The document discusses collaboration in scientific research. It begins by providing dictionary definitions of collaboration and discusses both positive and negative aspects. It then notes trends toward increased collaboration, with the number of co-authors and collaborative papers doubling every few decades. Metrics for measuring collaboration are discussed. The document advocates for unique researcher identifiers to further enable collaboration. Potential ways for collaborative tools and research databases to facilitate finding collaborators are presented. In conclusion, the document argues that collaboration can help scientists become great if done judiciously with the right people and tools, and if funding bodies adequately support collaborative efforts.

1. CollaborationPhilip E. Bourne UC San Diegopbourne@ucsd.edu PopTech Aug 5, 2011 1

2. What is Collaboration? To me it is one of those nebulous things, like “reputation” and “scholarly output” that are important to a scientific career but hard to define What follows are a few somewhat random thoughts and experiences around collaboration that we can use to seed a discussion PopTech Aug 5, 2011 2

3. There Are the Official Definitions… collaboration (kəˌlæbəˈreɪʃən) — n (often foll by on, with, etc ) 1. the act of working with another or others on a joint project something created by working jointly with another or others From the World English Dictionary PopTech Aug 5, 2011 3

4. Then There is This Definition … collaboration From 1860, noun of action from collaborate In a bad sense, "tratorious cooperation with an occupying enemy," it is recorded from 1940; earliest references are to the Vichy Government of France. Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper PopTech Aug 5, 2011 4

5. I Like These Definitions Since They Express Both the Positive and Negative Aspects of Collaboration Which We Will Explore a Bit.. PopTech Aug 5, 2011 5

6. The Mechanics: Ten Simple Rules for a Successful Collaboration Select collaborations carefully Set the ground rules before you start Do what you said you would do Be open and honest Feel respect; get respect Communicate, communicate, communicate Protect yourself from souring Always acknowledge and cite collaborators Seek advice from those more experienced Keep a good thing going Vicens & Bourne PLoS Comp Biol2007 3(3) e44 PopTech Aug 5, 2011 6

7. The Mechanics Are Important, but Somewhat Self EvidentCan Collaboration Take Us from Being Good to Great?The Average Scientist Would Seem to Think So Based on the Trends PopTech Aug 5, 2011 7

8. What Are the Global Trends Towards Collaboration? Source www.vadlo.com # active authors doubles every 17 years # papers doubles every 22 years # of co-authors per paper doubles every 33 years # papers co-authored doubles every 63 years Source Lars Jensen PopTech Aug 5, 2011 8

10. Approximate same number of papers, H-index

12. Both predominant edges; Bourne some thicker edges

13. Bourne “tripartite” authoring strongSource: http://pubnet.gersteinlab.org/ PopTech Aug 5, 2011 9

14. Trends: Erdős Number My number is 3 – True or False? False: Pictures do not match people I know http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erdős_number Source: Microsoft Academic Search PopTech Aug 5, 2011 10

15. Trends: Lets Not Blame Microsoft – Others Are Not Better http://www.researcherid.com/ http://www.scholar.google.com http://www.biomedexperts.com PopTech Aug 5, 2011 11

16. Thoughts Thus Far? We are increasingly obsessed with measuring ourselves? Why? Advancement has come to demand it We rely on qualitative metrics to measure a quantitative activity Collaboration is at this time an implicit part of the metrics we use – will it ever become explicit? PopTech Aug 5, 2011 12

17. Towards Quantification PopTech Aug 5, 2011 13

18. A Unique Identifier is Going to Happen It is DOIs for people Some scientists will resist The winner is ORCID? I an Not a Scientist I am a Number PLoS Comp. Biol. 2008 4(12) e1000247 PopTech Aug 5, 2011 14

19. With All Aspects of Our Scholarship Identified Opportunities for Collaboration Are Broadened I an Not a Scientist I am a Number PLoS Comp. Biol. 2008 4(12) e1000247 PopTech Aug 5, 2011 15

20. With More Aspects of Scholarship Being Tagged, Collaborations Can Start in More Ways both Manual and Automated PopTech Aug 5, 2011 16

21. Ways Collaborations Start / Might Start Proximity Read my papers Conferences Known expertise Shared infrastructure Third party – students in particular Shared ideas Shared data Shared protocols (including software) ePosters Other shared research objects PopTech Aug 5, 2011 17

22. eScience Facilitates Collaboration at all Stages of the Research Enterprise Scientist Collaborate Idea Experiment Data Conclusions Publish 18 PopTech Aug 5, 2011

23. Consider a Couple of Examples PopTech Aug 5, 2011 19

24. The Protein Data Bank – Amazon Model We know usage trends If you looked at these two structures most likely you are interested in this one… We don’t do this right now PopTech Aug 5, 2011 20

25. The Protein Data Bank We allow structural annotations but we do not invite collaboration around these data objects PopTech Aug 5, 2011 21

26. There Are Other Types of Research Objects Through Which Providers Can Enable Collaboration PopTech Aug 5, 2011 22

27. Posters, Slides, Journal Clubs Products ApplicationProductPrimary Customers Journals PubCastJournals, publishers, societies Meetings PosterCast Societies, conference orgs. SlideCast Comm. PaperCast Societies, journals Podcast SlideCast Education PosterCast Societies, universities SlideCast BooksBookCast Publishers, book sellers PopTech Aug 5, 2011 23

28. Findings From Our Own Experiences Collaboration is occurring within a community but not across communities Will only happen if there is a recognizable reward The tools to foster collaboration are not yet good enough but are evolving Today serendipitous discovery does not happen across the literature let alone across other research objects PopTech Aug 5, 2011 24

29. Tools Start with Research Object Management and Accessibility Taverna PopTech Aug 5, 2011 25

30. Changes in Why and How We Collaborate Will Depend Very Much on the Elephant in the Room PopTech Aug 5, 2011 26

31. "tratorious cooperation with an occupying enemy” R01 grants were cut $300,000,000 for FY2008 despite a budget $1.5 billion higher than in FY2004 In the post-doublingera (FY2003-2008) the NIH budget increased by $2.8 billion, and only 3% of that increase was allocated to the R01 program PopTech Aug 5, 2011 27

32. "tratorious cooperation with an occupying enemy" On the other hand …. Glue grants seem to be going out of favor CaBIG is a thing of the past Go figure! PopTech Aug 5, 2011 28

33. Can Collaboration Take Us From Being Good To Great? Yes - if we work with people smarter than us Yes – if done judiciously Yes – if we are all part of maximizing the use of our own research objects Yes - if we learn to effectively utilize the increasing number of collaborative tools Yes – if we use the right funding opportunities and the funding bodies are smart PopTech Aug 5, 2011 29