Brian Sidlauskas: New Meaning in Old Data | Evolution
From the abstract to "Linking Big: The Continuing Promise of Evolutionary Synthesis," published in Evolution by biologist Brian Sidlauskas and co-authors:
Synthetic science promises an unparalleled ability to find new meaning in old data, extant results, or previously unconnected methods and concepts, but pursuing synthesis can be a difficult and risky endeavor. Our experience as biologists, informaticians, and educators at the National Evolutionary Synthesis Center has affirmed that synthesis can yield major insights, but also revealed that technological hurdles, prevailing academic culture, and general confusion about the nature of synthesis can hamper its progress. By presenting our view of what synthesis is, why it will continue to drive progress in evolutionary biology, and how to remove barriers to its progress, we provide a map to a future in which all scientists can engage productively in synthetic research.
Physorg.com reports "Biologists merge methods, results from different disciplines to find new meaning in old data":
"It's kind of an open-source approach to science," he [Sidlauskas] added. "Data archives may require some kind of proprietary protection for a few months or years, but after a certain amount of time, they should become public domain. Only by saving the data that underlie today's science will we allow future scientists to use those data in ways that may far exceed what the original researchers envisioned."
Hat tip: P+T.
