The Department of Education has unveiled data.ed.gov, its new data portal for sharing information about applications, programs, and outcomes. The current database is populated with information on i3 and Promise Neighborhoods applicants.
Unlike the portal provided through the Open Government site (used by NSF and several other federal agencies), data.ed.gov is very easy to use. It’ll be interesting to see how it evolves.
Starting in October 2010, applications to NSF must include a supplementary two-page data management plan. The agency didn’t release any details, but we can expect to hear plenty about this over the summer.
The new requirement is designed to help NSF meet its obligations for more open research under the Open Government Directive.
Congressman Mike Doyle of Pennsylvania introduced the House version of the Federal Research Public Access Act this week. The bill would require researchers to make public all data derived from taxpayer-funded activities and would offer a brief period (likely 6 months) of “copyright protection” during which research can be published prior to full public disclosure.
NIH-funded research is already subject to open access provisions.
In somewhat related news, TheScientist.com reports on PETA’s attempt to use state open records laws to seek out possible animal abuses in research labs at state institutions.