steeg@ai.toronto.edu ("Evan W. Steeg") (07/08/89)
Dr. Davison,
I would like to add my voice to the chorus of disappointment
over the proposed loss of the BioNet. I appreciate the concerns
of the several scientists from small biological sciences labs who
need the BioNet software and databases in order to tackle
computationally tough tasks. I am actually in a sort of opposite
situation. I am a computer science grad student, with access to the
biggest and best in computer software and hardware, but without the normal
access to information and contacts in the biological sciences community.
I am very interested in, and have worked on, applying advanced computer
techniques to problems in biochemistry, and I rely on the communications
services of the BioNet -- the e-mail and the newsgroups -- to keep
me informed and connected. Not being in a biochemistry department,
I don't see biological abstracts and conference announcements posted
around me every day, but I do have access to the newsgroups, and
I would hate to lose this service.
In a time when there is so much talk about interdisciplinary
science and the need for cooperation and communication in solving
huge problems (mapping the human genome, molecular structure
prediction, finding an AIDS vaccine, etc.), it is ironic and
sad that shortsighted policymaking will take away the BioNet,
a major resource for interdisciplinary and international
communication and research.
-- Evan
--
Evan W. Steeg (416) 978-7321 steeg@ai.toronto.edu (CSnet,UUCP,Bitnet)
Dept of Computer Science steeg@ai.utoronto (other Bitnet)
University of Toronto, steeg@ai.toronto.cdn (EAN X.400)
Toronto, Canada M5S 1A4 {seismo,watmath}!ai.toronto.edu!steeg
--
Evan W. Steeg (416) 978-7321 steeg@ai.toronto.edu (CSnet,UUCP,Bitnet)
Dept of Computer Science steeg@ai.utoronto (other Bitnet)
University of Toronto, steeg@ai.toronto.cdn (EAN X.400)
Toronto, Canada M5S 1A4 {seismo,watmath}!ai.toronto.edu!steegsteeg@ai.toronto.edu ("Evan W. Steeg") (07/11/89)
A few days ago I posted a note in which I criticized and lamented
the possible loss of the BioNet facilities. In particular, I
discussed the importance of the communications resources currently
made available by the Bionet, and how unfortunate it would be -- for
individual scientists and for the state of biological research -- if
this conduit for international and interdisciplinary communication
were to vanish.
I hope I did not convey the impression that the communications
activities on Bionet -- the e-mail and the newsgroups -- could not or
would not be replaced. In theory, nobody should lose any
communications functions permanently, though, in practice, there could
be severe disruptions, and it was this unnecessary disruption that
concerned me.
In particular, the Bionet users should be aware that**:
1) Usenet is a self-supporting communications net.
2) The European and Australian bboard systems that receive Bionet
messages pay for their own access.
3) Several of the biological science journals post their tables of
contents to Bionet free of charge.
Therefore, several key communications links and functions are paid
for by parties other than Bionet. Moreover, there is no *technical*
reason why these functions couldn't be handled by the Usenet and
bboards directly. My point in my previous letter was simply that
technical feasibility does not always imply simple, efficient, and
timely implementation. With such a large distributed network, serving
many people (of varying computer proficiency) with many functions,
there are likely to be delays and glitches.
My gut feeling on this was: If it ain't broke don't fix it. The
"activation energy" needed to carry the transition through is likely
to be very high. Who needs it?!
But, if this transition must happen, let's make it as smooth as
possible. Perhaps administrators of the various subnets and bulletin
boards will post some hints/instructions. As for the software
resources of Bionet, perhaps the managers can arrange for some space
on the Stanford Sumex machine (Stanford U. is geographically close to
Bionet's home), so that users can have ftp access to contributed
software. This would ease the transition.
Thanks for your attention (sorry for posting such long notes!).
-- Evan
**I am fairly confident, though not 100% certain, of these claims about
the networks. My understanding of the workings was corroborated by
several people well-versed in computer bboards and networks. I do not
work for Bionet, the company that manages it, nor any competitors.
And, of course, I do not speak for the University of Toronto.
--
Evan W. Steeg (416) 978-7321 steeg@ai.toronto.edu (CSnet,UUCP,Bitnet)
Dept of Computer Science steeg@ai.utoronto (other Bitnet)
University of Toronto, steeg@ai.toronto.cdn (EAN X.400)
Toronto, Canada M5S 1A4 {seismo,watmath}!ai.toronto.edu!steeg
--
Evan W. Steeg (416) 978-7321 steeg@ai.toronto.edu (CSnet,UUCP,Bitnet)
Dept of Computer Science steeg@ai.utoronto (other Bitnet)
University of Toronto, steeg@ai.toronto.cdn (EAN X.400)
Toronto, Canada M5S 1A4 {seismo,watmath}!ai.toronto.edu!steeg