BioGang Classics

good point - "we need to change system", but only discussion about it is not enough. So how scientific blogosphere can make it? What should we do to make it happened? - Alexey

We need to take care, I think, with labels such as "the system". It potentially creates a "them and us" situation. For many people the sole criterion of "are things working" is "have I done all right by it"; for many people the answer is "yes"; those people will not perceive need for change and see calls for it as whinging by lesser achievers. So we really need to articulate the issues very well indeed, by way of concrete examples that are relevant to everyone. - Neil Saunders

Neil, couldn't agree more. I've met enough people who are very happy with the way things are, and they are reasonable people, so it can't all be bad. That said, there is so much that can be put on the back of the "publish or perish" model that we need to keep pegging away - Deepak Singh

As Alexey and Neil pointed out, there should be a framework that translates an idea/discussion into actual examples, or I would say products. The issue raised by this post (i.e. open science system) has been discussed by a lot of people, but no one came up with actual solutions or even great examples. I also discussed about the way most scientific blogs are and what to do to actually make a difference in details on my website: http://pangeables.blogspot.com/2008... - JWS

I don't know about frameworks. Prefer individuals taking the initiative like Jean-Claude, Cameron, Shirley, etc are doing, and somewhere along the way, the chasm will be crossed. I don't think it needs to be the scientific blogosphere doing it per se, but the community in general. We can/should highlight examples, and yes complaining about what's wrong only goes so far. - Deepak Singh

My thoughts are returning to a previous FF discussion on branding; some kind of "this research is certified open" logo and the criteria that must be met to earn it. - Neil Saunders