WorldWideScience portal goes online

In parallel with the European Commission’s efforts to boost access to science, WorldWideScience.org, an internet portal providing a single entry point to several national and international scientific databases, has been launched by the US and UK.

The site was launched in June 2007 to offer a gateway to science information, with 15 national portals in nine countries contributing to date.

The site developers – the United States Department of Energy (DOE) and the British Library – are now inviting more national and international science databases to join the venture and make their collections accessible.

“Scientific research results are archived globally in a plethora of sources, many unknown and unreachable through usual search engines. This international partnership will open up this vast reservoir of knowledge in a rapid and convenient manner, something that will add great value to our existing knowledge,” said DOE Under-Secretary for Science Dr. Raymond L. Orbach.

The WorldWideScience.org portal relies on a novel technology called “federated search”, which allows users to search with a single query for parallel international and national science portals, allowing for access to databases that are not available through commercial search engines such as Google.

On 14 February 2007, the Commission adopted a Communication on access, dissemination and preservation of science information in the digital age. It gives an overview of the present situation in Europe, including organisational, legal, technical and financial issues, and announces a series of proposed EU-level measures to support new ways of promoting better access to information online and to preserve research results in digital format for future generations.

The Portuguese Presidency has indicated that it will, based on this Communication, encourage debate on a European policy for publishing science and technical information.

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