Re: Open Access to Federally Funded Research Data

Robert J. Bradbury (bradbury@www.aeiveos.com)
Sun, 5 Sep 1999 07:06:09 -0700 (PDT)

On Sun, 5 Sep 1999, James Daugherty wrote:

> Something Extropians should support?

I would have to say yes, as much as I appreciate the scientists position that some data should be private, and that making it available may cost more, *and* it may easily be "abused" by people with agendas (for example, I have no way of knowing whether the discussed rotavirus vaccine "problem" was a mistake or is an a group of people pushing an agenda).

The expense problem can be fairly easily dealt with using technology and the web. The scientists who think this is "expensive" are probably all over the age of 50.

All of these things seem to pale beside the fact that if the data was produced with federal tax dollars, it is "our" data. I would say the open sourcing of the information helps create a more informed population. If the public could "crit" some of the documents it might improve the quality of government and the decisions that are being made.

Robert
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jack Koenig <jack@synerbiz.com>
> To: jack@synerbiz.com <jack@synerbiz.com>
> Date: Saturday, September 04, 1999 6:27 PM
> Subject: Sunshine Needed!
>
>
> I have been asked to forward the following important information.
>
> Jack
>
> ACTION ALERT -- Immediate Action Needed
> Comments must be filed by Friday September 10th.
>

[ BIG SNIP ]

> The OMB proposed regulation is available at:
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> http://www.whitehouse.gov/OMB/fedreg/2ndnotice-a110.html
>
> We need as many people commenting as possible! Time is of
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