For those of you who (like myself) were unable to attend the Open Science Summit July 30, 2010 in Berkeley, California, which was focused on “Updating the social contract for Science” and included topics like synthetic biology, personal genomics, gene patents, open access/data, the future of scientific publishing and reputation, microfinance for science, DIY biology, and bio-security, all recorded conference video footage is now up on Fora.tv: Open Science Summit 2010. Some additional interviews with speakers will be uploaded shortly.
Those attracted to the idea of Open Science may also want to check out the web site for Open Access Week, just ending. From the web site:
Open Access Week, a global event now entering its fourth year, is an opportunity for the academic and research community to continue to learn about the potential benefits of Open Access, to share what they’ve learned with colleagues, and to help inspire wider participation in helping to make Open Access a new norm in scholarship and research.
“Open Access” to information – the free, immediate, online access to the results of scholarly research, and the right to use and re-use those results as you need – has the power to transform the way research and scientific inquiry are conducted. It has direct and widespread implications for academia, medicine, science, industry, and for society as a whole.
Open Access (OA) has the potential to maximize research investments, increase the exposure and use of published research, facilitate the ability to conduct research across available literature, and enhance the overall advancement of scholarship. Research funding agencies, academic institutions, researchers and scientists, teachers, students, and members of the general public are supporting a move towards Open Access in increasing numbers every year. Open Access Week is a key opportunity for all members of the community to take action to keep this momentum moving forward.
On a purely personal note, French statesman Georges Clemenceau is reputed to have said something like “War is too important to be left to the generals.” Having watched progress in nanotechnology and artificial general intelligence since 1986, I am inclined to agree with the open science movement that progress in science in general, and nanotechnology and AGI in particular, is too important to be left solely to the professionals and the governments and large corporations that fund them.
