From Wikiversity

This is the draft version of a two-part blog post, kept here as an archive of the drafting process.

[edit] What would science look like if it were invented today?

The Internet represents an opportunity to change this system, one which has created a 300-year-old, collective long-term memory, into something new and more efficient, perhaps adding in a current, collective short-term working memory at the same time. With new online tools, scientists could begin to share techniques, data and ideas online to the benefit of all parties, and the public at large. (Robert J. Simpson, paraphrasing Michael Nielsen)

Sure, it is hard to imagine you reading this blog post in a world which hadn't yet engaged in science but the question "What would email look like if it were invented today" was recently addressed during the presentation of the Wave protocol, and entertaining some similar ideas on reinventing science may perhaps be worthwhile: how would a system have to be designed that creates and structures knowledge such that these two complex processes can effectively feed on and adapt to each other, making use of the most appropriate technologies at hand? Both processes are highly interrelated but to facilitate the discussion, we will first consider them separately (in the June and September issues of the Euroscientist), and then provide a synthesis (to which you can contribute).

[edit] Part I: What would knowledge creation look like if it were invented today

This part has been moved here to facilitate editing of the second part. It was published on June 29, 2009 at euroscience.org and ways.org.

[edit] Part II: What would knowledge structuring look like if it were invented today

Foreseen for the October 2009 issue of the Euroscientist. The final draft has already been published at ways.org.