Transborder Flow of Scientific Data Studied

Scientists commonly encounter barriers in gaining access to data
relevant to their research.  These barriers, both technical and
non-technical, have been a topic of increasing concern in recent
years.  Sheer volume has been one factor, but by no means the only
one.  The integration of multidisciplinary data on an international
basis to address problems such as global environmental degradation or
disease epidemics raises new kinds of challenges in this regard.

The National Research Council has organized a study, chaired by R.
Stephen Berry of the University of Chicago, to investigate the
barriers and other issues in the transborder flow of scientific data.
The study's goal is to help improve access to scientific data and
services internationally.  The primary focus is on data in electronic
forms.  The study is outlining the needs for data in the major
research areas of current scientific interest in the natural sciences.
The legal, economic, policy, cultural, and technical factors and
trends that have an influence--favorable or negative--on access to
data by the scientific community are being characterized.  The study
also is identifying and analyzing the barriers to international access
to scientific data that may be expected to have the most adverse
impact in the natural sciences, with emphasis on factors common to all
the disciplines.  The study will recommend to the federal government
and the scientific community approaches that could help overcome
barriers to access internationally.

The study is being performed under the auspices of the U.S. National
Committee for CODATA, a standing committee organized under the
National Research Council.  CODATA--the Committee on Data for Science
and Technology--is an interdisciplinary committee organized under the
International Council of Scientific Unions.

In order to obtain broad input from the users and suppliers of
scientific data, the study committee has developed an "Inquiry to
Interested Parties" requesting information on: barriers to data
access, pricing of data, protection of intellectual property, problems
of less developed countries, scientific data for global problems, the
use of electronic networks, and other technical issues.  Anyone
interested in providing views to the study committee is invited to
respond to this public inquiry, which is posted on CODATA's World Wide
Web Home Page <URL:http://www.cisti.nrc.ca/codata/welcome.html>.
 
Information about the study and CODATA activities generally may be
obtained from Paul F.  Uhlir, Director, USNC/CODATA, National Research
Council, 2101 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20418. 

- R.  Stephen Berry, University of Chicago and Paul Uhlir, National
Research Council

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ARL 183
A Bimonthly Newsletter of Research Library Issues and Actions
Association of Research Libraries
December 1995