One of the most important elements of the Antarctic Treaty is the requirement to provide open and free access to all information collected south of 60° S. For this reason the current focus on making all published science free for everyone strikes a sympathetic cord. Led by various institutions promoting web posting of published material and the Public Library of Science enthusiasts proposing open access through the author-pays model there is a ferment of activity at present around the world to convert scientists and librarians to this new religion.