Government Documents: Science & Technology

Science.gov makes it possible for users to search over 60 databases, over 2,200 websites, and over 200 million pages of authoritative federal science information in many formats, including full-text documents, citations, scientific data supporting federally funded research, and multimedia.

Science.gov is becoming a federal public access portal consistent with its original purpose and current vision and goals. It is making available free journal articles, peer-reviewed accepted manuscripts, and reports of research funded by federal science agencies, as well as the agencies’ public access policies and requirements.

In addition, Science.gov now offers information from across the federal government on education and training opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields for undergraduate and graduate students.

Since its inception, Science.gov has been a model of voluntary interagency collaboration. Launched in 2002, the gateway is a pioneering initiative by U.S. science agencies to improve the public infrastructure for and access to the nation’s scientific research information. Users do not need to know ahead of time which agency has funded or produced the information that they are looking for.

Science.gov works to raise technical and scientific literacy, serve as a foundation for future discoveries, and foster greater understanding of, access to, and use of the results of public investment in the U.S. government’s science and technology efforts.

Science.gov is designed to serve scientists and engineers, the library and business communities, students, teachers, entrepreneurs, and anyone with an interest in science. The information is free. No registration is required.

Science.gov is governed by the interagency Science.gov Alliance, which includes the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, and Transportation; the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the National Science Foundation, and the U.S. Government Publishing Office. These agencies represent approximately 97 percent of the federal R&D budget.

Science.gov is supported by CENDI, an interagency working group of senior scientific and technical information managers. The website was developed and is maintained by the DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information, a unit of the Office of Science.

Science.gov is the U.S. contribution to WorldWideScience.org, which provides access to science information from more than 70 nations.