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Collaboratories explained in short information films

A series of short films about collaboratories explains the added value of these web-based collaborative environments for researchers. The films are based on lessons learned in three different innovation projects carried out within the context of the SURFshare programme in 2009. 

Of all these films, the general introduction to Collaborative Environments for researchers (Collaboratories) contains English subtitels. This film also explains the added value of online collaboration and what Collaboratories have to offer to researchers. The other films on Collaboratories (in Dutch) can also be viewed.

Online collaboration options
Online collaboration is certainly nothing new. It has been around since the arrival of e mail and the Internet. New advances in ICT, however, are making it possible for researchers to collaborate virtually in many different ways. The new tools help researchers collect and organise research data, share sources, and describe and publish research results. Nevertheless, it appears that researchers in many fields are failing to capitalise on the potential of the Internet and ICT.

How it works in practice
Several Dutch universities involved in the SURFshare programme participated in three projects experimenting with online collaboration. In the films, researchers and support staff describe what it is like to set up and work with a collaboratory.

The researchers discovered that collaboratories are particularly useful for storing and sharing information. Online collaborative environments can also be handy when combined with online public information. One of the collaboratories was set up to forward certain information from the restricted-access environment to an existing public website.

Start-up kit
The requirements for online collaboration vary greatly, as do the many tools available. Researchers working in different disciplines have different wishes, and there is no “one size fits all”. On top of this, not everyone uses all of the options available. Many researchers want to keep using their familiar e-mail programs and discussion lists. They usually need help and advice when selecting and setting up a collaboratory. SURF therefore plans to develop a collaboratory “start-up kit” for researchers.  Research is the product of collaboration, and SURF aims to provide optimal support for that process.

About SURFshare
The aim of the SURFshare programme is to improve access to cutting-edge research results by means of the latest ICT. That is possible, because ICT not only speeds up standard communication processes, but also changes the nature of the research cycle itself. The growing number of options for knowledge-sharing and dissemination mean that traditional publications, tools (for example models, algorithms and visualisations) and research data are increasingly interwoven.

SURFfoundation's intention with the SURFshare programme is to create a common infrastructure that will facilitate access to research information and make it possible for researchers to share scientific and scholarly information.

 

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