The Future for Open Access and the Move Towards Open Data | Open Access Working Group

"Last week, timed to coincide with the publication of RCUK’s review of the impact of Open Access so far, Westminster Higher Education Forum ran a one-day event on the Future for Open Access and the move towards Open Data. This move is in part driven by the UK government’s recent support for open scientific research data where 'the default position of the results of publicly funded scientific research data should be one of Open Data, subject to concerns of privacy, security and commerciality.' It was a well-attended event that brought together an amalgam of publishers, University research managers, government officials and research librarians to share best practice in dealing with the key remaining Open Access implementation issues for UK Higher Education sector. The full agenda for the workshop is available online. In his opening Chris Tyler, Director of the Parliamentary Office for Science and Technology, pointed out that Open Access and Open Data have in the past been two big topics that continued to exist as part of separate tracks and debates. The occasion of a joint workshop shows that these tracks were now beginning to converge and offers great opportunities for more joined up thinking ..."