開放近用資訊 - 12.11

Open Access in the Natural Sciences
自然科學的開放近用

By Wolfgang Voges, Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics

Owing to the large number of disciplines and the extremely varied ways of handling scientific knowledge, the willingness of scientists to grant Open Access to research results is not uniform. The arguments for and against the Open Access movement are complex and sometimes controversial. Therefore a description and evaluation granting every aspect of the argument the attention it deserves cannot be given in this brief contribution. For example, there are several fields where commercial considerations regarding inventions and patent rights play such a large role that we cannot expect cost-free access to research results and data, either now or in the future.
由於大量的學科和極為不同的科學知識處理方法，科學家同意開放近用其研究結果的意願並不一致。贊成和反對開放近用運動是複雜的，有時也會引起爭議。因此，在這簡短的文獻裡，不能描述和評估每一方面的論點裡的重點。例如，有幾個領域和商業考量有關，如發明和專利權利就扮演很重要的角色，無論是現在或將來，我們不能指望免費獲得近用這些研究成果和數據。

I will limit myself to a rough description of the situation in the fields of astronomy and astrophysics in which a differentiated but predominantly positive attitude towards Open Access prevails. Research results in publications are generally handled quite liberally. Scientists wish to have their findings disseminated quickly and widely in order to allow global discussion and thus growth in knowledge. Electronic distribution and availability lend themselves to this objective. In many areas of physics it has been possible for years to make new publications awaiting peer review available for free on an electronic pre-print server (http://lanl.arXiv.org). So far, more than 415 000 e-prints have been deposited there, and the much discussed problem of quality control also seems to have been solved satisfactorily on this server.
我將只粗略的描述天文學和天體物理學領域中的情況，其中有差別，但是對開放近用主要是持積極態度。處理研究成果的出版物，通常是相當寬鬆。科學家希望他們的調查結果散布迅速且廣泛，使全球能夠討論，從而增長知識。電子的散布和可用性適合於這一目標。在許多物理學的領域裡，等待同儕評閱的新出版物，提供免費的電子預打印服務器(http://lanl.arXiv.org)，它已行之有年。
到目前為止，已有超過415000的電子印刷存放在這，而且許多討論到的質量控制的問題，似乎也在此服務器上得到令人滿意的解決。

Particularly in the field of astronomy, every 10-15 years a new generation of instruments provides more detailed data, permitting new approaches and insights. This rapid turnover causes ‘old’ data to lose some of their value. Their short lifespan requires research results to be published quickly, to be freely accessible, and to be speedily discussed.
特別是在天文學領域中，每10年至15年新一代的儀器提供更詳細的數據，允許新的方法和見解。這種儀器快速的更換率造成'舊'的數據失去他們的一些價值。它們的壽命短，需要研究成果被迅速刊登、可自由近用並迅速予以討論。

In my opinion, it is imperative to apply the Open Access philosophy not just to publications but also to primary data. This includes, for example, the provision of tools for data analysis, data mining and for the presentation of data and results. However, the willingness to make these data available at an early stage varies. While scientists involved in space research have always ensured the early availability and longterm safeguarding of their recorded data, this is not yet the case for earth-bound observations. A frequent line of argument is that financial means are only provided for the science itself and not for services such as archiving data. The solution here is to change the funders’ way of thinking, and to accustom scientists with the need to take into account the cost of publishing data when planning grant applications.
在我看來，實施開放近用主義的當務之急，是出版品和原始數據。例如，為數據分析、數據探勘、數據和結果的呈現提供工具。然而，願意使這些數據可以近用，在早期階段各不相同。有關太空的科學家，始終要確保他們的記錄數據早日可用性和長期維護，而這還不是如此約束性的意見。研究一個常見的論點是，財政手段只是提供了科學本身，而不是為了服務，如數據的歸檔。這裡的解決辦法是改變供資者的思維方式，並習慣於科學家們需求，考慮到補助金申請時，數據出版規劃的成本。


A much-discussed issue in this context is the necessity for a certain ‘embargo period’ during which scientists would have the exclusive right to evaluate ‘their’ data. Many publishers incorporate this type of embargo period into copyright agreements. In this context, scientists would favour a standardised and uncomplicated form that they can fill out quickly.
在此背景下，一個被大為討論的問題是，在某些'禁止期間'裡，科學家在此期間將有專屬權利評價'他們的'數據的必要性。許多出版商將這種類型的禁止期間合併成版權協議。在此背景下，科學家將偏好標準化和簡單的形式，以利他們可以迅速地填寫。

There are already some examples of excellent Open Access journals that can boast considerable impact factors (e.g. New Journal of Physics, Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics, as well as the Open Access journals of the European Geosciences Union). However, their acceptance amongst scientists is still relatively low. At the moment, traditional methods of publication are still preferred, since some fear that otherwise their colleagues would not find and quote their article. There is still much convincing to be done here and incentives have to be created to promote the submission of works to Open Access journals. Thus the Max Planck Society takes responsibility for the fees required to publish work in the New Journal of Physics. Traditional publishers should also examine the various opportunities created by the electronic age in order to introduce future products to the market that will appeal to the scientific community and guarantee their survival. Together with the scientists, the challenge should be accepted and new forms of publication should be developed.
已經有一些傑出的開放近用學刊，可以擁有相當大的影響力(例如：新物理學刊、天體粒子和宇宙物理學刊，以及歐洲地球科學聯盟開放近用學刊)。然而，科學家的接受度仍然是相當低的。目前，傳統方法的出版物仍然是較被喜好的，因為有些人害怕，使用其他的方式，他們的同行會找不到和不引用他們的文章。在這仍然有許多說服工作要做，和建立鼓勵措施，以促進開放近用學刊裡著作的提交。因此，德國馬克學會負責新物理學刊出版著作時所需要的費用。傳統的出版商也應審視電子時代創造的各種機會，以利在市場上引進未來的產品，這將有助於科學界和保障他們的生存。科學家和出版商們，應該接受所面臨的挑戰和出版品的形式應加以發展。