Forum of the National Consultation on Access to Scientific Research Data to Convene this Fall

July 27, 2004 - Ottawa - The National Research Council of Canada (NRC) today announced that the forum for the National Consultation on Access to Scientific Research Data (NCASRD) will be held November 22-23, 2004, at Library and Archives Canada, 395 Wellington Street, Ottawa.

During this two-day forum, participants will consider ways to help Canada maximize the value received from its publicly funded natural and medical sciences, and engineering research. The challenge will be to recommend an appropriate framework and guidelines that will in turn facilitate open and long-term access to data coming from that research.

"With growing pressures around the preservation and archiving of scientific and technical research data, this forum comes at an opportune time," said Michael Raymont, NRC Acting President and Vice-president, Technology and Industry Support. "I look forward to seeing the findings of the forum, which will contribute toward providing access to and safeguarding potentially significant collections of data for future generations."

The forum is being organized by the NCASRD Task Force, which is chaired by Dr. David Strong, a distinguished scientist, former President of the University of Victoria, and currently a member of the Governing Council of the NRC. The forum participants will include a group of invited Canadian researchers in science, engineering and health. They will contribute to a report to be submitted to federal granting agencies, partners in the initiative, and the Government of Canada.

The NCASRD is a partnership initiative of the NRC, the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), and Science and Engineering Research Canada.

The NRC is a pivotal player in the development of an innovative, knowledge-based economy for Canada, through science and technology, and a world leader in research and innovation.

The CFI is an independent corporation created in 1997 by the Government of Canada to fund research infrastructure. Its mandate is to strengthen the capacity of Canada's universities, colleges, research hospitals, and non-profit research institutions to carry out world-class research and technology development that will benefit Canadians .

The CIHR is the Government of Canada's premier agency for funding health research. Its objective is to excel, according to internationally accepted standards of scientific excellence, in the creation of new knowledge and its translation into improved health for Canadians, more effective health services and products, and a strengthened health care system.

Science and Engineering Research Canada (also known as NSERC) is a key federal agency investing in people, discovery and innovation. It supports both basic university research through research grants, and project research through partnerships among postsecondary institutions, government and the private sector, as well as the advanced training of highly qualified people.

- 30 -

For further information or to obtain a print-quality photograph of the NCASRD Task Force, visit the NCASRD Web site at http://ncasrd-cnadrs.scitech.gc.ca or contact:

Pierre Naud
Media Relations, NRC
Tel: (613) 990-6091
Cell: (613) 293-6617
E-mail: media@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca