Physics and Astronomy Classification Scheme® (PACS®)
Discontinuation of PACS
With its 1970 release of the Physics and Astronomy Classification Scheme (PACS), the American Institute of Physics (AIP) affirmed its commitment to aid in the classification and retrieval of scientific information. Over the years, AIP’s Subcommittee on Classification and Information Retrieval (SCIR), in cooperation with several ad hoc working groups, editors of AIP, Member, and Affiliated Society journals, as well as advisors from the American Physical Society, and the physics community at large, worked to develop and maintain PACS as a tool for researchers in the fields of physics and astronomy. PACS was updated and enhanced on a biannual basis and continued to serve the scientific community well, seeing widespread use by more than 160 international journals and qualifying as the primary classification scheme for physics worldwide.
Ever-changing technology and research trends, and the increasingly complex administrative efforts associated with the revision process, however, have brought into focus the inherent limitations of PACS and its viability as a resource of the future. As a result, AIP has decided it will not provide any further updates to PACS. PACS® 2010 will be the final version but will continue to be available for use through our website.
Acknowledgment
AIP gratefully acknowledges all those who kindly offered assistance and cooperation in the development and maintenance of PACS over the years; their efforts have been greatly appreciated.
Moving Forward
Reaffirming its original commitment, AIP is exploring new ways to enrich its journal content. In partnership with Access Innovations, Inc., AIP has developed a more efficient search tool for scientists in the form of a new thesaurus. The AIP Thesaurus, which is compliant with ISO, NISO, and W3C standards, builds upon PACS and will enable a more efficient discovery process for researchers. After sufficient testing, AIP plans to integrate the thesaurus into its new online platform, which is set to launch in 2013.
Both "PACS" and "Physics and Astronomy Classification Scheme" are registered trademarks owned by the American Institute of Physics. AIP requests that you acknowledge this trademark when referring to either one in any publication.