Internet Seen Leveling Opportunities for Scientists

[changeseeker]

From the Chronicle of Higher Education: http://bit.ly/G42Fe

Could [the Internet] be leveling the playing field in scientific research? Ms. Ding and colleagues... compared user data involving Bitnet, an Internet forerunner established by Yale University and the City University of New York, and the Domain Name System, which is the naming protocol currently used to identify addresses on the Internet. The study's conclusion is that in all three groups that were examined -- female scientists, young scientists, and scientists at lower-ranked institutions -- researchers showed greater increases in publishing productivity attributable to their use of the Internet than did researchers outside their group.

I was wondering what you all think about this. From your own experience in academia, is this true? Or this is a biased sample?

 

[WhoWee]

From the Chronicle of Higher Education: http://bit.ly/G42Fe



I was wondering what you all think about this. From your own experience in academia, is this true? Or this is a biased sample?

The question might be - who doesn't use the internet? The results may be easier to analyze?

 

[charng]

As a scientist myself, I find this study to be very interesting and thought-provoking. The Internet has certainly revolutionized the way we conduct research and collaborate with colleagues all over the world. It has opened up countless opportunities for scientists to access information, share their findings, and collaborate on projects.

Based on my own experience and observations in academia, I do believe that the Internet has leveled the playing field for scientists. In the past, access to resources and opportunities were limited to those at prestigious institutions or with well-established connections. However, with the Internet, anyone with a computer and an internet connection can access the same information and resources as their colleagues at top-ranked institutions.

I also believe that the Internet has had a particularly positive impact on female scientists, young scientists, and those at lower-ranked institutions. These groups may have faced more barriers and challenges in the traditional academic system, but the Internet has provided them with a platform to showcase their work and collaborate with others on a global scale. This has led to increased productivity and visibility for these researchers.

Of course, as with any study, there may be some bias in the sample or limitations in the data. It would be interesting to see more research on this topic, perhaps with a larger and more diverse sample of scientists. But overall, I do believe that the Internet has played a significant role in leveling the opportunities for scientists and promoting a more inclusive and collaborative scientific community.