As of December 3 2008, all peer-reviewed research articles resulting from new Autism Speaks funding will be deposited in PubMed Central, the National Library of Medicine's popular online science archive, where it will be freely available to all within a year of its publication. With this step, Autism Speaks becomes the first US-based non-profit advocacy organization to implement a public access policy.
Traditional publishing modes only allow access to published articles by scientists at major research institutions that can afford expensive journal subscriptions. This limitation slows the advancement of scientific progress and hinders its broad application. But today the internet makes it practical to openly share research findings with all potential users around the globe – families, researchers, clinicians, and students alike. Recognizing this opportunity, the NIH recently implemented a public access requirement ensuring its own funded research is available in PubMed Central. Now Autism Speaks' policy will open the door for autism research, and donors who paid to sponsor the research do not have to pay again to get the published results of that research....
It is our hope that by removing [access] barriers, progress in helping all those touched by autism will proceed as fast as possible.
PS: Also see our November 2008 post on the Autism Speaks OA mandate.
Posted by
Peter Suber at 2/17/2009 02:54:00 PM.
The open access movement:
Putting peer-reviewed scientific and scholarly literature
on the internet. Making it available free of charge and
free of most copyright and licensing restrictions.
Removing the barriers to serious research.
I recommend the OA tracking project (OATP) as the best way to stay on top of new OA developments. You can read the OATP feed on a blog-like web page or subscribe to it by RSS, email, or Twitter. You can also help build the feed by tagging new developments you encounter.
