SAB NewsScience Blogs Growing in Importance and UbiquityPosted 8/9/2005 Emerging from the early days of widespread Internet use, blogs have exploded in popularity as sources of news, opinion and information exchange. Today, citizen journalists, major media companies and interest groups electronically publish "side-by-side" in the over 9 million known blogs. Justin Hall is recognized as one of the earliest bloggers, though the term "blog" was coined by Peter Merholz in 1999 when he combined the phrase "web log," which had first appeared in use two years earlier. Today, just as in the Internet's early days, the blogger is "editor-in-chief"of their blog, as he or she documents their personal experience and observations, as well as features content from a myriad of online sources. Increasingly, life scientists are utilizing blogs as a means of disseminating scientific inquires and discoveries. In support of this mission, The Science Advisory Board, launched nine blogs representing different facets of the life science community. In a recent issue of The Scientist The Science Advisory Board's efforts were discussed in the context of overall growth in the number of blogs focused on the scientific issues. The full-text of "The Scientist" article, can be accessed via this link for those who have a subscription. The Science Advisory Board's blogs are described below: Humans in Science How does daily life impact how one conducts science? The following entries are written from the perspectives of researchers as they discuss life as a scientist, a parent, and even as professionals working outside their home country. In Translation: Molecular Approaches to Cancer We live in the molecular age and in biology we have been pursuing the details of how biological systems work since the discovery of DNA. This movement is still in full swing, and there is much cause for optimism as our capabilities to analyze large numbers of molecules rapidly increase and pessimism as our abilities to extract meaning from this data lags. As far as cancer is concerned, the good news is that you don't have to understand everything about a disease to treat it effectively. Knowing some detail of the molecular make up of a disease will allow the development of better - more effective and at the same time safer - drugs. In the case of cancer the key characteristics are what distinguish tumor cells from normal cells. These molecules will form the basis of new diagnostics and therapeutics. This blog aims to comment on this exciting area. Longevity Science This blog is dedicated to unraveling the secrets of longevity. The purpose of these discussions is to understand the mechanisms of aging and longevity in order to extend a healthy and productive human lifespan. Science, Politics and Ethics Has technology exacted an inhumanizing toll on society, thereby compromising our most cherished ethics and values? Or, do the latest high-tech fads only uncover ethical quandaries and dilemmas that already existed but were previously constrained by technical limitations? Here is your chance to debate current events and controversial issues in science and medicine. Science: Uncovering and Discovering Explore the creative and technical sides of science. Instrumentation, protein work, cloning, bioinformatics and fermentations (to name a few) are terms that are all too common to the average life science researcher. This blog aims to discuss the developments and pitfalls of old and new technologies. The Scientist Errant Read revelations of scientists in search of adventure. To these bloggers, there is no finer career than that of a scientist, and they are willing to share their stories about making the most of their careers. Life Science Tools of the Trade From reading about a new product in a scientific journal, to using the latest instrument, to listening to a sales representative talk about their hottest product - this blog provides candid insights into the everyday experiences of life in a research laboratory. Seen through the eyes of scientists working at multiple institutions and in different countries, this "collective blog" focuses on learning about, purchasing and using life science products and services. The Lab Log Dr. Jean-Claude Zenklusen's lab is moving from the discovery to the exploratory research phase of their genomic survey for the National Glioma Diagnostic Initiative. This blog highlights how he is balancing the demands of running a lab and conducting cutting edge research at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD. Sciencebase Science News Sciencebase.com brings you news covering the physical and life sciences researched and written by award-winning science writer David Bradley. New items drawn from David Bradley's Web site in a collaboration with The Science Advisory Board and other related webzines are added on a regular basis, sometimes in advance of their publication date, giving you the opportunity to find out about the latest happenings in scientific research from many disciplines. You can use the moderated ScienceBoard.net forum system to comment and discuss each item in the science blog with fellow members. |
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