Electronic publishing in the health sciences

ABSTRACT

The latter half of this century has witnessed a proliferation of scientific information as well as remarkable advances in ways of communicating that information. Both researchers and polymakers throughout the Americas need knowledge about the new technologies that are available in order for their countries to fully participate in this information revolution and reap its benefits. to address that need, the "International Seminar on the Challenges of the Information Era Agents and Users" was held in Sao Paulo on 18-20 October 1994, under the sponsorship of the Pan America Health Organization and PAHO's Latin American and Caribbean Center on Health Sciences Information (BIREME). One of the round talbes at the seminar focused on scientific production and quality eecognition. This special report features the text of presentations given by two members of the international panel of experts who participed in the round table. The first, by Dr. Edward Huth, deals with the implications of new electronic publishing technologies for the producer and consumers of scientific information. The secong, by Dr. Eugene Garfield, explain how quantitative analysis of scientific publishing in different countries can elucidate national research policies and be useful in guiding them (AU)