Is Electronic Publishing Being Used in the Best Interests of Science? The Scientist’s View

Abstract: The term "the best interests of science" must be interpreted from the viewpoints both of the scientists inside the enterprise and of the supporters and "users" affected by society's using the results of scientific research. This presentation will try to interpret the material presented throughout the Conference [1] in terms of both these viewpoints, but all within the context of this presenter's perspective, as a scientist, regarding "Why should we have science?" This presentation will be an overview and summary of many ideas that emerged in discussions in the Conference, with no attempt to attribute those ideas to individuals because so many of them were said by several participants, here and elsewhere. Furthermore, the perspective here is certainly that of the scientist, not of the publisher.