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Free site aims to spread the word about scienceOnline journal would let anyone see studies without charge
By Marsha Walton
(CNN) -- For decades, major discoveries have been revealed through the pages of hundreds of scientific journals -- "Science," "Nature," and "The Journal of the American Medical Association" perhaps the most prominent among them. But subscription prices can cost hundreds of dollars, and after the article appears, the information is often archived and accessible only for a charge. Scientists who are unhappy with that process have launched an online journal that will make information available to the public and other researchers for free. Getting off the groundFounders of the Public Library of Science will use a five-year, $9 million grant from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation to launch and operate their nonprofit online publication. (Gordon Moore, a chemist, is a co-founder of Intel Corp.) The site, publiclibraryofscience.org, is seeking articles related to biology and medicine. There are no restrictions on distribution of articles printed in the online journal as long as they are properly credited. "Everybody in the world should have comprehensive access to all the literature," said Dr. Michael Eisen, a biologist at the University of California, Berkeley and the Lawrence Berkeley National Labs who is one of three founders of the journal. "Publishers are clinging to an outmoded business model," he said. Eisen said a doctor in Nigeria should have the same access to information as a doctor at an Ivy League college in the United States. So should someone diagnosed with cancer or HIV. "There's an unlimited number of people in the world who can't get to this information, even people whose tax money paid for the research in the first place," Eisen said. "There are ways to make this information more valuable, all made possible because of the Internet." Veterans respondHow do the veterans of the scientific publishing world feel about the new kids on the block? "We don't see them as a threat, but possibly as a competitor," said Dr. Donald Kennedy, editor of "Science," published since 1880 by the non-profit American Association for the Advancement of Science. "They are smart people; they will attract some good papers," he said. But Kennedy said there's a "certain geeky wistfulness" in thinking that the days of the printed page are numbered. "Science" began publishing some of its content on the Internet in 1995. Institutions such as colleges or private research companies pay for a site license that costs $5,000 a year. The material is then available to anyone at the institution. Science has 850 site licenses, including many at institutions outside the United States. "Science" says it sponsors a program that makes some information available for free to doctors and scientists in developing countries. Another free "Science" site, Aidscience.org, is a central source for information on AIDS prevention and vaccine development. Kennedy also said all "Science" articles are available on the publication's Web site for free a year after they are published in the journal. Risking rejection?If a scientist submits to the online-only publication, would the established journals then shun him or her? Quite the contrary, Kennedy said. "I'd get them on the phone and tell them how beautifully we could present their next paper in 'Science,' with graphics and the news coverage that put it in context." And it's hard to underestimate the career power of a paper that's accepted by "Science" or the British journal "Nature." Publication can lead to tenure, job offers, additional grant money and the interest of other influential researchers. Eisen acknowledged it might be hard for some scientists to break longtime habits. But he said the free online journal is gaining attention from established research institutions. As a show of support, The Howard Hughes Medical Institute has promised to cover publication costs for its 350 investigators f they choose to publish in electronic journals such as the Public Library of Science. The online journal's founders say its first year will be critical. Eisen said scientists around the world are proving the benefits of open access to information. He said GenBank, a free online repository of DNA sequences, has significantly picked up the pace of genome and biotechnology research. The Public Library of Science plans to eventually cover its costs by charging a flat fee of $1500 to those who submit papers, Eisen said. He said no legitimate research would be rejected if the author could not cover that fee. Eisen said papers will be subject to the same rigorous peer review that established journals perform.
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