[OWW-SC] OpenWetWare and Nature Publishing Group

[John Cumbers]

Hi all,
Yes I agree, the bright lights of NPG are tempting, but dazzling at the same
time.   Any ideas where to go for a retreat?  I know a great place in Rhode
Island,<http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=RI+02832&ie=UTF8&t=h&om=1&ll=41.466785,-71.726689&spn=0.022672,0.054245>but
it is a little far from Boston (90 miles down the I95).  We could host
it at Brown, but it is not much of a retreat.  Ideas nearer to Boston?  Will
the date be this Thursday the 13th? WE might need to provide teleconf.
facilites.   I set up a page for the
retreat,<http://openwetware.org/wiki/OpenWetWare_steering_committee/SC_retreat>
cheers,
John


On 7/7/06, natalie kuldell <nkuldell at mit.edu> wrote:
>
> Sri and SC-
> I'd like to second Drew's sentiment and congratulate you all on the
> soon-to-be-submitted NSF proposal. Jason, Sri, and Reshma in
> particular put in a heroic effort to shepherd the grant submission
> and I hope the outcome is favorable.
>
> The NPG offer deserves some thoughtful consideration, beginning at
> the next SC meeting. I would like to see the details of the offer
> considered in the context of  a larger discussion describing OWW's
> future (both the vision and its execution). This larger topic has
> been raised repeatedly and there seems to be no consensus. I wonder
> if it would be worth each SC member individually investing some
> "pre-meeting" time reflecting on what he/she would like OWW to look
> like/run like 1 year and 5 years from now and come to the next SC
> meeting ready to articulate priorities.
>
> If the agenda for the next SC meeting is too full to accommodate such
> a discussion then I would favor the 1/2 day splurge that Drew
> described.
> Thanks,
> Natalie
>
>
>
> >Hello all,
> >
> >First, thank you to everyone that helped with drafting the grant and
> >writing letters of support.  The proposal is essentially in final
> >form and it took much effort by many of us.  Having the document
> >will have benefits beyond this grant, and will help with any new
> >venture or collaboration in the future.  The grant will be submitted
> >by the OSP (Office of Sponsered Projects) on Monday, and at that
> >point I will send out a copy of the grant to everyone.
> >
> >Second, we were approached recently by Peter Collins and Greg
> >Urquhart of Nature Publishing Group about strengthening ties between
> >our two groups.  For the past few years NPG has been exploring how
> >best to engage  communities of scientists more directly, as well as
> >provide new communication tools for them (or so they say).  They are
> >interested in forming relationships at many levels depending on our
> >interest: from just general support and help with funding all the
> >way to complete managerial take over of the site.
> >
> >Obviously such an offer, while flattering makes us ask questions
> >about the intentions of such a venture and the trustability of
> >relinquishing control to or even establishing close ties with an old
> >and venerated for-profit publishing group.  After giving it some
> >thought, a few of us thought we would put together a reasonable set
> >of offer  and then run it by the committee for
> >thoughts/reactions/suggestions/or better proposals that would seem
> >to work. So here goes:
> >
> >In general, we are asking for collaboration at first, and would
> >consider tighter relationships with NPG in the future depending on
> >the success of these initial projects.
> >
> >1.  What we are asking for: NPG and OpenWetWare would form a
> >relationship which could include any or all of the following things:
> >A.  Direct support for hardware and/or support for that hardware.
> >B.  Direct support of a software developers tasked by the steering
> committee.
> >Both of these could either take a form of a direct monetary
> >donations, or contractual committments to provide these services
> >through NPG's existing infrastructures.
> >C.  A major project chosen by the steering committee is planned and
> >execute independently by NPG in house.  For example, NPG could
> >become responsible for development of a personal OWW distribution.
> >This would involve simple installers for Unix, Mac, PC, installation
> >instructions, and simple ways to publish to OWW.  The specifications
> >for such software would be made by the Steering Committee, and NPG
> >would produce the software, and committ to continued development for
> >some time period.
> >D.  Advertising for OpenWetWare.  This is minimal and obvious to some
> extent.
> >E.  Tools that make sense for NPG.  For example, a link on all of
> >their papers saying "discuss and comment on OpenWetWare".  They
> >would be taking advantage of our existing community and we would get
> >traffic and growth. (and perhaps tools to support this with other
> >publishing groups).
> >
> >2.  What they would recieve: We can also imagine a couple of things
> >that could be pallatable depending on the level of committment and
> >support.
> >A. On every page will be a link to Sponsors.  Upon clicking that
> >link, there will be a page describing sponsoring groups and details
> >on how they are helping OpenWetWare.  For example, such a page would
> >already include MIT CSBi for server space, and Microsoft iCampus
> >project for seed funding through the end of the year.  That page
> >could also describe the current status of any relationship with NPG
> >along with a logo.
> >
> >B. A small NPG image on the bottom of OWW pages (i.e, the CC logo).
> >We need help with all aspects as we are a volunteer effort.  We can
> >begin by some modest levels of support for some basic hardware/et
> >cetera as well as people that will help support openwetware.  those
> >members would work with OWW on projects of mutual interest. (i.e.,
> >the distribution, tighter integration with the literature, et
> >cetera).  If the relationship is fruitful for the both of us, we
> >will continue to make stronger committments to each other.
> >
> >So we are asking for your thoughts and comments specifically on
> >these proposals, and also on what proposals you think could work
> >better.  Finally, I also should say that of course these discussions
> >are somewhat private, and that they not be disclosed directly on
> >OpenWetWare.  So please email me, or the steering committee list if
> >appropriate.
> >
> >Thanks,
> >Sri
> >
> >_______________________________________________
> >OpenWetWare Steering Committee Mailing List
> >sc at openwetware.org
> >http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/oww-sc
>
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>



-- 
John Cumbers,  Graduate Student in Computational Biology
Brown University, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Box G-W
80 Waterman Street, Providence, Rhode Island, 02912, USA
USA: +1 401 523 8190,  UK to USA: 0207 617 7824
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