Oral Roberts University Professor Recognized By White House

An ORU professor has been recognized by the White House.

Dr. Andrew Lang is working to make scientific research open and available for everyone.

After all he said -- you paid for it.

Lang teaches math and physics at ORU. He's also working with researchers to help find cures for breast cancer and malaria. But his big project? To make scientific research available to the public.

"Part of the responsibility of academics is to take on these challenges, try and discover a cure for malaria, and our focus has been to do it in an open manner, not competitively, but collaboratively," Lang said.

His efforts have gotten the attention of President Obama.

Lang was recognized in June as a Champion of Change by the Obama Adminstration.

He gave a presentation and met with other researchers in the White House.

It's called Open Notebook Science.

The basic concept is that research is made available to the public, free of charge, in real time as it is developed.

It allows other researchers to collaborate or critique.

Lang said this is important because scientists like to keep their data to themselves until they publish their results. But, he says, government funded research should be available and open to everyone especially why the study is going on.

"I'm a big believer if the research is funded by the taxpayer, then the taxpayer should have access to the results of that research," he said.

As for that trip to the White House, Lang was proud to represent Oklahoma and ORU in meeting of scientific minds.

"It was fun, the food was good," he said. "It was a once-in-a lifetime experience. It was a proud moment for myself."