Science cafe: Truth in science
Scientists from around the globe are now considering the sharing of research data as the de facto path to scientific advancement.
The 178th meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), held this year in Vancouver, tackled current developments and concerns in science. A recurring topic this year was the limited distribution of data is slowing scientific progress.
"Ninety per cent of scientists agree that we should share data," says Heather Piwowar, of the National Evolutionary Synthesis Center, during her address, entitled Costs and Benefits of Public Data Archiving. The problem, she says, is the initial investment required in public data archiving is considered too much, by researchers.
"Sixty per cent of researchers are concerned it (inputting data) will take too long, and about 10% are concerned people will find errors." However, Piwowar maintains that "data archiving is a good investment," over time.
The AAAS event, which draws in scientists from around the world, highlighted a key point -- data is only as useful as what can be done with it. The current notion is that while data can realistically be shared fairly easily, sharing good ideas for applying the data is another story.
Part of how ideas for science research are formed is through the availability and consumption of scientific publications. Currently, scientific journals require payment to access their publications. In the United Kingdom, where research is publicly funded, that may change soon.
"U. K. universities recognize and embrace the strong moral case that the public who fund our research should have unimpeded access to the results of that research," says Professor Adam Tickell, of the University of Birmingham. "Open access is in our marrow -- universities produce knowledge not for ourselves, but because it has a greater good."
The institution of public data sharing is being widely considered as open science in action. Atul Butte, of Stanford University in California, utilized publicly available databases to compare drugs and diseases never before studied for interaction -- a virtual " Match.com"of science.
It led to two significant findings. Cimetidine, a low-cost, widely distributed anti-ulcer drug, was shown to have the potential to battle lung cancer; and topiramate, an off-patent anti-seizure drug, could be used to counteract inflammatory bowel disease.
This new application, being called translational medicine, is just one example of the fruits of open science. While still in its infancy, the possibility for further scientific developments through data sharing holds significant promise.
If you're interested in the process of science, or would like to learn more about how scientific truth is established and how we know what to believe, join us on Dec. 4 at the Laughing Buddha restaurant at 7:30 p.m. for an informal Science Cafe, entitled Truth in Science. Admission is free, appetizers will be provided and a cash bar is available.
Panelists will include Charles Ramcharan, associate professor in the department of biology and co-operative freshwater biology unit at Laurentian University, and Chantal Barriault, senior scientist for research and evaluation at Science North and co-director of the Science Communication Program at Laurentian University. For more information, check out
Alexander Johnston is in the Laurentian University/Science North Graduate Program in Science Communication and is the Science Cafe program assistant at Science North.