Ebook: e-Research Collaboration: Theory, Techniques and Challenges

Research in both academic and non-academic circles has remained virtually identical in its conduct and organization over the last few decades. Disparate groups of researchers have worked on their ideas, projects and inventions in isolated clusters, with little sharing of information and synergies from collaboration. The advent of social networks and Web portals such as MyNetResearch have led to the creation of new research networks that dramatically reduces the barriers and obstacles to collaboration by researchers who are geographically, organizationally and disciplinarily distant. The current tens of thousands and eventually millions of researchers who will use research networks are ushering in a new paradigm for research. In this paradigm collaboration is made much easier, sharing of research knowledge is instant, and synergies from routine collaboration will yield huge advances in research productivity and innovation. This book examines how research networks are changing the practice of research and decide how best to embrace such technologies and use them to their best advantage.

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The shift of paradigm from collaborations of convenience to collaborations of opportunity using Web 2.0 technologies is called Research 2.0. Research 2.0 is becoming a critical component in research management and collaboration and has led to the creation of new research networks such as MyNetResearch. Many universities are familiar with the concepts of Web 2.0 including Wikis, blogs, and social networking tools, but have not implemented these tools holistically in a research setting. Unfortunately, many researchers have difficulties either to understand how to implement the change in paradigm associated with online collaboration, or else cannot convince the university administrators of the value of a research cyberinfrastructure. Universities are under increasing pressure to embrace the Research 2.0 paradigm in order to stay competitive, attract the best students and faculty, publish, apply for research grants, and empower their stakeholders in all aspects.