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UNESCO/ ICSU CONFERENCE 'ELECTRONIC PUBLISHING IN SCIENCE'

  • To: Multiple recipients of list <epc-l@iucr.org>
  • Subject: UNESCO/ ICSU CONFERENCE 'ELECTRONIC PUBLISHING IN SCIENCE'
  • From: Howard Flack <Howard.Flack@cryst.unige.ch>
  • Date: Wed, 12 Jul 2000 10:35:24 +0100 (BST)
For the information of the CEP.

> Paris, 10 July 2000
>
> Dear Member,
>
> UNESCO/ ICSU CONFERENCE 'ELECTRONIC PUBLISHING IN SCIENCE'
>
> The dramatic impact of the new technologies on the distribution of
> information is being particularly felt in science, where many of the
> innovations such as the World Wide Web were initiated. The new developments
> provide enormous potential benefits for the scientific information chain
> and hence for the progress of science. But there are real difficulties in
> developing a new paradigm that meets the needs of science in an effective
> way.
>
> In early 1996 UNESCO and the International Council for Science (ICSU) Press
> convened a major international conference on Electronic Publishing in
> Science to study these issues from the perspective of practising scientists
> world-wide. It involved the broadest spectrum of experts representing the
> international scientific unions and associations, librarians and
> information scientists copyright specialists, publishers (both commercial
> and learned-society) and information brokers. It also attempted to achieve
> wide international participation through the constituencies of our two
> organizations.
>
> The experience and knowledge shared in the lectures and discussion groups
> enabled the Conference to make a number of important recommendations on how
> the interests of the international community of scientists can be best
> served by electronic publishing. It gave rise to a number of follow-up
> activities that have examined certain issues in more detail and tracked the
> continuing changes. The Conference itself is generally considered to have
> been something of a milestone event in consideration of the impact of
> electronic publishing in science.
>
> There have been major developments in the field of science publishing since
> then. It now seems appropriate to review the situation, and we propose to
> convene a second Conference, at UNESCO Headquarters on 20-23 February 2001.
> It will provide the same effective blend of lectures by international
> experts and interactive break-out sessions. Subjects to be covered will
> include: the changing nature of the editorial process; legal issues of
> copyright; archiving in an electronic environment; the search and
> referencing function; issues relating to large data sets; ethical and
> privacy issues; and economic models of electronic publishing. Again, it is
> intended to involve a wide participation, geographically speaking, since
> one major concern for both organizations is how the changes brought about
> by the new technologies are likely to impact on scientists in less
> scientifically developed countries. Another issue is the way in which
> science interacts with the general community and serves national
> development.
>
> We should be grateful if you would inform us whether your Union wishes to
> nominate an expert in one or more of the fields directly concerned by
> electronic publishing in the sciences to attend this conference (overall
> attendance at the event is being limited to 250 persons). Participation
> would be at the individual's own expense - or that of the
> organizations/bodies they represent - though it is hoped that limited funds
> would be available to assist travel and accommodation costs in cases of
> genuine hardship.
>
> Overall attendance at the event is limited to 250 persons and the
> Organizing Committee reserves the right to select those participants who
> appear likely to make a significant contribution to the discussions. It may
> therefore not be possible to accommodate all those who are nominated.
>
> We should welcome receiving a provisional application from your nominee(s)
> by 10 September 2000 the latest. A form is provided for this purpose as an
> Appendix. On the basis of the nominations received, formal invitations are
> expected to be sent out in early October, along with full details of
> speakers, accommodation, etc.
>
> I very much look forward to the active participation of the ICSU family at
> this Conference, and look forward to receiving your nominations and
> possible comments.
>
> Yours sincerely,
>
> Roger Elliott
> Chairman, ICSU Press
> email: r.elliott1@physics.ox.ac.uk
>
> The Application form and a hard copy of the letter is being sent by mail.
>
> Rohini T. Rao
> ICSU Secretariat
> 51 Boulevard de Montmorency
> 75016 Paris, France
> Tel (33 1) 4525 0329
> Fax (331) 4288 9431
> E.mail: rohini@icsu.org


-- 
Howard Flack        http://www.unige.ch/crystal/ahdf/Howard.Flack.html
Laboratoire de Cristallographie               Phone: 41 (22) 702 62 49
24 quai Ernest-Ansermet             mailto:Howard.Flack@cryst.unige.ch
CH-1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland                   Fax: 41 (22) 702 61 08

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