D. Litt. et Phil. / The use of data in science has evolved to a new level in e-science. Collaboration in e- science is important as scientists, engineers and technologists work together to solve scientific problems, through the collection and analysis of large data sets. These experiments can generate enormous amounts of data, creating a need for more efficient storage, management and processing of data. Data needs to be managed effectively to ensure possible future use for secondary analysis and further experimentation. The practice of data curation deals with the management of data, with the objective of sustaining data as a resource for future use. A number of frameworks and models have been developed to address the curation of data, but only the Open Archival Information System (OAIS) has been accepted internationally. The World Data Centre (WDC) is an organisation that was established to ensure access to scientific data for a number of different scientific disciplines. This organisation consists of 52 individual data centres (iWDCs) that are members of the WDC, and are responsible for the curation of scientific data. Because the data curation practices and needs of each iWDC differ, the purpose of this study is to determine to what extent it is possible to develop a framework for the curation of data in the WDC. This study used a mixed method research design through the collection of data from an online survey (quantitative data) and a multiple-case case study (qualitative data). All the iWDCs were invited to participate in the online survey, which was created to quantify OAIS functional model compatibility, sampling for the case study was conducted based on the OAIS functional model compatibility scores. v Based on the findings from this study, suggestions towards a suitable framework for the curation of data in the WDC are made. The key outcomes from this research included a quantitative OAIS functional model compatibility test and suggestions towards a suitable framework for the curation of data. The suggestions towards a suitable framework for the curation of data in the WDC should in future be tested in the newly formed World Data System (WDS) and adjustments made to create a viable framework for curating data in the WDS.

Digital communication produces millions of emails, text messages, movies, images, and much more every day. As with all historical records, digital records are important to preserve because they allow us to study the past. There are, however, several challenges regarding their preservation. Unlike many of their analogue counterparts, digital records rely on a combination of hardware and software to be accessible, but hardware and software eventually degrade and become obsolete. This makes digital records inaccessible because the means to render them are no longer available. In addition to these technological challenges, there are issues surrounding appraisal, copyright, significant properties, and metadata. This thesis studies the challenges of digital preservation and what is being done to address them. I begin by introducing the challenges surrounding this topic and the methods of preservation that are currently available to archivists. I then analyse leading digital preservation standards such as the Reference Model for an Open Archival Information System (OAIS) and Preservation Metadata: Implementation Strategies (PREMIS) as well as digital preservation systems including Archivematica and Preservica. I also conduct a case study of Archivematica to analyse how well it manages the challenges of digital preservation. I conclude by explaining that there are no perfect solutions to digital preservation problems. The best that can currently be done is to manage the issues rather than solve them. / February 2017