Week 9: Open Science

Not only has new technology's allowed for more productive, accurate and efficient research in science but has also allowed multiple gateways of access and understanding. Any lay person holds the infinite ability to simply wiki any topic there mind pnders and recieve an emense response that previously could only be discovered through the most extensive research. But is this causing a problem?

I like to put forward the question this week of open science and the opposing value in private research. 

Inger Mewburn, a researcher and thesis 'whisperer' has taken on the challenges of the new media network and created a twitter feed designed to aid the overflow of PHD students that Australia (and for that matter, the world) has encountered over the last 10 years, with numbers almost tripling in students.
Though the accounts main goal is to be a modern resource for students, giving information of thesis ideas, current jobs, possible grants and newest findings, its counter production is a free, open and inviting resource for any persons access as well. 

“So I really see it as a newspaper for PhD students by PhD students and I'm the editor who has a bit more experience.” Mewburn says. (Read more here)

Can this be harmful to the scientific community? Does this introduction of openness eliminate the need for students and the like to source their own findings?

However on the other hand, an open source like the net has created simple access for researchers to converge ideas, share findings and allow for a medium that encourages globalisation and growth. Elizabeth Pisani reports this to be a key reason to many of todays modern advancements. "Nowadays, gene sequences get posted on the web daily and scientists build on one another's work. The pace of discovery has increased exponentially and, as a result, so have diagnostics and cures." (Read More Here) 

However the flip slide to this is the placement of science and discover within the media itself. Sadly  media prioritisation puts science often at a low level for reporting, often beaten by political discourses or what Snooki did with her newborn the other day (and you can read THAT unmissable story right here!). Perhaps the most interesting explanation of my point can be performed by the infamous Chasers. See their Youtube clip below:

Word this week: Open Science