The Role of Scientific and Technical Data and Information in the Public Domain Proceedings of a Symposium (2003) / Chapter Skim
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9. Biomedical Research
9. Biomedical Research
Pages 65-70
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From page 65... ...
For the theoretical underpinnings of the talk, I am relying on a paper that Stephen Hilgartner and I published some years ago in the journal Knowledge.2 I recently read the book Brunelleschi's Dome by Ross King, the interesting story of the radical design for the Santa Mana del Fiore cathedral in Florence.3 It describes the architect, Filippo Brunelleschi, doing research for his designs in the vast ruins of ancient Rome. To this day, what he sought in the ruins is unknown because, fearful of losing priority in his architectural work, he recorded his notes on steps of parchment in a series of symbols and Arabic numerals.
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From page 66... ...
The magnitude of these concerns will be discussed in later sessions, as will the concerns that arise with disputes over data access. Here, it is sufficient to note that supporters of a free flow of scientific data believe that resistance to data sharing and disputes over data sharing can: · waste resources by leading to duplication of efforts, · slow the progress of science because scientists cannot easily build on the efforts of others or discover errors in completed work, and · lead to a generalized level of mistrust and hostility among scientists in place of what should be a community of scientists.
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From page 67... ...
In this way, the original findings become evaluated, certified, and incorporated within, or perhaps rejected from, the public corpus of scientific knowledge. According to this model, which I have oversimplified, restrictions on access constitute departures from the normal and normative course of science described by the Mertonian norms and by many who are interested in data sharing.
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From page 68... ...
The exchanges he spoke about could be divided into three broad categories: sending people, sending things other than results, and sending results. These are, of course, arbitrary and overlapping categories, but within the broadly inclusive meaning of the word "data" that Hilgartner and I have used, they all involve data sharing.
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From page 69... ...
In one case, he was given access to a rare reagent, but was required to sign a Material Transfer Agreement in which he promised to use the materials for research only, to provide the donor lab with access to his results, and not to pass the reagent on without express permission. Such agreements may require the addition of the donors' names to future scientific papers, although this particular agreement did not.
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From page 70... ...
Even the fastest publication is slow compared to that and if you have to wait until you see stuff in print, you're out of the loop." One of the crystallographers referred to presenting an abstract as a "little trick" in the interests of "one-upmanship," but it also reflects the way structural incentives in science can result in sharing. The way to influence the smartest scientists, one of the crystallographers said, is through "talks at national meetings that they happen to be at, discussions, interactions with high-profile people who they happen to run into at a meeting." Too much of a focus on data sharing through formal publication and the incentives and disincentives that exist to publish at time A as opposed to time B will miss much of this critical sharing of data.8 The publication process is, indeed, one important mechanism for the sharing of data and for entering scientific information into the public domain.
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