1. Open Access in Higher Education, Science and Scholarship
高等教育、科學與學術的開放近用
Open Access in the Natural Sciences / By Wolfgang Voges, Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial
Physics
自然科學的開放近用 / 沃夫岡‧歐格, 普馬基金會天體物理學
Owing to the large number of disciplines and the extremely varied ways of handling scientific
knowledge, the willingness of scientists to grant Open Access to research results is not uniform. The
arguments for and against the Open Access movement are complex and sometimes controversial.
Therefore a description and evaluation granting every aspect of the argument the attention it deserves
cannot be given in this brief contribution. For example, there are several fields where commercial
considerations regarding inventions and patent rights play such a large role that we cannot expect cost-
free access to research results and data, either now or in the future.
由於學科數極多, 處理科學知識的方法差異甚大，將研究成果以開放近用釋出, 並不是科學家的
共識。對開放近運動的贊助或反對, 相當複雜, 甚至是矛盾的。因此，試圖在此短文裡, 描述和評
論各個方面的論點, 並不容易。例如，有幾個領域裡的發明和專利, 已有相當的商業運作，我們
不能指望在現在或未來能夠免費近用它們的研究成果和數據。
I will limit myself to a rough description of the situation in the fields of astronomy and astrophysics in
which a differentiated but predominantly positive attitude towards Open Access prevails. Research
results in publications are generally handled quite liberally. Scientists wish to have their findings
disseminated quickly and widely in order to allow global discussion and thus growth in knowledge.
Electronic distribution and availability lend themselves to this objective. In many areas of physics it has
been possible for years to make new publications awaiting peer review available for free on an
electronic pre-print server (http://lanl.arXiv.org). So far, more than 415 000 e-prints have been
deposited there, and the much discussed problem of quality control also seems to have been solved
satisfactorily on this server.
我將只概略地談談天文學和天體物理學的情況，雖然兩者不太一樣，但對開放近用都採取正面
的積極態度。通常, 研究成果出版後, 很快就可以自由使用。科學家希望他們的發現能夠快速且
廣泛的散布, 引起全球的討論, 共同成長知識。電子散布使他們的目標容易達成。在物理學的多
個領域裡, 出版品於同儕評閱的同時, 就在儲存在阿西檔案(http://arxiv.org)裡, 任何人都可以自由
近用。至今, 已有 41 萬 5 千多筆資料典藏在此, 品質控制的問題, 已經獲得滿意的解決。
Particularly in the field of astronomy, every 10-15 years a new generation of instruments provides more
detailed data, permitting new approaches and insights. This rapid turnover causes ‘old’ data to lose
some of their value. Their short lifespan requires research results to be published quickly, to be freely
accessible, and to be speedily discussed.
特別是天文學的領域，10 年至 15 年之間, 出現新的工具, 帶來更詳細的資料, 採用新的方法和見
解。這種快速的轉換, 導致'舊'資料失去既有的價值。這種短命的現象, 要求更快速地出版研究成
果，可自由近用，並迅速地討論。
In my opinion, it is imperative to apply the Open Access philosophy not just to publications but also to
primary data. This includes, for example, the provision of tools for data analysis, data mining and for
the presentation of data and results. However, the willingness to make these data available at an early
stage varies. While scientists involved in space research have always ensured the early availability and
longterm safeguarding of their recorded data, this is not yet the case for earth-bound observations. A
frequent line of argument is that financial means are only provided for the science itself and not for

2. services such as archiving data. The solution here is to change the funders’ way of thinking, and to
accustom scientists with the need to take into account the cost of publishing data when planning grant
applications.
在我看來，當務之急是將開放近用推展至出版品以及原始資料。包括，提供資料分析、資料探
勘、呈現資料和成果所需的工具。然而，在研究過程的初期階段, 就公開這些資料的意願。研究
太空的科學家, 都想要儘早取得資料, 並長期保護他們記錄下來的資料, 不以從地球觀察到的資料
為限。常見的論點是，財務手段只能提供科學本身所需，無法照顧到資料的典藏服務。這裡提
出的解決方案, 是改變贊助者的思維方式及科學家的習慣, 將出版資料的成本納入研究計畫的申
請案內。
A much-discussed issue in this context is the necessity for a certain ‘embargo period’ during which
scientists would have the exclusive right to evaluate ‘their’ data. Many publishers incorporate this type
of embargo period into copyright agreements. In this context, scientists would favour a standardised
and uncomplicated form that they can fill out quickly.
討論較多的議題是'禁錮期'的必要性，在此期間內, 科學家有專屬的權利去評估'他們'的資料。若
干出版社把'禁錮期'納入著作權的合約裡。在這方面，科學家傾向於有個標準化簡單的表格, 讓
他們可以快速地填寫, 而不會在意其細節。
There are already some examples of excellent Open Access journals that can boast considerable impact
factors (e.g. New Journal of Physics, Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics, as well as the
Open Access journals of the European Geosciences Union). However, their acceptance amongst
scientists is still relatively low. At the moment, traditional methods of publication are still preferred,
since some fear that otherwise their colleagues would not find and quote their article. There is still
much convincing to be done here and incentives have to be created to promote the submission of
works to Open Access journals. Thus the Max Planck Society takes responsibility for the fees required
to publish work in the New Journal of Physics. Traditional publishers should also examine the various
opportunities created by the electronic age in order to introduce future products to the market that will
appeal to the scientific community and guarantee their survival. Together with the scientists, the
challenge should be accepted and new forms of publication should be developed.
若干傑出的開放近用學已經擁有相當的影響係數(如: 新物理學刊、宇宙論與天體粒子物理學學
刊，以及歐洲地球科學聯盟的開放近用學刊)。不過，科學家有些擔心他們的同儕，可能找不到
他們的文章，更不可能引用它們，因此，傾向使用傳統方式的出版品，對開放近用學刊的接受
度仍偏低。為了讓科學家投稿給開放近用學刊，還有許多工作要做，才能讓科學家信服。因
此，德國馬普學會承擔在新物理學刊出版所需的費用。傳統的出版商也應審查電子時代的各種
機會，把未來的產品介紹給市場，才能獲得科學界的青睬，並保證它們的生存。出版社與科學
家應接受挑戰, 並研發新形式的出版品。
p. 80-81
開放近用 : 機會及挑戰, http://tinyurl.com/dck7v9
Open Access : Opportunities and Challenges. A handbook [開放近用 : 機會及挑戰] / European
Commission, German Commission for UNESCO. -- Luxembourg : Office for Official Publications of
the European Communities, 2008. -- 144 p., 14.8 x 21.0 cm. -- ISBN 978-92-79-06665-8. -- EUR
23459, http://tinyurl.com/3q8wo5
Open Access : Chancen und Herausforderungen : ein Handbuch. -- Bonn : Deutsche UNESCO-
Kommission, 2007. -- 136 Seiten. -- ISBN 3-927907-96-0.
http://www.unesco.de/fileadmin/medien/Dokumente/Kommunikation/Handbuch_Open_Access.pdf