Information please... towards a world
science information network
By Yuri I. Litukhi
The UNESCO Courier
SCIENTISTS form an international community whose common
bond, science itself, leads them to see beyond national boundaries
[3] and sectarian attitudes. When a scientist makes a discovery, he
wants to tell, not just his fellow countrymen, but the world.
Similarly, when he seeks information, he wants to be provided with it as quickly as possible,
[6] regardless of whether its source is inside or outside his own country.
Today, no one scientist or engineer can hope to keep up to date with the avalanche of technical
articles, books and abstracts which threaten to engulf even the most conscientious researcher
[9] At the beginning of the 19th century, a solution to the increasing number of specialized reviews
was found in the form of the abstract journal. But since then both abstract journals and
periodicals have proliferated at an astounding rate so that each year the scientist and technical
[12] expert must confront some 50,000 scientific and technical journals, publishing almost two million
articles written by some 750,000 authors in as many as 50 languages.
This "information explosion" is both exciting and frustrating. On the one hand, scientists are
[15] eager to share in the knowledge and ideas of their colleagues. On the other, they have neither
the time nor the resources to sift through a heap of publications to unearth those items which fall
within their field of interest.
[18] And when the scientist does gain access to the material he wants, linguistic and other barriers
often prevent him from putting it to good use. The resultant wastage and loss are staggering: for
every thousand new ideas in science, only three or four are ever put to practical use.
[21] To reduce these information gaps and frustrations, an intergovernmental cooperative venture
called UNISIST [United Nations International Scientific Information System] has been set up
under Unesco auspices. It is designed to stimulate the creation of national and international
[24] information systems in the social, natural and exact sciences. Its beginnings go back to a
January 1967 meeting between the International Council on Scientific Unions (ICSU) and
Unesco at which it was decided to work towards a world scientific information system.
Disponível em: Acesso em: 23 jul. 2011. Imagem:. Acesso em: 23 jul. 2011.
A expressão “information explosion” (linha 14) está relacionada ao fato de que:
