Scientific Researchers and Web 2.0: Social Not Working? forum: topic
This is a public forum
Seeking examples of using Web 2.0/social web tools to do actual science
Chris Patil
Saturday, 07 March 2009 00:58 UTC
Has anyone used Web 2.0 tools like FriendFeed, Twitter, etc. to initiate or implement collaborative science?
I’m working (with a friend) on a series of pieces about new technology in scientific communication, and I’d love to talk to someone who’s used these sorts of tools to accomplish something.
Started this query at FriendFeed: http://tinyurl.com/94qtuw – you can refer to that thread for more information and for examples of what others have shared.
We’re equally interested in attempts that worked and attempts that didn’t work so well — and we’d like to hear your thoughts on why your approach succeeded or not.
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Replies
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Hi Chris,
This particular forum in which you have posted was created in the run-up to an evening meeting on just this topic at the British Library. The meeting has now happened. There is a linked report of it, which includes various suggestions. Also on the main page of this forum are various posts and discussions about “science 2.0”, including collaboration and tools (and also other aspects, such as communication). Forgive me for not summarizing them all here, but do look around the forum as I hope you’ll find plenty of interest. -
Hi Chris, a project that has only just come online called Sci-Mate is developing Web 2.0 tools for scientific collaboration. The site contains a new sort of wiki pre-publication environment; a scientific discussion forum; an exchange platform (a bit like eBay, but for research tools); and a few other things to help researchers collaborate.
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Hi, I work for the Research Information Network and we commissioned a study exploring the extent to which web 2.0 tools support the communication, sharing and dissemination of research ideas and outputs just before Christmas. Our project aims to provide information for researchers, institutions and funders on the effectiveness of these new resources, as well as guidance on how web 2.0 tools can complement other means of sharing information in research communities.
Unfortunately the results of which wont be done until Oct. But if you contact my colleague Aaron (details on our website, he might be able to give you a bit of information.
Also, one of the guys invited people to join him submitting a bit using his blog . Finally here is also a blog the experience of using web 2.0 tools to but the proposal together.
There is also work being done in this area by the Oxford Internet Institute.
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I think google docs is a powerful tool in sceintific collaboration. The value of this very simple, easy way to allow everyone access to the same document at all points in time is often overlooked. Sure the technology existed to do the exact same thing at no cost since the invention of FTP (if not before), but how many people actually used those other methods? I think google docs has the potential to become much more prolific.
Cheers,
-Carlton -
Chris
The British Library is developing something called the Research Information Centre in collaboration with Microsoft. This is a web-based collaborative environment in which research teams can find, manage, share and preserve their information and data at all stages of the research lifecycle
The idea is to remove the barriers to effective information use across a collaborative researcg project. We are working with researchers across biomedicine to ensure the RIC meets their domain-specific needs. An example of a likely ‘plug-in’ will be myExperiment . The generic framework for the RIC, once completed, will be made available as open source code.
Whether it is successful or not in the long term time will tell, but feedback from test groups to date has been positive…
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Sounds interesting, Allan – one that I do feel motivated to check out!
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Hi, there is a portal in Nanoscience named NanoInfoline. It categorize and lists current papers/news into various relevant research fields within the topic of nanoscience and technology. It provides a discussion section with every paper where one can post comments/questions. Authors or other experts in that field can respond and explain the details helping the community better understand the paper.
They have something call Nano-Wittet, similar to Twitter, where sciencetists can communicate and stay connected with their peers through the exchange of quick and frequent updates, status messages, and conversations.This portal might attract ppl for their daily use and then they can use it further for future collaborations and exchange.
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Hi Chris, Picking up on what Allan said, MyExperiment is being used by several groups in different disciplines and one, at least, has used it and Taverna to get a result they say would not have been possible otherwise. There’s a video about how they used MyExperiment to study the genetic root of resistance to Trypanosomiasis in African cattle at “http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6_Kz5L010g”: The video was produced by Oxford University as part of a JISC project and it also features Carole Goble and Dave de Roure talking about how they came to develop MyExperiment.
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