ResearchGate

Towards connected science
"It is obvious that anything a scientist discovers or invents is based on previous discoveries and inventions." (Lukas Foss).

The concept of Web 2.0 is changing the way we access and distribute information. The Web has developed from a static system to a dynamic tool, in which people disseminate information and can collaborate. Examples such as Wikis and social networks are known to everybody. The benefits are large and will be even larger in the near future. The impact on nearly all aspects of our life, including science, is obvious. Due to the Web's technical opportunities, science is changing rapidly. The benefits to science and the scientific community as a result of these evolving technologies will be immeasurable.

The vision of Science 2.0 is promising: Communication between scientists will accelerate the distribution of new knowledge. Without anonymous review processes, the concept of open-access journals will assure research quality. Science is collaboration, so scientific social networks will facilitate and improve the way scientists collaborate. Cooperation on scientific publications can be facilitated through Wiki-like concepts.

It's clear that the change is already happening. Old-fashioned lab notebooks have given way to Wikis, and the number of open-access journals is increasing. Raw research data is spread to the benefit of all. Researchers are beginning to no longer accept a scientific world without the new concepts of Web 2.0.

We're at the beginning of this shift. As with any new concept, there are skeptics. How will authorship be granted? How is data protected? How will quality be assured?

Science 2.0's concepts will have to be developed with the science community. Change will happen. The question is just when and how.

ResearchGATE is an essential part of the Science 2.0 community and will evolve with it.

ResearchGATE is for scientists, built by scientists driven by the concept of Science 2.0.

From a student co-authoring his first research paper to a busy post-doc or a strategy-thinking professional group leader, every scientist knows that research success is heavily based on interaction with coworkers and fellow scientists. This interaction happens visibly or invisibly in our daily lives as researchers: the chat in the library, the call to an author of a new paper or the emotional discussion at a convention reception. More formal interactions include searching for the latest research papers, talks or patents. Everybody develops his or her own habits in interacting with other researchers.

We have also experienced that research collaboration, the exchange of promising ideas or a cooperative grant application work best if the co-researcher is a trusted and known person. In the best case, he's a good friend.

"Social scientists have long recognized the importance of boundary-spanning individuals in diffusing knowledge (Allen 1977; Tushman 1977), and recently, several papers have rigorously demonstrated that technological knowledge diffuses primarily through social relations, not through publications."
Sorenson, Olav and Singh, Jasjit, "Science, Social Networks and Spillovers" (December 26, 2006)

We'd like to give you the possibility to support this interaction with other researchers in form of a dedicated Web 2.0 application.

ResearchGATE offers tools tailored to researchers' need. Whether you are working with a co-researcher in a different country or even continent, or would like to find a forum to discuss your research ideas and results, ResearchGATE keeps you in touch with scientists all over the world. You can find new research contacts in people performing in the same field or in different fields using the same techniques as you do. ResearchGATE connects researchers and information.