We just released another screen cast for our tour page.
It demonstrates how BioKM™ can simplify your research management.

Whether we admit it or not, we all practice some form of hoarding. The fact is that science today generates too much data and samples to the point where it is nearly impossible to manage.

Those involved in academic research suffer even more, since the collection is almost always heterogeneous and many researchers can access it. You’ll need a system, be it via software or a plain handwritten solution, to manage your data and materials. This system should allow for easy discernment between what information and items in your collection you wish to save and that which you do not want or need to keep.

Deciding what to save is something a good scientist should know how to do. Researchers must be secure enough to throw out what they are sure they won’t need in the future. Not sure? I have found that following the rule, “When in doubt, throw it out” works wonderfully.

My apologies if this may sound a bit preachy – however, we constantly see researchers holding on to samples – even when they are not needed. The fear of losing something you worked hard on surmounts any logic, resulting in a loss of focus on the really important items in your research collection. All of your important “stuff” gets lost in tons of intermediate and by-products. All tubes look the same, and there is no way to discern which are really important. We have seen clients still holding on to glycerol stocks that are over 15 years old – are they still useful? We see researchers storing vectors with no sequence, no maps, and sometimes with no protocol. The material just sits there. Freezing. This is what I call a Silent Mess. Your things are in order, in place – yet in essence, you have a mess.

BioData believes research organization and management ideas should be spoken out loud and shared within the science community. We’ll try to bring tips and ideas of how to organize your laboratory and collection more efficiently. We realize that sometimes the smallest tips can save a lot of time and frustration.

Referred to as “the most significant scientific discovery of recent time,” Darwinius masillae also referred to as “Ida” has created quite a media frenzy. “The Missing Link,” Ida is a 47-million-year old female adapid primate discovered in the well known Messel deposits in Germany. The discovery has resulted in a flurry of promotional activity beginning with an elaborate event at The American Museum of Natural History, as well as a History Channel documentary, book release, and a web site. A television teaser’s slogan proclaims, “This changes everything!” and has compared the discovery to landing on the moon. Ida has also been referred to as the holy grail of paleontology, the lost ark of archeology and has even been compared to the Rosetta Stone.

“Any pop band is doing the same thing,” said Jorn H. Hurum, a scientist at the University of Oslo who acquired the fossil and assembled the team of scientists that studied it. “Any athlete is doing the same thing. We have to start thinking the same way in science.” While Hurum may think the extensive media coverage is positive, many in the science field disagree.

Professor Matthew Nisbet of the School of Communication at American University acknowledges that normally it would be very exciting to have so much attention turned towards science. He explains that complications arise when this kind of media hype is directed to a single study rather than the whole area of research. At the same time, when the media submits the public to this kind of hype, public trust as well as important communication between scientists and journalists is put as risk. Many scientists are cautioning the pubic that the significance of this discovery may not be known for years.

Others in the science field, such as John Wilkins, are adamant that this primate is being misrepresented by calling it a “missing link.” Wilkins resolutely states in his blog, “There is no missing link.” Instead, he explains Ida is one missing branch among an “an indefinite number of missing branches.” Evolution is often referred to as a tree – not as a chain and so it is inaccurate for Ida to be promoted as the missing link.

With all the hype around Darwinius masillae, one has to realize that the peer reviewed article presenting Ida contains no promises or expectations of what this discovery can lead to. It concludes, “Darwinius masillae is important in being exceptionally well preserved and providing a much more complete understanding of the paleobiology of an Eocene primate than was available in the past.”

* Science Blogs – There is no Missing link
* Science Blogs – More Darwinius masillae Buzz: Ida Goes Google Logo
* Follow Ida on Twitter – @IdaTheLink

This post is not about biology or research but it is about promoting change. I do think it can be of interest to our readers. I watched today Seth Godin’s T.E.D talk about creating tribes and how the internet can help create movements of change. As always Seth is an inspiring presenter. In his talk he says and I quote:

“…That most movements, most leadership that we’re doing is about finding a group that’s disconnected but already has a yearning. Not persuading people to want something they don’t have yet…”

He gives several examples how being passionate about a real cause can work by finding and joining together the true believers of your cause.

I really like the tribe concept, the word tribe has its own power. Something basic I can easily relate with.

I highly recommend you watch his presentation, and follow his request. We do.