Science on the Periphery: Bridging the Information Divide

Abstract

Scientists in developing countries have access to only a tiny fraction of the information they need, and their own contribution to science is hardly noticed by others. It is important that these countries strengthen their scientific research and that their scientists become fully integrated members of the worldwide network of science. But, unfortunately, the transformations effected in the conduct of science with the advent of the new information and communication technologies (such as high bandwidth Internet) and the rising cost of subscriptions to journals and secondary services are widening the gulf between the industrialized and developing countries. Ironically, the steep rise in the cost of S&T information has helped developing countries in a way, as it forced scientists and librarians in the advanced countries to think of measures to overcome the ‘serials crisis’ and many of these measures can benefit developing country scientists. This paper looks at doing research in the developing world and how we can harness the new technologies to achieve information equity.