Science in the Open - Latest Comments

Re: Parsing the Willetts Speech on Access to UK Research Outputs

Graham Steel — Wed, 09 May 2012 15:07:59 -0000

Had to look up the meaning of "delte" - new word for me. I agree.

Unless of course you meant to type "al dente" ;-) <ducks></ducks>

Re: Parsing the Willetts Speech on Access to UK Research Outputs

Open Access — Wed, 09 May 2012 06:09:04 -0000

Awseome one. But now a days everyone playing the politics only for their sake.

Re: Parsing the Willetts Speech on Access to UK Research Outputs

Cameron Neylon — Fri, 04 May 2012 12:38:23 -0000

Tom, that's a very good point. The global perspective is critical in the transition process. And the progress in Europe is indeed very positive.

Re: Parsing the Willetts Speech on Access to UK Research Outputs

Cameron Neylon — Fri, 04 May 2012 12:36:50 -0000

That is my feeling, but I think that may be reading too much in to it. From my perspective Gold aligns better with his aims. More rapid access, quicker and wider innovation. You could read his use of the rice parable that way, but again I think that may be reading too much into it. In terms of green vs gold its an argument about two things, rate of progress and effectiveness, as well as consideration for disciplinary differences. My reading of the evidence is that funder mandates in the natural sciences tend to lead towards gold adoption and that this gets us more quickly to where we want to be (and before someone says you would say that if you're going to work for PLoS I'd point out at its rather the other way around, I'm going there because I believe it's the right route).
For the social sciences and humanities, as well as some read of science green may be more productive and faster so we should identify those areas and support them. It's not a simple one size fits all solution but equally regardless of mechanism the cost of dissemination has to be paid somewhere in the system.

Re: Parsing the Willetts Speech on Access to UK Research Outputs

Cameron Neylon — Fri, 04 May 2012 04:59:01 -0000

Agreed but most of this doesn't require legislation. It's executive direction stuff and giving the Research Councils guidance on implementation. I agree it could get lost, particularly after yesterday but I am still positive.

Re: Parsing the Willetts Speech on Access to UK Research Outputs

Alan Cann — Fri, 04 May 2012 03:34:42 -0000

Very nice - certainly an encouraging speech. But it's all politics from a Government in deep trouble which needs good publicity and Willetts certainly doesn't hold the whip hand in this Government. Wake me up when the Bill has been passed.

Re: Parsing the Willetts Speech on Access to UK Research Outputs

Britt Holbrook — Thu, 03 May 2012 18:27:32 -0000

I read the Guardian article as Willetts slightly favoring Gold OA. Do you agree that he is doing so?

I suppose the argument for doing so is that Gold OA provides an actual business model that publishers might be able to adapt to, whereas Green OA doesn't do that. Of course, Green and Gold could co-exist (as could Green and the currently prevalent business model). So, what's your opinion about the right balance for the policy to strike regarding Green and Gold OA?

Re: Parsing the Willetts Speech on Access to UK Research Outputs

Tom Olijhoek — Thu, 03 May 2012 17:29:34 -0000

Excellent analysis. What I missed is the important fact that the minister seeks coordination on the open access subject with the EU and also other countries (US?, China?). That is he realizes that open access [to science] has to be global.

Re: Some brief responses to the Sage Bionetworks Congress

Neil Saunders — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 22:48:16 -0000

"That medical research is configured, funded, and run for the benefit of medical researchers rather than patients." Or put another way: in a world where the sole reward for research is (high-impact) publications, we don't solve problems.

Re: Some brief responses to the Sage Bionetworks Congress

Cameron Neylon — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 09:55:35 -0000

Jan, this is true, but it wasn't so much the specifics that got me as that this was emblematic of a deeper problem. That medical research is configured, funded, and run for the benefit of medical researchers rather than patients. This is institutional rather than personal but I think there is a real risk that we are heading towards a situation where those people who have been pounding the pavements fundraising, and are our most natural allies in persuading government to support research are becoming disillusioned by what they are supporting.

Re: Some brief responses to the Sage Bionetworks Congress

Cameron Neylon — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 09:53:00 -0000

Julio, good question, we should focus on the positive recommendations. There are many options I think, Sage is one. Research taking place outside of traditional institutions is another, patient directed projects, and new funding approaches provide others. There are many things to be tried and many things to be done and where possible the main thing is that people can get on and do them without being stuck down and held back by existing incumbents and systems.

Re: Some brief responses to the Sage Bionetworks Congress

Julio E. Peironcely — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 05:59:16 -0000

" I’ve been uncertain for some time whether change from within our existing structures and systems is really possible. I’m leaning further and further to the view that it is not. "What are the options? Foundations like Sage? New startups that try new ideas? Maybe an option is to bring brilliant people from other fields to see if their different frame of mind comes up with solutions.
It is indeed a sad situation but at the same time it is clear that there are many things to be done.

Cheers,
Julio

Re: Some brief responses to the Sage Bionetworks Congress

Jan Moren — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 20:45:51 -0000

"[...] new patients today get the same treatment I did."

I understand the frustration all too well. And advances are slow, in part because cancer is such a complex group of diseases. But it really isn't true: treatments are improving, though the improvements are incremental rather than of the major-breakthrough variety.

For one of the most common cancers, bowel cancer, the current drug mixes and schedules are a real improvement in both survival and comfort over 20 years ago, and there's new drugs such as cetuximab that improve the chance of other drugs working and presage new lines of approach. Control of the serious side effects have improved a lot, which means more patients are able to finish their regimens and have better quality of life during treatment (the point about blood cancer being a gastrointestinal disease highlights just how important this is). Improved surgery techniques means fewer get metastases, more metastates are surgically treatable, and mortality is lower for what is, sometimes, very invasive procedures.

Depending on how you see it, these advances are very modest or very significant. Overall survival is up, so is average years of life, and so is quality of life.

Re: A big leap and a logical step: Moving to PLoS

Hadas Shema — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 23:39:41 -0000

Asimov did that to you, too? The good doctor sure knew how to brainwash young, innocent minds...

Congratulations on being PLoSed!

Hadas

Re: A big leap and a logical step: Moving to PLoS

pansapiens — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 03:02:20 -0000

Congrats Cam ! Exciting times.

Re: A big leap and a logical step: Moving to PLoS

Marcus Hanwell — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 22:37:11 -0000

Congratulations. I am looking froward to seeing the results of your work in this new position!

Re: A big leap and a logical step: Moving to PLoS

Cameron Neylon — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 03:08:57 -0000

Thankyou all. I am really excited by the move and looking forward to. I will also be trying to wind down from current position rather than go mad and try to get *everything* finished...

Re: A big leap and a logical step: Moving to PLoS

Carox — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 20:22:42 -0000

Congratulations Cam. It all sounds great. And make sure that you don't let the stress and volume of the hard work that you need to do in preparation for the move outweigh the excitement of preparing for this new adventure :-)

Re: A big leap and a logical step: Moving to PLoS

Rafael Sidi — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 19:57:34 -0000

Cameron, congratulations in your new role.

Re: A big leap and a logical step: Moving to PLoS

Mekentosj Papers — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 06:09:43 -0000

Awesome, great move and best of luck Cameron!
Alex

Re: A big leap and a logical step: Moving to PLoS

Jim Procter — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 03:49:15 -0000

Assimilation in its sweetest form ! ;)

Re: A big leap and a logical step: Moving to PLoS

Mike — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 20:17:49 -0000

Congratulations Cam, much deserved.

Re: A big leap and a logical step: Moving to PLoS

Karen Spiegelman — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 19:17:28 -0000

Welcome aboard! Long-time Twitter follower, brand-new coworker. :))

Re: A big leap and a logical step: Moving to PLoS

Kevin Zelnio — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 16:23:49 -0000

Congratulations to both you and PLoS! A great fit indeed and PLoS will become a major powerhouse with you at the advocacy helm.

Re: A big leap and a logical step: Moving to PLoS

Chris Leonard — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 13:10:06 -0000

Excellent news. Your knowledge and enthusiasm were too great to be channeled into a side project. Great to hear this will be your real job soon!