The following idea is one I recently sent to John Cross at NSF concerning
the dessemination of new and old methods. John suggested that I send it
to the confocal list and see what sort of response, positive or negative,
is elicited. Or how the idea might be improved. Perhaps starting small
with confocal methods might be the way to go, and then growing to
encompass other types of microscopy, and perhaps eventually other fields
of research endeavor.
At any rate, have at it.
Steve Kempf
[log in to unmask]
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Wed, 21 Dec 1994 12:35:55 -0600 (CST)
From: Stephen C Kempf <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Ideas for Instrument-Technique Development Synergy
Hi John,
Been meaning to get back to you about Vincent Franceschi's comments in
regard to your query concerning missed opportunities for development of
new probes, reagents, techniques, etc. related to microscopical science.
I agree with what Vince has said. I particularly like the idea of a
publication resulting from a symposium concerned with new techniques in
microscopy. However, in this information oriented age, I would suggest
that perhaps another approach would be an appropriately administered and
staffed web site where investigators could submit their new (and maybe
even "old") techniques in detailed format (see below). At such a site
these would be prepared, indexed, possibly evaluated by peer review (I
guess it could be handled as a sort of electronic publication), and made
available on the internet via programs such as Mosaic. Perhaps NSF support
for such a site would prove to be a very productive means of desseminating
such information to a wide range of investigators. Certainly such a site
would require certain trained and knowledgable personnel in addition to
oversight by one or more professional investigators.
In regards to comments concerning the lack "small" details that usually
occurs in published methodologies, my impression is that this often has to
do with the desire (and often justified need) of editors to minimize the
number of pages in a publication. Thus, the meat of a publication is
usually the results and discussion with less than desirable space given to
experimental techniques used. In my lab we prepare very detailed protocols
for the methods we use. These are much longer and more detailed than
anything I could ever get published in one of my research papers. We
jokingly call them methods for mental midgets: however, they are
exceedingly useful, particularly when training new students or
technicians, and when our methods are requested for use by other
investigators. I suspect that similar sorts of things are done in many
other labs. It seems to me that a web site with appropriate support and
administration would be an excellent option for such highly detailed
methods protocols particularly since diagrams and pictures of expected
results could be included.
At any rate, these are just my thoughts on the subject. Any input,
positive or negative, is welcome.
Steve Kempf
Department of Zoology and Wildlife Science
Auburn University
Auburn, AL
[log in to unmask]
-----------------------------------------------
From [log in to unmask] Jan 4 14:10:04 1995
Date: Wed, 04 Jan 95 09:43:20 EST
From: [log in to unmask]
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Someone gave me the address of an Internet discussion group
Someone gave me the address of an Internet discussion group (see below):
[log in to unmask]
I think that your idea about the WWW HomePage for microscopic methods (see
related note on x-ray microscope probes that I rec'd this a.m.) would be
appropriate either 1) Just do it or 2) Put it out for discussion on the
discussion groups. If you know of other useful discussion groups, please
let me know. If there is something that you think I could do to help,
please let me know.
Thanks, John Cross
---------------------------------------
From [log in to unmask] Jan 4 14:10:58 1995
Date: Wed, 4 Jan 1995 13:53:28 -0600 (CST)
From: Stephen C Kempf <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Someone gave me the address of an Internet discussion group
Hi John,
I guess not every idea flies. The problem with just doing it is time.
C'est la vie. Relative to the idea of a Homepage, I wasn't thinking of
something just limited to microscopy, but rather what would eventually be
a massive indexed data base of detailed methods for research, each
submission listing not only the method, but also citations of
publications where it's been used.
At any rate, I may inject the idea into the confocal list discussions and
see what transpires.
Steve
|
