Discovery-Based Science and Open Source. Olga Buzovetsky Wesleyan University May 28,2008

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1 Discovery-Based Science and Open Source Olga Buzovetsky Wesleyan University May 28,2008

2 Introduction My paper is about how the transition of scientific methodology to discovery science thrives from the benefits of open source science. This is an important topic in FOSS because there is an immense potential for scientific and medical discovery if the scientific domain continues to participate in open source science Thesis: Open source science is the median through which discovery science can flourish and foster, through open data analysis, citizen participation, open technology, and medicine, the ultimate common goal of achieving knowledge, discoveries and new medical advances are achieved. What is discovery based science? Open data Citizen science Scientific Technology Medicine Benefits Problems The future

3 Shift in the Scientific Method (Lane)

4 Open Data Open databases Evaluated Nuclear Structure Data File GenBank GBD Open Notebook Open Wet Ware Useful Chem Open Research Open Source MIT Open Research Society

5 Citizen Science Broadening participation, everyone can participate in scientific discovery! Participation: observation, measurement or computation Faster, more complete and feasible means of completing research. Examples: Audubon Citizen Science is a way for you to connect with the natural world through fun activities that generate vital information for the conservation of birds. This partnership benefits us all: you will learn about birds by taking part in these science-based activities, and Audubon's science staff gains invaluable information. Most importantly, the birds benefit because it helps Audubon focus on those birds and habitats that need our help most. (Audubon) Assignment Zero Lists citizen available open source projects in categories space, biology, climate, and general. (Assignment Zero)

6 Scientific Technology Open source technology makes open science possible. "BioForge aims to create new a mode for the cooperative invention, improvement and sharing of biological technologies. The goal of BioForge is to foster a protected commons of biological technologies that will be freely available to the worldwide inventive community under the terms of an "open source"-based license." (Steffen)

7 Medicine More leads than one lab can follow up, therefore opening the data speeds up progress. Find cures for neglected diseases. The scientific community utilizing the Synaptic Leap posts experimental designs and data to be interpreted by the global scientific community. The discussions would further solicit formulation of new ideas that eventually would lead to the development of drugs for diseases prevalent within developing countries. This project focuses on diseases that afflict poor nations (neglected diseases) presently it is focused on tropical diseases such as malaria, schistosomiasis, toxoplasma, and tuberculosis because profit cannot be made by the pharmaceuticals from developing cures for these diseases.

8 Benefits of Open Science Speed Efficiency More data analyzed Mistakes are more apparent World wide participation Completing databases and data available for use by the scientific world Progressing towards disease prevention through collaboration

9 Problems Grants challenge of receiving grants for the research because agencies may not support projects that post their results in an open source format. Difficult to publish The scientific world is based on publishing the result in journals, however after publishing online, would the data and results would be sufficient to be published since it was already published on the web? Patenting Almost impossible feat if every discovery is patented, slowing down the progression of synthetic biology and our progression of discoveries and medical advances.

10 The Connection: Open Source and Discovery Science Discovery science promotes sharing of data between scientists around the world in order to test the theories based on the already available data. Therefore, open data projects promote the concept of data sharing by constructing a medium by which information can be shared. Citizen science promotes not only world wide participation but provides a medium through which people of all types scientific backgrounds can participate. Information sharing increase technology increase data increased need for participation Human logic and thinking has a limit but data analysis is limitless

11 Selected Resources Tapscott Don and Williams Anthony. (2007). The New Science of Sharing. Business Week. Butler Declan. (2005). Science in the web age: Joint efforts. Nature. Audubon: Citizen Science Pollack Andrew. (2005). Open-Source Practices for Biotechnology. The New York Times. Kepler Thomas B, et al. Open Source Research- the Power of Us. CSIRO Publishing Benkler Yochai. (2004). Interllectual Property: Commons-Based Strategies and the Problems of Patents. Science. Ball Philip. The Common Good. Nature News Toomey Gerry. Sharing the Fruits of Science. University Affairs