Science Oct 4 2013 Special Section on Scholarly Communication

The most recent issue of Science includes a section covering developments in communicating science including topics such as open access, peer review and scientific meetings.
http://www.sciencemag.org/site/special/scicomm/index.xhtml

The Scholarly Kitchen also comments on content in the special issue: http://scholarlykitchen.sspnet.org/2013/10/04/open-access-sting-reveals-deception-missed-opportunities/

Fair Access to Science and Technology Research

The bipartisan FASTR (Fair Access to Science and Technology Research Act) bill was introduced into both the House and the Senate in February.  Support for this Bill continues to grow in the academic communities. 

http://www.sparc.arl.org/blog/opportunity-your-campus-support-open-access-encourage-your-provosts-sign-open-letter-support

Open Access Week 2013

Open Access Week this year is Oct 21 to 27, 2013.  This year’s Open Access Week theme is “Redefining Impact”.

http://www.openaccessweek.org/page/about

U.S. Representatives Introduce Bill Expanding Access to Federally Funded Research

New bills calling for public access to research funded by all federal agencies are being introduced in the House and Senate.

http://doyle.house.gov/sites/doyle.house.gov/files/documents/2013%2002%2014%20DOYLE%20FASTR%20FINAL.pdf

Georgia State University ereserves case

There are further developments in the Georgia State University ereserves case on appeal to the 11th Circuit.   A couple of newstories on the most recent development can be found at:

Obama Administration Considers Joining Publishers In Fight To Stamp Out Fair Use At Universities - http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130131/00310621834/obama-administration-considers-joining-publishers-fight-to-stamp-out-fair-use-universities.shtml

Unwelcome Intervention? - http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2013/02/01/library-supporters-worry-us-may-back-publishers-copyright-case#.UQwhIlJhcU4.email

John Willinsky in a panel discussion on the legacy of Aaron Swartz

The world of academic publishing is complicated and not always in the best interests of the academic or the public who has to pay to access articles. 

This panel discusses the efforts of Aaron Swartz, the importance of open access, and issues with the current academic publishing system.  

http://huff.lv/VHK7NV

NIH to recruit Associate Director for Data Science

National Institutes of Health Director Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D., announced plans to recruit a new senior scientific position, the Associate Director for Data Science. The associate director will lead a series of NIH-wide strategic initiatives that collectively aim to capitalize on the exponential growth of biomedical research data, such as from genomics, imaging, and electronic health records. Dr. Collins recently charged a working group of the Advisory Committee to the NIH Director (ACD) to examine the growing data and informatics challenges associated with biomedical research. One of the major recommendations made by that working group in June 2012 is the creation of a new NIH leadership position focused on data science.

See more...http://www.nih.gov/news/health/jan2013/od-10a.htm