Science Inventory goes online

Environmental Protection Agency

The Environmental Protection Agency's database of records for scientific and technical projects is now available online to the public.

The Science Inventory, managed by the EPA's Office of Research and Development, is a searchable database that contains information on more than 4,000 work products.

The agency has used the inventory for years to coordinate scientific research and work projects. This week's online launch marks the first time this information is available for public access.

The EPA's acting deputy administrator, Steve Johnson, called the launch an example of "open, transparent government."

"Americans invest hundreds of millions of dollars every year in EPA's human health and environmental science," Johnson said. "Now that very science is easily accessible to anyone with a link to the Internet."

The database includes information on project descriptions, contacts and links to research and final reports.

EPA officials expect researchers at colleges and universities, state and local governments, and companies to be frequent users.

"The Science Inventory also provides another window for the world to see the science EPA uses to inform our decision-making," said Paul Gilman, assistant administrator for research and development.

Site visitors can conduct keyword searches within nine science topics: aging initiative; contaminated sediments; ecological assessment tools; genomics; tribal science; children's health; cumulative risk; environmental justice and nonindigenous species.

The EPA Science Inventory can be found at www.epa.gov/si.