Open Source Science - An Evolution

Open Source Science - An Evolution
 
Introduction
There is an explosion of information exchange but there is no equability in sharing that information. Additionally there is no verifiability. This was the impression I had before delving into gathering some information about the colour and its distribution in the animal kingdom (fish to be precise). To my surprise there is an open source science project probably taking its roots from Linux Phenomenon. A group of people with scientific orientation joining up to form an open forum for greater good of the public  (rather than a corporate agenda) is commendable. With the stem cell research taking priority in a commercial environment this is a healthy phenomenon.

Background
There is a proliferation of newspapers and journals in the local market (Ceylon) and I am not sure what has given rise to this phenomenon?

May be making a fast buck.
I believe editors of these journals are not concerned about whether people are actually reading them or not.
Is this just a bit of publicity stunt, a corporate agenda or a political inexpedience? 
Exploration may be?
I wonder why even the BBC is thinking of new innovations.

With the inter-net taking its shape in speed (with speed accuracy is sacrificed), content and opinion making the paper industry is becoming a static phenomenon. Ball by ball commentary of cricket in the Internet is boring to follow but busy people are adapting to the new trends. The local editors are failing miserably to give a true picture at the ground level and the world at large.
It looks as most of the writers and journalists have a "cut and paste mentality" and some are copied from foreign agencies without any comments attached by editors or journalists. 
I believe journalists like our own Carl Muller should do some research on these trends.

With so many mushrooming industries, which include illicit liquor, betting stalls and video parlors and many more other nefarious activities (which one should not be proud of) what is happening to print industry is something bewildering.

Expectations
My Primary Objective is to make learning science a pleasurable experience to young students and budding journalists.
The Secondary Objective is to find how quickly one can gather information from whatever the sources available in an academic environment.
A subsidiary objective is to put that information in simple terms so that the reader could understand (improve my writing skills as a by product) the contents with ease.

Conceptual Impressions
Gathering reliable information is a piece of cake and I could accomplish this with a  drop of a hat. 
I am looking for a "hat collection" of information.

Approach
Internet, reputed scientific journals, library and my own collection of old books were utilized in that order.

Outcome
Scientific journals always wanted to check on one's subscription status and ones that gave some free access was limited by arbitrary time limits. The search engines were very poor. The value of particular information was never highlighted in a sequential manner. There is just the proliferation of knowledge but no particular break down or an order of importance.

Reviews were noted for their absence.

There was an exception to this phenomenon of knowledge explosion especially in the publications of the Public Library of Science (PLOS). Other exception is some American Medical Journals who are opening up the knowledge base to all and sundries. A healthy trend is there but what is lacking is commitment.

Verdict
Cut and tie mentality of a surgeon's mind is replaced by cut and paste mentality of the window's users. Writing as a skillful job has deteriorated. Spelling mistakes (in my case too) and content jargon and inaccurate information were abundant. 
To my amazement in one piece of writing the blood of the species of fish is almost identical to human blood. 
I believe we have hereditary linkage to bacteria and fish but not to that extent. How my fish would die with a simplest of change in the environment explains why their immune system is different from ours.

I have neither become wiser nor enriched but perplexed and confused.

Simplicity
Simplicity is not the art. Terminologies were not defined or poorly explained (in manner simple enough) for a kid to grasp the meaning to life and beings. 
I have no surprise why many kids look at science without enthusiasm.

Books
My old books that dated back to sixties and seventies were a treasure trove for my illumination and they still are. Those writers had a penchant for science as well as writing. It is bounden duty for the scientists to write in simple terms with their own comments included. They should write books which little children would love to read and should not become self centered like our journalists who publish papers at the  drop of a hat for image building.

Scientists should not become image builders.

They should take a lead from the open source science projects (Public Library of Science) and make science a living experience.
None of my objectives were satisfied after a month of trying but this is going to change in my lifetime.

Perspectives
The curiosity of a kid of yesteryear who loved watching at the little mosquito fish (Guppy) dancing in little streams (that are polluted now beyond any recovery) and changing their colour and tail configurations from generation to generation, lead to learning biology (with interest) and later becoming a human biologist (a pathologist to be precise) and that diversion did not deter the interests in colour (pigmentation we call in medical terms) from all kinds of life (nature at large) to photography to computer graphics .............

In spite of Diversity of colour (fish, toads, birds and bees) and the Specificity of a given species, there is a common thread that links all species that extend down the millions of years of evolution which is a remarkable feat of Simplicity of biochemical compositions (melanin, guanine, xanthochromes and haemoglobin) that expresses in various combinations in all living cells to give a particular combination of colours.

In the process of diversion at certain points in earth's history, however the secrets of Unity in Purpose (i.e. the defense against cancer, withstanding oxidative stress, skillful communication of impending danger that include ecological strain and becoming a living biological barometer of environmental stress of pollution), the unique survival instinct of all living beings was not lost.

However, the Unity of Purpose is lost when it comes to man's world (of incessant exploitation) where skin colour can be a decisive discriminatory factor in making choices (may not be scientific by nature).
That is the final philosophical point which I wish to make before winding up.........

Effective Communication
If the expectations laid down in any investigation or analysis (whether it is accomplished or not) is not communicated effectively to all those who have similar interests (sometimes failures), the commitment that make one to get involved in an endeavour becomes void. 

The energy and enthusiasm dissipate.

In other words it becomes a failure.

What I call the Club mentality whether it is a Garden Club or a Bridge Club that motivates people with similar interests to interact effectively is lacking in the Scientific Community.

It is a sad phenomenon.

Guiding Principles
The guiding principle should be to benefit mankind and all species on board this planet earth and above all the wellbeing of the planet itself.
 
In this process of exploration, if the individual who gets involved reaps benefits it is of course a bonus.
 
It is a feather on one's cap.

Edited on the 4th of August 2006