The document discusses collaboration in scientific research. It begins by providing dictionary definitions of collaboration and discusses both positive and negative aspects. It then notes trends toward increased collaboration, with the number of co-authors and collaborative papers doubling every few decades. Metrics for measuring collaboration are discussed. The document advocates for unique researcher identifiers to further enable collaboration. Potential ways for collaborative tools and research databases to facilitate finding collaborators are presented. In conclusion, the document argues that collaboration can help scientists become great if done judiciously with the right people and tools, and if funding bodies adequately support collaborative efforts.

1. CollaborationPhilip E. Bourne UC San Diegopbourne@ucsd.eduPopTech Aug 5, 20111

2. What is Collaboration?To me it is one of those nebulous things, like “reputation” and “scholarly output” that are important to a scientific career but hard to defineWhat follows are a few somewhat random thoughts and experiences around collaboration that we can use to seed a discussionPopTech Aug 5, 20112

3. There Are the Official Definitions…collaboration (kəˌlæbəˈreɪʃən) — n (often foll by on, with, etc ) 1. the act of working with another or others on a joint project something created by working jointly with another or othersFrom the World English DictionaryPopTech Aug 5, 20113

4. Then There is This Definition …collaborationFrom 1860, noun of action from collaborateIn a bad sense, "tratorious cooperation with an occupying enemy," it is recorded from 1940; earliest references are to the Vichy Government of France.Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper PopTech Aug 5, 20114

5. I Like These Definitions Since They Express Both the Positive and Negative Aspects of Collaboration Which We Will Explore a Bit..PopTech Aug 5, 20115

6. The Mechanics: Ten Simple Rules for a Successful CollaborationSelect collaborations carefullySet the ground rules before you startDo what you said you would doBe open and honestFeel respect; get respectCommunicate, communicate, communicateProtect yourself from souringAlways acknowledge and cite collaboratorsSeek advice from those more experiencedKeep a good thing goingVicens & Bourne PLoS Comp Biol2007 3(3) e44 PopTech Aug 5, 20116

7. The Mechanics Are Important, but Somewhat Self EvidentCan Collaboration Take Us from Being Good to Great?The Average Scientist Would Seem to Think So Based on the TrendsPopTech Aug 5, 20117

8. What Are the Global Trends Towards Collaboration?Source www.vadlo.com# active authors doubles every 17 years # papers doubles every 22 years# of co-authors per paper doubles every 33 years# papers co-authored doubles every 63 yearsSource Lars JensenPopTech Aug 5, 20118

9. What Are the Individual Trends Towards Collaboration? Both UC Professors IX

10. Approximate same number of papers, H-index

11. Different topologiesGerwickBourneGerwick more nodes (collaborators)

12. Both predominant edges; Bourne some thicker edges

13. Bourne “tripartite” authoring strongSource: http://pubnet.gersteinlab.org/PopTech Aug 5, 20119

14. Trends: Erdős NumberMy number is 3 – True or False?False:Pictures do not match people I knowhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erdős_numberSource: Microsoft Academic SearchPopTech Aug 5, 201110

15. Trends: Lets Not Blame Microsoft – Others Are Not Betterhttp://www.researcherid.com/http://www.scholar.google.comhttp://www.biomedexperts.comPopTech Aug 5, 201111

16. Thoughts Thus Far?We are increasingly obsessed with measuring ourselves?Why? Advancement has come to demand it We rely on qualitative metrics to measure a quantitative activityCollaboration is at this time an implicit part of the metrics we use – will it ever become explicit? PopTech Aug 5, 201112

17. Towards QuantificationPopTech Aug 5, 201113

18. A Unique Identifier is Going to Happen It is DOIs for peopleSome scientists will resistThe winner is ORCID?I an Not a Scientist I am a NumberPLoS Comp. Biol. 2008 4(12) e1000247PopTech Aug 5, 201114

19. With All Aspects of Our Scholarship Identified Opportunities for Collaboration Are BroadenedI an Not a Scientist I am a NumberPLoS Comp. Biol. 2008 4(12) e1000247PopTech Aug 5, 201115

20. With More Aspects of Scholarship Being Tagged, Collaborations Can Start in More Ways both Manual and AutomatedPopTech Aug 5, 201116

21. Ways Collaborations Start / Might StartProximityRead my papersConferencesKnown expertiseShared infrastructureThird party – students in particularShared ideasShared dataShared protocols (including software)ePostersOther shared research objectsPopTech Aug 5, 201117

22. eScience Facilitates Collaboration at all Stages of the Research EnterpriseScientistCollaborateIdeaExperimentDataConclusionsPublish18PopTech Aug 5, 2011

23. Consider a Couple of Examples PopTech Aug 5, 201119

24. The Protein Data Bank – Amazon ModelWe know usage trendsIf you looked at these two structures most likely you are interested in this one…We don’t do this right nowPopTech Aug 5, 201120

25. The Protein Data BankWe allow structural annotations but we do not invite collaboration around these data objectsPopTech Aug 5, 201121

26. There Are Other Types of Research Objects Through Which Providers Can Enable Collaboration PopTech Aug 5, 201122

27. Posters, Slides, Journal ClubsProductsApplicationProductPrimary CustomersJournals PubCastJournals, publishers, societiesMeetings PosterCast Societies, conference orgs.SlideCastComm. PaperCast Societies, journalsPodcastSlideCastEducation PosterCast Societies, universitiesSlideCastBooksBookCast Publishers, book sellersPopTech Aug 5, 201123

28. Findings From Our Own ExperiencesCollaboration is occurring within a community but not across communitiesWill only happen if there is a recognizable rewardThe tools to foster collaboration are not yet good enough but are evolvingToday serendipitous discovery does not happen across the literature let alone across other research objectsPopTech Aug 5, 201124

29. Tools Start with Research Object Management and AccessibilityTavernaPopTech Aug 5, 201125