Science 2.0 is a suggested new approach to science that uses information-sharing and collaboration made possible by network technologies. The roadmap was created in 2006 by Science 2.0 Hank Campbell and rests on four concepets; moderning collaboration, communication, publication and participation. It is similar to the open research and open science movements and is inspired by Web 2.0 technologies. Science 2.0 stresses the benefits of increased collaboration between scientists.^[2][3][5][6] Science 2.0 uses collaborative tools like wikis, blogs and video journals to share findings, raw data and "nascent theories" online. Science 2.0 benefits from openness and sharing, regarding papers and research ideas and partial solutions (source: Wikipedia).

Call it Science 2.0, call it Open Research, or Open Science, there is little doubt that technology and especially the web 2.0 are changing the way science and research are conceptualized, carried on, and disseminated. This blog has been and will keep debating the implications of recent trends for quality and assessment, dissemination, outreach, and communication of research, in planning and beyond.

As far as the institutional reactions are concerned, the European Commission (which is assuming a central role for research funding and strategic design) has been criticised for being unprepared to innovations.

The open consultation about Science 2.0 recently launched by the European Commission is thus good news.

The goal of the consultation is to better understand the full societal potential of 'Science 2.0' as well as the desirability of any possible policy action.
The three main objectives of the consultation are: (1) to assess the degree of awareness amongst the stakeholders of the changing modus operandi; (2) to assess the perception of the opportunities and challenges and (3) to identify possible policy implications and actions to strengthen the competitiveness of the European science and research system by enabling it to take full advantage of the opportunities offered by Science 2.0 (from the EC website).

Organizations, citizens and public authorities are invited to contribute, answering an online questionnaire available here.

At this link, a background paper is available, to be read before submitting the questionnaire.

No need to say that a wide participation by 'young' researchers and students (and their universities) is a crucial need for the consultation to effectively envision the scholarship and science of the future.

(Simone Tulumello)