Bright Sparcs

Bright Sparcs was an online register of people involved in the development of science, technology, engineering and medicine in Australia, including references to their archival materials and bibliographic resources.

The registry was first conceived and managed by the Australian Science Archives Project (1994-1999). It was subsequently managed by its successor organisations, the Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre (1999-2006) and the eScholarship Research Centre (from 2007 onwards) at the University of Melbourne.

In February 2010, Bright Sparcs and the Australian Science at Work database were amalgamated to create the basis of the Encyclopedia of Australian Science.

When the register was established its parameters were to register the names and existing archival records of influential Australian scientists. As time progressed technological capacity increased and the potential for wider data parameters was realised. By the time of its closure the register included the following data on influential Australian scientists: name; alternate names; date and place of birth and death if known; occupations or fields of specialisation; a summary note outlining their life and work; a timeline of career positions; a list of other registered people, organisations and archival holdings and published resources they are connected to.