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