by Wim Liebrand, director SURFfoundation
Just recently there has been a United States Congressional Hearing over open access to publicly financed research publications. According to Jennifer Howard in The Chronicle for Higher Education this was a debate filled with high drama; a life-and-death battle. Life for the poor taxpayers, the public and the scientists, eager to collaborate and generate a true explosion in scientific discovery. Death for the publishers who "limit taxpayers' access to crucial information that can make a life-or-death difference in the lives of the American public." >>