The Evolving Open Policy Framework in the

United States

Heather JosephExecutive Director, SPARC

2nd GeoData MeetingBoulder, CO

June 17, 2014

US Government invests ~$60 billion on basic and applied

scientific research.

• Stimulate new ideas• Accelerate scientific discovery• Improve educational outcomes• Fuel innovation• Grow the economy/create jobs• Improve the welfare of the

public

Expectation is that investment will:

This can only happen if we can access and use the results of this

research.

Working theory is that policies that encourage open access to the results of this research will

accelerate and significantly improve these expected

outcomes.

Precedent

Sources of U.S. Information Policy

• Copyright Act (17 U.S.C. 105)• Freedom of Information Act• Paperwork Reduction Act• Electronic FOIA Amendments, 1996• Gov’t Paperwork Elimination Act • Office of Management and Budget

(OMB) Circular No. A-130

“…Government information is a valuable national resource, and… the economic

benefits to society are maximized when government information is available in a

timely and equitable manner to all.”

-OMB Circular A-130

“Open and unrestricted access to public information at no more than the cost of dissemination..”

- OMB Circular A-130

Policy Focus

Public is entitled to access and use the results of research their tax

dollars pay for.

Results = Articles & Data

Taken about a decade for policies supporting this statement to be

developed, adopted and implemented.

Drivers

Policy Drivers

Articles• Grassroots scientific

community• Intermediaries (libraries, etc.)• Activists – open government, patients advocates• Key Leaders (NIH Director, Congress• Mandates (Congress)

Data• Mandates (Executive Branch/WH)• Top-level political leaders• Agencies• General public (citizen

scientists, re-mixers,app developers )

• Grassroots –scientific community (new

evalaution metrics, reproducibility

Data• Mandates (Executive Branch/WH)• Top-level political leaders• Agencies• General public (citizen

scientists, re-mixers,app developers )

• Grassroots –scientific community (new

evalaution metrics, reproducibility

Top-Down Policy Leadership.

Current Policy Landscape

Components of Open Data Policies

•Investigators expected to share data at no more than incremental cost and within a reasonable time.

•Maximizing access maximizes benefits; default will be set to “Open”

•“Shades of Open for Data” - Exceptions will be the rule

Components of Open Data Policies

•Data management plans emerging as crucial element of policies

•Community involvement crucial - iterative process

•Data should be made available for reproducibility and reuse.

•Policies very weak on re-use rights; no requirements on licenses to date

Components of Open Data Policies

• Need to incentivize sharing data • To ensure attribution, persistent

identifiers should be implemented.

• Need for partnerships (public/private and beyond) explicitly recognized

• “Good Practices” will evolve into “Best Practices”

Data and Articles Are Connected

Thank You

Heather JosephExecutive Director, SPARC21 Dupont Circle, Ste. 800Washington DC 20036 USAheather@arl.org (202) 296-2296http://www.arl.org/sparc