[Tccc] Promoting open on-line research

Pars Mutaf pars.mutaf
Wed Nov 2 10:11:19 EDT 2011


Hi all,

Added new reason to the campaign:

Problem #5. Isolated research is not happy research. Imagine you get
instant feedback to your research from scientists in your domain all around
the world!

http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/replacing-scientific-conferences-with-a-cheap-and-effic.html
(may take some time to appear in the petition.)


Cheers,
Pars

On Wed, Nov 2, 2011 at 8:37 AM, Pars Mutaf <pars.mutaf at gmail.com> wrote:

>
>
> On Tue, Nov 1, 2011 at 8:05 PM, Joe Touch <touch at isi.edu> wrote:
>
>> Hi, all,
>>
>> With my TCCC Chair hat on:
>>
>>
>> On 10/30/2011 11:24 PM, Pars Mutaf wrote:
>>
>>> Dear researcher,
>>>
>>> A mediocre quality scientific conference costs ~1M dollars to the world
>>> just for registration fees.
>>>
>>
>> FYI, without judging what is mediocre, $1M USD is a conference of around
>> 1,000-2,000 people.
>>
>>
>>  Millions of dollars are spent each year for a few reviews and after
>>> waiting
>>> long months.
>>>
>>
>> Direct review cost are minimal - some websites charge, others are free.
>> Other services cost - e.g., plagiarism checks.
>>
>> However, this is clearly not a direct cost estimate.
>>
>> We discussed these cost issues on this list, and posted a summary on the
>> TCCC website. As we discussed, there are other benefits to in-person
>> meetings that include:
>>        - opportunity for personal networking
>>        - opportunity for in-person exchanges at a group presentation
>>        - publication of your work in a recognized, publicized, and
>>        distributed proceedings
>>
>> There may be merit to open on-line research. I hope this discussion can
>> proceed with the context of previously learned understanding of real
>> conference costs.
>>
>>
> Right. A possible approach is:
>
> 1. Install the new system gradually in several sites like arxiv.orgaugmented with public review. (i.e. as an addition to the current system)
> 2. See if the conferences (or which ones) still have their importance
>
> In this approach scientists decide and the change is smooth (and
> unpredictable).
>
> Conferences may have the benefits that are listed above. The problem is
> being tied to conferences just for receiving feedback. Currently it is the
> only way to receive feedback. **From this angle** conferences have very low
> benefit/cost ratio (even for accepted work). Very limited feedback is
> received and after waiting long months.
>
> Pars
>
> http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/replacing-scientific-conferences-with-a-cheap-and-effic.html
>
>
>
>
> Joe (TCCC Chair)
>>
>
>



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