...Open access to data, especially those collected with public funds, is already mandated by some divisions of funding agencies, and is talked about by politicians. But, regardless of outside pressures, we, as the Geochemical Society, need to consider whether having centralized databases is in the best interest of our profession, i.e. do databases lead to good science? Stated differently, are there examples of studies where the compilation of a large amount of [open] data has resulted in good science and has moved the field forward? There are many....
This policy is intended for observational data (experimental and analytical) that are collected on samples....Data generated in the laboratory merit inclusion into a database after the manuscript in which the data are presented is accepted for publication (normally after peer review)....
[T]he primary role of the databases is to make the data more readily available to the scientist in an open access format. Data mining tools are in development to allow for related datasets to be discovered. Such tools are becoming critical because the amount of data is increasing and multidisciplinary studies are becoming more common....
In order to create a working environment in the geosciences as a whole that allows scientists more comprehensive views of Earth processes, interoperability between widely varying types of datasets will be an essential goal....
The GS has no method of enforcement; the policy the GS adopts can be an advisory only. It is therefore important that the officers of the GS set the example in abiding by the GS database and data publication policy. Enforcement of such a policy lies with funding agencies first and publishers second. The GS can encourage. The GS is prepared to take the lead in having an international committee that acts as a liaison with the funding agencies....
These guidelines are some of the practical consequences of the policy as well as some "best practices".
Databases housing geochemical information should be available to the community at large (open access)
The metadata, which include sample or experiment description as well as analytical results on standards, are as important as the data. It is the metadata that allow comparison with other labs and use of the data by other studies. Published papers should have a consistent location for the metadata such as an appendix....
After final acceptance of a manuscript for publication, any new data that it contains should be submitted for entry into an established database, if an appropriate database exists. This can be enforced by editors and funding agencies.
In order for published data to be recognized and cited as a publication (instead of citation to the database), it is important that it is linked to a single identifier: the publication. Separate digital object identifiers (DOI) for data will erode the importance of the publication....
Posted by
Peter Suber at 7/31/2008 11:58:00 AM.
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.
