MEDIA RELEASE
$3.5 MILLION ASSISTS SCIENCE RESEARCH
(Embargoed until 11.00 a.m. AEDT Thursday 27
March, 2003)
27 March, 2003 MIN 314/03
The Howard Government will commit $3.5 million as a
strategic investment to provide Australian researchers with
additional access to a powerful web based research tool.
The funding is for the first of 12 projects under a
Commonwealth initiative worth up to $22 million over the next two
years to strengthen the information infrastructure needs of higher
education institutions.
The investment means researchers from 28
universities across Australia will have access to key research
journal back files that make up the Institute for Scientific
Information (ISI) Web of Science data base. Other universities
also have the opportunity to participate.
The funding highlights the Commonwealth Government’s
commitment to improving universities’ key research infrastructure
and is part of the Commonwealth Government’s Systemic Infrastructure
Initiative worth $246 million over 5 years.
The ISI Web of Science is a powerful platform
which allows users to search current and historic information from
nearly 8,500 of the most prestigious and high impact research
journals in the world. It also provides a unique search method which
allows users to search all disciplines and time spans to uncover
information relevant to their research.
Many universities already subscribe to ISI Web of
Science, most under favourable conditions negotiated by the
Australian Vice-Chancellors’ Committee last year. This funding will
ensure their access to an additional five years of back files of
ISI Web of Science, allowing them to enhance their research
resources.
Access to additional back files of ISI Web of
Science will contribute significantly to high quality research
and research training that is crucial to the success of Australian
universities and to the economic, social and cultural well-being of
the broader community.
These initiatives are part of the Howard
Government’s $3 billion Backing Australia’s Ability package,
dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in research, science and
technology.
I thank the Advisory Committee of university
representatives and especially its Chair, Mr John Shipp, University
Librarian from the University of Sydney, who identified the purchase
of ISI Web of Science back files as a key priority.
The Final Report from the Higher Education
Information Infrastructure Advisory Committee is available at:
http://www.dest.gov.au/highered/otherpub/heiiac/exec_summary.htm
Further information on the Web of Science is
available at:
http://www.isinet.com/isi/about/overview.html
Links will be live from 11.00a.m AEDT Thursday 27
March 2003
For further information:
Dr Nelson’s Office: Ross Hampton 0419 484 095
Dept of Education, Science & Training: Laila Lacis 0412 040 034
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