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FAQ
From Sci-Mate Wiki
Sci-Mate > Information| Editor: Christopher Dyer Branch: Feedback-Wiki Type: Help Information Intention: Not for Publication Read/Write Permissions: Open Access | Authors : 26.10.2009 - Christopher Dyer - Sci-Mate |
Claudia Koltzenburg, from University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, and managing editor of Cellular Therapy and Transplantation) has provided permission to reprint her questions that were asked during a discussion on Scientific / Academic Publishing on Xing (membership may be required to access this group).
1. sounds nice, but how many people are currently active here? is it in fact just one person saying "we"?
Right now, a lot of people are visiting the site (well over 3000 in September). Most people are just looking, but this creates a tremendous opportunitiy for anyone wanting to get their message infront of a lot of researchers. We are now looking for a the first big 'outing' for the software- perhaps a Virtual Conference.
2. which research fields are the others from? what is the founder's research background?
A bit over half are from the Biological sciences, and half are scattered across the broad expanse of research. My background is post-doctural cancer researcher, which is at least partly freely visible on Xing. I try to keep my User: page on this site a bit more up to date, which can be accessed by clicking my name in the author box above.
3. would I have to attract colleagues myself in order to not only test but actually work with the tool on my current research issues?
It very much depends upon what you put onto the site and how interesting it is to other users. If you put something really interesting onto the site, then the chances of someone engaging with it are good. I've personally used the site to obtain work, and have co-authored a conference report. I'm in touch with the owners of Tropical and Tikal, who have had requests from researchers as far away as New Zealand for their software Item listed on Sci-Mate.
4. is it a waste of time? can I afford to risk a waste of time?
If you think that promoting your research in front of a global community is a waste of time, then yes it is a waste of time. If you can risk asking this question, and then reading the response, then yes- you've got the time to try something new. The site is actually designed to save time, for example, if people are always emailing you regarding an issue of general interest or knowledge, then put it on the site and simply respond to the next request with a link to the information. People can then build on your information something of value. There are many ways the site will save time if you are prepared to really think about it.
5. what if the tool works fine, how reliable is my access to it? can I export it to a platform used by my research community?
Whatever you put on the site is yours, you can do whatever you want with it. As for specific software functionality to export content to other platforms, we'll develop whatever the community decides is needed in the Feedback section of the site.
6. is there an ssh connection? or what happens to the data I upload, and who has access to them without me knowing about it?
We take security very seriously and work hard to prevent anyone getting un-authorised access to your data. So far no one's broken in, and we hope the genius who does might be the sort that works with us not against us.
7. are any costs involved? now or later? any other liabilities?
If you are a researcher involved in basic research, then no, no and no. One day we hope that basic research will spawn commercial actions, and if you start making money as a result, we might ask you to put a small amount of that back into supporting the service. 8. is the founder himself working with the tool, if yes, in which field of research? I try to balance my interactions in the field of immunology. I hate feeling like I'm the only person contributing. If it weren't my site I'd go bizerk trying to write a course pulling in all sorts of internet presentations of knowledge- it is there, it is just not compiled, which is what this site could do very easily.
