Open Access in the Great White North

The University of Ottawa has become the first Canadian university to establish an open access repository for research conducted by its faculty (H/T Science Canada).  This appears to be a more unified open access effort that what I’ve run across with other institutions, only in the sense that you usually hear only about the repository.  In addition, the University of Ottawa has also set up an author fund to cover open access author fees, an annual budget for digitizing course materials, and support for the university’s open access journals.  Researchers at the university are not required to submit their work to the repository.  The odd thing about the whole open access trend in Canada is that most funders have mandated it for their grantees, but the universities have not done the same.  Go figure.

Science and Technology Guests on Late Night, Week of March 15

A reduced slate this week, in part due to the NCAA College Basketball tournament.  Jimmy Kimmel and Craig Ferguson are off this week, and David Letterman will air repeats on Thursday and Friday.

This doesn’t mean there’s nothing to watch for science and technology this week.  Tonight Charles Moore, the research coordinator of the Algalita Marine Research Foundation, will appear on The Late Show.  Dave will likely ask him about the big garbage patch in the Atlantic.  On Wednesday Jay Leno dips his toe into this area, with an appearance by kid inventors, something he did on occasion the last time he hosted an 11:35 show.  The Comedy Central Hour of Power continues to deliver, though not with scientists or technologists themselves.  Science writer Rebecca Skloot will visit Stephen Colbert to promote her book, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, a fascinating tale of unknowing biological immortality.  Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke will visit The Daily Show on March 18, which I mention here because technology issues are part of Secretary Locke’s responsibilities.