re: does more mean more?

[Heather Morrison <heatherm@eln.bc.ca>]

Is response to the question, does more mean more?, may I suggest 
a simple answer:  yes!

For example, thanks to the leadership of our very own moderator 
Ann Okerson and others, the OARE program is poised to improve 
access to environmental journals in developing countries.  As 
reported in Open Access News:

"OARE will enable countries to build their own higher education 
programs in the environmental sciences, educate their own 
leaders, conduct their own research, publish their own scientific 
findings and disseminate information to policy makers and the 
public." from: http://www.earlham.edu/~peters/fos/ 
2005_12_25_fosblogarchive.html#113561150615271861

If there are more researchers in any given field, it seems 
reasonable to assume that there will be more research.  If more 
research is being done, then more will need to be published.

This does not mean that the average researcher has more time to 
read, of course.  Efficiencies are needed, such as the ability to 
use robots to search, retrieve, and do some preliminary analysis 
of documents.  Such efficiencies do not fit well with our current 
publishing-and-licensing practices.  Systematic downloading is 
necessary, for example, while it is often forbidden by current 
licenses.

Although it may seem overwhelming to contemplate even more 
information, let us consider this in light of what research is 
all about.

For example, to go back to OARE:  does anyone really think that 
accelerating research in the area of environmental sciences is 
not a good idea?  In my opinion, we should be employing the 
techniques used to map the human genome in record time (open 
sharing and collaboration) to work in other areas:  such as 
finding economical, sustainable, environmentally friendly energy 
sources.  For more on this, please see my blogpost, "Toward a 
vision for scholarship...and communications" at: 
http://tinyurl.com/dka93

Or, let's look at another research area:  cancer research. 
Imagine that we find a way to increase education in the developed 
world and the developing world alike.  Imagine, as a result, more 
scientists working on cancer research.  More basic understanding 
of cancer, more progress.  More scientists, more research, more 
publication.  More knowledge - more prevention, more treatment, 
more cures.  Sometimes, more really does mean more!

When it comes to matter such as knowledge and wisdom...isn't more 
better?

cheers,

Heather Morrison
http://poeticeconomics.blogspot.com
http://oalibrarian.blogspot.com
E-LIS Editor, Canada http://eprints.rclis.org/