Open Access to Scientific Information

Citation
Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology, Open Access to Scientific Information (POST PN 397) (Jan. 25, 2012) (full-text).

Overview
The internet has transformed the nature of scientific research, opening up new ways to collect, use and disseminate scientific information. This has led to increased demand for access to such information. Open Access (OA) to scientific journal publications means making them freely available online, rather than charging readers to view them. OA to research data means making research data more widely available for re-use by others to support research, innovation and wider public use.