Below is a press release from the UK Office of Science and Innovation
(OSI) providing yet more evidence (if more evidence was wanted!) that the
research publishing industry and its revenues are but a flea on the tail
of the dog, insofar as the returns on the public investment in research
are concerned. Research is not being funded and conducted in order to
feed the flea. Let not the flea presume to wag the dog!
Below, six items that predated the OSI report, and then, immediately
after, the press release for the OSI report.
http://www.nesc.ac.uk/documents/OSI/index.html
Houghton, J., Steele, C. & Sheehan, P. (2006) Research Communication
Costs in Australia: Emerging Opportunities and Benefits. RESEARCH
COMMUNICATION COSTS IN AUSTRALIA: EMERGING OPPORTUNITIES AND BENEFITS
A report to the Department of Education, Science and Training.
http://www.dest.gov.au/NR/rdonlyres/0ACB271F-EA7D-4FAF-B3F7-0381F441B175/13935/DEST_Research_Communications_Cost_Report_Sept2006.pdf
Houghton, J. & Sheehan, P. (2006) The Economic Impact of Enhanced
Access to Research Findings. Centre for Strategic Economic Studies
Victoria University
http://www.cfses.com/documents/wp23.pdf
Harnad, S., Carr, L., Brody, T. & Oppenheim, C. (2003) Mandated
online RAE CVs Linked to University Eprint Archives: Improving
the UK Research Assessment Exercise whilst making it cheaper and
easier. Ariadne 35 (April 2003).
http://www.ariadne.ac.uk/issue35/harnad/
Harnad, S. (2005) Making the case for web-based
self-archiving. Research Money 19 (16).
http://eprints.ecs.soton.ac.uk/11534/01/researchmoney.html
http://openaccess.eprints.org/index.php?/archives/18-guid.html
Harnad, S. (2005) Maximising the Return on UK's Public
Investment in Research.
http://openaccess.eprints.org/index.php?/archives/28-guid.html
Harnad, Stevan (2005) Australia Is Not Maximising the Return on
its Research Investment. In Steele, Prof Colin, Eds. Proceedings
National Scholarly Communications Forum 2005, Sydney,
Australia.
http://eprints.utas.edu.au/204/
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Thu, 8 Feb 2007 10:24:23 -0000
From: Philip Pothen <p.pothen_at_JISC.AC.UK>
To: JISC-DEVELOPMENT_at_JISCMAIL.AC.UK
Subject: Press release: Developing the UK's e-infrastructure - major report
published
Press release
Developing the UK's e-infrastructure: major report published
Growth of the UK economy depends upon the innovations of its researchers,
says OSI Working Group
8th February, 2007. Maintaining the UK's world leadership in research and
innovation requires a national e-infrastructure capable of meeting the needs
of researchers in the digital age. Furthermore, there is a serious danger
that without such an e-infrastructure, the development of the UK's science
and research base and the growth of its knowledge-based economy will be
seriously impaired.
These are some of the findings of a major report published today which sets
out the requirements for a national e-infrastructure to help ensure the UK
maintains and indeed enhances its global standing in research in an
increasingly competitive world.
Produced by the Office of Science and Innovation (OSI) e-Infrastructure
Working Group, the report - Developing the UK's e-infrastructure for science
and innovation - calls for greater coordination between the key agencies in
the field, greater investment in e-infrastructure and a 'step-change' in
'national provision and concerted action towards e-infrastructure
development.' Without such a 'step-change', the report warns, the UK risks
being overtaken by rapidly industrialising countries such as China, India
and South Korea.
Made up of senior representatives from JISC, the Research Councils, RIN
(Research Information Network) and the British Library, the Working Group
was formed in response to the Science and Innovation Investment Framework
2004-2014, published by the Treasury, the DTI and the DfES in 2004, to
explore the current provision of the UK's e-infrastructure and help define
its future development. While the current e-infrastructure has, the report
finds, helped secure the current standing of UK research, supporting vital
developments in many fields, such a position is not sustainable, it
continues, without high-level coordination, political will and significant
further investment.
The working group established six sub-groups which have each produced
reports, also published today, in the following areas:
1. Data and information creation
2. Preservation and curation
3. Search and navigation
4. Virtual research communities
5. Networks, compute and data storage
6. AAA (authentication, authorisation and accounting), middleware and
DRM (digital rights management)
The overarching report presents these six areas as distinct but
interconnected stages of a lifecycle, a lifecycle that is crucial, the
report argues, to the future of research in the UK and to the research
community's activities to engage with industry and apply its world-leading
innovations to commercial use.
To access the reports, please go to: www.nesc.ac.uk/documents/OSI/index.html
For further information, please contact: Philip Pothen (JISC) on 07887 564
006 or p.pothen_at_jisc.ac.uk
Received on Thu Feb 08 2007 - 19:35:26 GMT