Sigma Xi Lecturer Explores Open-Notebook Science

November 27, 2007

Editor’s note: This article was initially published in The Daily Gazette, Swarthmore’s online, daily newspaper founded in Fall 1996. As of Fall 2018, the DG has merged with The Phoenix. See the about page to read more about the DG.

Jean-Claude Bradley of Drexel University came to Swarthmore College this Tuesday for a Sigma Xi Lecture on Open Notebook Science.

Open-Source Science is the idea that scientific research should be accessible to the entire world community. Currently, scientific progress and new advances can usually only be found in expensive journals.

Sample advertisement

Bradley argued that as science moves toward being more open, computers and machines will be able to perform more of the scientific process itself without humans—and this might allow more science to be released in a public open format. Most recently, the National Health Service has begun requiring research it funds to be released for free online.

At Drexel, Bradley has what he calls an open lab. He started by blogging about everything he does there, and has solicited comments from peers in the scientific community to help him with his research. He now has a Wiki, called UsefulChem that has all the experiments his lab has conducted. It functions as his students’ lab notebook and has all their information so that outside scientists can see the entire process of the experiments.

This method has many advantages. In his lecture, Bradley said that because of his strategy, “I can share my raw data with the world.” When everything is public, he explained, nothing can get lost. Although some scientists are worried about getting scooped since anyone can see their work, Bradley argued that open-notebook research makes finding collaborators easier, allows exchange for discussing vendor reliability and hypotheses, and allows undergraduates to see real research in action.

0 Comments Leave a Reply

  1. I really enjoyed my visit yesterday and the discussions that we had about Open Science and related issues.
    A small clarification – the link in your article doesn’t go to our wiki – this is the link:
    http://usefulchem.wikispaces.com
    I’ll have the recording of my lecture available shortly.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Previous Story

Drucaroff lectures on plight of Jewish prostitutes in Argentina

Next Story

Voting on Polls, Always a Party

Latest from Sports

Athlete of the Week: Lilly Goldberg ’28

Lilly Goldberg ’28 is a first-year pitcher on the Swarthmore softball team. The Pittsford native had a strong performance on Tuesday against Franklin & Marshall College, when she made a season-high fourteen strikeouts in seven innings. Goldberg only allowed one hit against

Athlete of the Week: Danny Castle ’27

​Swarthmore sophomore Danny Castle ’27, hailing from Highland Park, IL, has rapidly emerged as a standout in the Garnet men’s swimming program. Specializing in freestyle and backstroke events, Castle has already etched his name in the college’s record books. At the 2024

The 2025 NWSL Season Kicks Off

Women’s soccer is back and better than ever! On Friday, March 14, the first whistle blew to kick off the opening weekend of the 2025 National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) season. Orlando Pride, the returning league champions, made a bold statement at

Spring Training Stories

As a true sports fan might turn their attention to the craziness of March Madness, another sport is beginning to ramp up: baseball. The Major League Baseball’s (MLB) preseason, also known as Spring Training, has been in full swing for a few
Previous Story

Drucaroff lectures on plight of Jewish prostitutes in Argentina

Next Story

Voting on Polls, Always a Party

The Phoenix

Don't Miss