hunter@nlm.nih.gov (Larry Hunter) (07/04/90)
Just to expand a bit on David Kristofferson's posting: David's talk on bionet at the Biomatrix meeting (George Mason University, July 9-11) is part of a panel on the potential and the challenges of electronic scientific communication. The panel is looking not only at the marvels of databases, email and bulletin boards, but also at some of the more problematic issues involved. Pat Morgan, the managing editor of Science, will discuss some of the difficulties that even major journals have with electronic publishing. Mary Berlyn, of the E. coli Stock Center at Yale, will discuss her often painful experiences in trying to bring a public E. coli gene map and strain database to fruition. Sam Ward will discuss the generally more positive experience of the C. elegans community with electronic data sharing, and try to explain why it is working for them. Roy Rada, from the University of Liverpool, will discuss technical innovations in computer supported group work in biology. And Chris Fields, from New Mexico State University, will discuss how electronic communication can increase the participation of non-US researchers in the scientific mainstream, as well as rapidly convey relevant scientific results to third world countries. The biomatrix community has been pursuing lofty goals with respect to electronic support of biological research for some time now. This panel is an opportunity to look at some of the accomplishments of our increasing electronic interconnectivity, as well as to identify some of the challenges that arise when the dazzling promises held out by techno-optimists meets the pragmatic reality of how science is actually done. I hope to see many of you at the meeting! Lawrence Hunter, PhD. National Library of Medicine Bldg. 38A, MS-54 Bethesda. MD 20894 (301) 496-9300 (301) 496-0673 (fax) hunter@nlm.nih.gov (internet) hunter%nlm.nih.gov@nihcu (bitnet/earn)