy, July, 2008; the ICSU conference on “Global Scientific Challenges: Perspectives from Young Scientists--An international conference celebrating 75 years of ICSU, Germany, April, 2007; and at the regional meeting of the InterAcademy Panel on International Issues (IAP) Program on Digital Knowledge Resources and Infrastructure in Developing Countries, Shanghai, China, May 2008. Before moving to North America in 2004, Raed worked for five years in different managerial positions at Birzeit University in Palestine. In these positions, he managed teams of 6-12 colleagues and ran different community development, ICT4D and capacity building projects in collaboration with local and regional organizations. He also worked as a researcher and a consultant for UNESCO, UNDP, EU, and USAID on science, technology, and innovation related projects and their impact on the Palestinian people and economy. Raed received his Bachelor degree in Economics and Political Science in 1999 and his MBA in 2002 both from Birzeit University, Palestine. Raed can be reached at raedsharif@gmail.com and on Skype at rsharif.

Research Interests

I strongly believe in the power and value of information and knowledge for sustainable development and for bridging different social, economic, knowledge, digital, political and even religious divides among people. This belief and other concepts such as equality, empowerment and development have played a major role in shaping my research and professional activities in the last ten years. I locate my current research within the political economy and public policy areas, with focus on information, science and technology public policies and special emphasis on the concepts of openness (e.g., open governance, open participation, open access to information and knowledge, and open ICT4D), collaboration, innovation and reform, and their impact on scientific and socioeconomic development. For my dissertation, I’ve been focusing my academic research on access to and reuse of Public Sector Information (PSI) and its impact on scientific and socioeconomic development, especially in the developing world. This is an interesting and important area of academic and applied research; given its strategic value to sustainable social and economic development, and that it addresses some important governance approaches and practices in these countries. Open access to and easier utilization of PSI can facilitate more collaborative work among and between different communities, especially between government, research communities, and civil society actors. This can add an interesting dimension to the evolving relationship between the state and civil society. Also, PSI is one of the raw materials that fuel the dynamic relationships between governments and private sector, allowing big businesses to reduce their research and development overhead and small business to innovate and create new markets. Given an open marketplace, private enterprises (especially mid and small size enterprises) can make use of PSI to create new goods and services that add value to the raw data, and in turn promote economic growth. This could increase the market size of information (and other) industries, and thereby expand the potential job market in the future. These kinds of positive externalities that result from access to and reuse of PSI create wealth and stimulate the economy, and are responsible for enriching the population. Moreover, reuse of PSI can promote effective engagement of citizens in policy processes, which can eventually develop and strengthen democratic values such as transparency, collaboration, participation, accountability and good governance. I believe that this kind of thinking and work is important and needed everywhere, however, its potential value and importance are magnified when it comes to the developing countries context, given the potential value that the reuse of PSI (and other kinds of available knowledge) can have for most of the development problems (e.g., poverty, food security, employment, HIV/AIDS, public health and environmental issues) that these countries face, and that efforts of this kind in the developing countries are extremely rare.

Keynote Speeches:
• The Power of Information and Digital Networks: New Paradigms and Expectations for Socioeconomic Development”. At the 9th Annual Information & Knowledge Management Conference, Johannesburg, South Africa. July 10th, 2009.
• Publications:
• Uhlir, Paul, F. and Sharif, Raed, M. (Forthcoming). Maximizing the Value of Public Sector Information as a Strategic Resource for Social and Economic Development. In Piaggesi, D, Sund, K., and Castelnovo, W. (Ed.) Global Strategy and Practice of e-Governance: Examples from Around the World. IGI Publishing.
• Sharif, Raed M. (2009). Maximizing the Value of Public Sector Information for Scientific and Socioeconomic Development in Africa. The Proceedings of the 3rd Biannual Knowledge Management Africa (KMA) Conference. Dakar, Senegal, May 4-7, 2009. Available at: http://isivivane.com/kmafrica/?q=group.governance.maximizing.the.value.of.public. sector.information.for.scientific.and.socioeconomic.development.in.Africa
• Uhlir, Paul. F., Sharif, Raed. M., Merz, Tilman. (2009). Measuring the Social and Economic Costs and Benefits of Public Sector Information Online: Review of Literature and Future Directions. In the NRC Report titled “The Socioeconomic Effect of Public Sector Information on Digital Networks”. Available at: http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12687
• Sharif, Raed M. (2009). The Value of Public Sector Information as a Strategic Resource to Civil Society Organizations’ in South Africa: Evidence from the Fight to Eradicate Poverty. Poster presented at the iSociety: Research, Education, Engagement Conference, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Feb. 8-11, 2009.
• Sharif, Raed. M. , Uhlir, Paul. F. (2009). An Inventory of Resources for Creating an Open Institutional Repository. A Toolkit prepared for the InterAcademy Panel on International Issues Program on Digital Knowledge Resources and Infrastructure in the Developing Countries. Published at: http://www.interacademies.net/
• Lange Canhos, D. A., Perez Canhos, V., Anderson, W., Uhlir, P. F., Carroll, B. C., Sharif, R. M. & Kishor, P. (Eds.) (2007). Strategies for open and permanent access to scientific information in Latin America: focus on health and environmental information for sustainable development. Workshop report. Atibaia: CRIA. Available at: http://www.cria.org.br/eventos/codata2007/report/Brazil2007 _workshop_report.rtf
• Paul Wouters, Christine Hine, Kirsten A. Foot, Steven M. Schneider, Subbiah Arunachalam, Raed M. Sharif, (2006), "Promise and Practice of Open Access to e-Science". In: W. Shrum, K. R. Benson, W. E. Bijker & K. Brunnstein (Eds.), Past, Present, and Future of Research in the Information Society: Reflections at the Occasion of the World Summit on the Information Society, Tunis 2005. New York: Springer, pp. 159-172.
• Qin, J. & Sharif, R.M. (2006). Metadata research: Models, schemas, and realities. Paper presented at the ASSIT Annual Meeting, November 3-8, 2006, Austin, Texas.
• Cogburn, D.L., Johnsen, J.F., Bhattacharyya, S., Sharif, R.M., Howison, J. (2006). Distributed Deliberative Citizens: Exploring the Impact of Collaboratories on Transnational NGO Network Participation in WSIS. Paper presented at the “Uniting the Americas: Technology, Intercultural Communication, and Public Affairs Conference". A special joint conference presented by the University of Saint Martin de Porres (Lima, Peru), ICA, and the American Communication Association (ACA). August 3-5, 2006.
• Sharif, R.M. (2005). Scientific Communities' Access to Publicly Funded Scientific Information in Latin America: A Conceptual Framework. Paper presented at a Pre-WSIS conference: The Past, Present and Future Research in Information Society. Tunis, Tunisia. November13-15, 2005.
• Sharif, R.M. (2005). Harnessing Science and Technology Research in Developing Countries: Empowering the Bottom-Up Approach. Poster presented at the Strategies for Permanent Access to Scientific Information in Southern Africa: Focus on Health and Environmental Information for Sustainable Development. An International Workshop. The CSIR Convention Centre, Pretoria, South Africa, 5-7 September 2005.
• McKnight, L., Wijngaert, L., Sharif, R. M. (2005). Wireless Grids: Assessing a New Technology from a User Perspective. The Proceedings of the International Federation for Information Processing (IFIP)-Working Conference on Designing Ubiquitous Information Environments. Cleveland, Ohio, August 1-3, 2005.
• Guzman, I. R., Sharif, R. M., Blanchard, T. J., Ellis, G. S., & Stanton, J. M. (2005). What attracts women to the IT field? The First Process of Occupational Socialization. The Proceedings of the 2005 Americas Conference on Information Systems (AMCIS), Omaha, Nebraska, USA, August 12-15, 2005.
• Sharif, R.M. (2005). It’s a Man’s World: The Accommodation Process of Women to IT Occupational Subculture in the US. The Proceedings of the Connections 2005: The 10th Great Lakes Information Science Conference at McGill University, Montreal-Canada, May 14-15, 2005.
• Sharif, R.M. (2003). The use and utilization of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT's) in the Palestinian Education System. Unpublished paper. UNESCO, Paris.

Teaching Interests

My teaching interests are heavily influenced by my academic research and professional activities, especially by the international dimensions of it. Whenever possible and relevant, I always link discussion topics in my courses to international issues and try to show how most of the problems and opportunities that the citizens of the world are dealing with are linked in some interesting ways. Main areas of teaching interest include: government information/telecommunication policies, e-government/governance, international development/collaboration, economics of science and technology, knowledge economy/society, knowledge management, digital/knowledge divide, ICTs for development, and organizational innovation. In addition to these areas, I’ve also developed some interest in other areas such as strategic planning and organization behavior in information-based organizations.

Courses I regularly teach:
• Survey in Telecommunication and Information Policy (Graduate Level): This course discusses public policy issues of the digital environment, including freedom of expression, intellectual property rights, economic regulations, privacy, security, access, standards, and dissemination of public information. The course applies economic, legal, and political science concepts to policy formulation, analysis, and evaluation.
• Strategic Planning in Information-Based Organizations (Graduate Level) This course focuses on linking information needs and technology support to organizational goals as a critical skill for professionals. It discusses how to develop a strategic planning process for information resources, identify strategic issues, link strategic planning with organizational mandates and mission, write a strategic plan with appropriate performance measures, implement the strategic planning process, and evaluate the planning system and outcomes.
• Introduction to Information-Based Organizations (Undergraduate Level) This course teaches undergraduate students topics such as organizational behavior; groups and teams; leadership and management; human resources; organizational development; change management. The interactions between people and technology in organizations, and the impact of information technology on organizational effectiveness is a main focus of this course.

Professional Interests

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES AND MEMBERSHIPS
• 2009-Present: Co-Chair, CODATA Young Scientists Working Group.
• 2008- Present: Steering Committee Member, InterAcademy Panel on International Issues Program on Digital Knowledge Resources and Infrastructure in Developing Countries.
• 2008- Present: Member, Task Group on Promoting Access to and Use of Digital Knowledge Resources in Developing Countries, the InterAcademy Panel on International Issues Program on Digital Knowledge Resources and Infrastructure in Developing Countries.
• January 2008- Present: Co-chair, the Young Scientists Forum (YSF) at the UN GAID Community of Expertise on Enhancing Access to and Application of Scientific Data in Developing Countries (e-SDDC).
• 2007- Present: Executive Committee Member: The UN GAID Community of Expertise on Enhancing Access to and Application of Scientific Data in Developing Countries (e-SDDC).
• September 2006-Present: Member, CODATA Task Group on Preservation of and Access to Scientific and Technical Data in Developing Countries.
• 2009-pressent: Member, the International Association for Social Science Information Service and Technology (IASSIST).
• 2007- Present: Member, the World Academy of Young Scientists (WAYS).
• 2008- Oct. 2008: Steering Committee Member. CODATA Young Scientists.

Personal Interests

• Traveling and making new friends around the world
• Reading
• Listening to classical music
• Playing and watching Soccer
• Cooking