On Thursday, June 20th, the White House honored Kathy Giusti as one of 13 Champions of Change who are promoting and using open scientific data and publications to accelerate progress and improve our world. At the event, these Champions highlighted initiatives that are helping make “open” the default in scientific research.
Open sharing of research results is a proven strategy for driving positive change. For example, the rapid and open sharing of genomic data from the Human Genome Project revolutionized biomedical research, and spurred major growth in the biotechnology industry. Additionally, the Federal Government’s liberation of Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite data for use by the private sector led to an explosion of geospatial information systems and the creation of many companies, smartphone apps, and car navigation systems.
The White House Champions of Change program was created as part of President Obama’s Winning the Future initiative. Through this program, the White House highlights individuals, businesses, and organizations whose extraordinary stories and accomplishments positively impact our communities.
To learn more about the White House Champions of Change program, visit www.whitehouse.gov/champions.