Graduate Students Mark Open Access Week

OTTAWA, Oct. 18 /CNW/ - Today graduate students across Canada helped launch the global Open Access Week to promote a fair model of distributing academic papers and research.

"Dramatic increases in academic journal subscription prices have reduced access to scholarly materials for academics and the public," said Kimalee Phillip, Chairperson of the National Graduate Caucus of the Canadian Federation of Students. "University research is carried out on the public dime, the public shouldn't have to pay again to access the results of that research."

Open Access Week is a global event and is an opportunity for the academic and research community to continue to learn about the benefits of Open Access, to share what they've learned with colleagues, and to help inspire wider participation in helping to make Open Access the new norm in scholarship and research publishing.

"Open Access publishing is freeing access to graduate students' work to all, no matter what their economic situation or where they live," added Phillip. "Sharing knowledge is at the heart of the research process and unfettered access to published research is vital for the development of new knowledge and understanding."

Students have collaborated with campus librarians and university teachers to hold events on campuses throughout the week to promote Open Access publishing.

The National Graduate Caucus of the Canadian Federation of Students represents over 70,000 graduate students from across the country.

For further information:

Kimalee Philllip, National Graduate Caucus Chairperson, 613-261-3231
Patrick Imbeau, Deputy Chairperson of the National Graduate Caucus, 613-808-4830