Since its creation, a major objective of ICSU has been to assure that scientists in all nations can obtain access to data and other types of technical information that are essential to their work. The synthesis of data from different sources to provide new insights and advance our understanding of nature is an essential part of the scientific process. The history of science is rich with examples of data collections that played a crucial part in a scientific revolution which in turn had a major impact on society. It may truly be said that data are the lifeblood of science. The Group proposes the following set of principles for organizations and individuals to evaluate legislative proposals that affect the use of scientific databases.
Science is an investment in the public interest.
Through research and education, scientists foster the creation and dissemination of knowledge. This can have profound effects on the well being of people and the economies of the world. Science is a critical public investment in our future, a resource with extraordinary dividends. Scientific advances rely on full and open access to data. Both science and the public are well served by a system of scholarly research and communication with minimal constraints on the availability of data for further analysis.