This article was taken from the June 2015 issue of WIRED magazine. Be the first to read WIRED's articles in print before they're posted online, and get your hands on loads of additional content by subscribing online.
Elizabeth Marincola
CEO, Public Library of Science "With open access and minimum barriers to the use and reuse of information, anyone -- regardless of where they live or their financial status -- can make positive contributions to their field of interest and society at large. Exchange of information and ideas impacts society in unpredictable ways, facilitating solutions from unexpected places. This is good for science, for the economy, for education and for all of us."
Nagla Rizk
Founding director, Access to Knowledge for Development Center "I expect to see a global asymmetry. In democratic societies there will be acceleration in the growth of social-interaction platforms and information channels. In repressive societies, the struggle will continue on a more basic level: pushing for open access while ensuring citizens' privacy and security. The global divide is likely to widen."
Paul Maltby
Director of open data and government innovation, Cabinet Office "Open data is being consumed by businesses, government and community organisations. They are unleashing insights -- such as live updates to our phones -- that are transforming our lives. An explosion of data science and the National Information Infrastructure will cement the UK's position as a world-leading data economy."
Frances Pinter
Founder and executive director, Knowledge Unlatched "We are in the midst of a revolution, driven by scientists, scholars, publishers and research funders. Publishing costs are paid upfront. Who pays? The research funders. Who benefits? Everyone, everywhere -- from schoolchildren to scientists. Open access will make it possible for people to share knowledge as it is generated. This could create a fairer society."
Indrajit Banerjee
Director, Knowledge Societies Division, Unesco "New technologies provide unprecedented opportunities. The open-access movement shows how technology can be leveraged to build scientific repositories. Knowledge is a multiplier and enhancing access to information is critical -- especially for developing countries. It will help us overcome barriers to knowledge that have for centuries led to ignorance, exclusion and disempowerment."
Sam Burridge
Managing director for open research, Nature Publishing Group/Palgrave Macmillan "Ten years ago, Nature launched its first open-access journal. Today, 44 per cent of our research content is published open access and researchers are accessing it to improve, for example, treatment options. But it's the opportunity for serendipity and unexpected connections between ideas and the inspiration this brings that is the most exciting aspect."
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
