The advent of big data has caused scientists to rethink data sharing, but several problems are preventing it from happening, says Nina Divorty.

Guest contributor Nina Divorty

“If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.”  – Isaac Newton.

This classic quote sums up the nature of scientific collaboration: only by building on the work of our predecessors can we make scientific advancements, and only by sharing our own discoveries can they be built upon by others. Most researchers understand this, but only since the recent surge in technologies that generate very large datasets have we begun to recognise the value of sharing raw data, in addition to publishing results in their processed and polished form. The advantages are clear: raw data offers complete transparency so that other scientists can compare their own results and analyses when attempting to replicate findings, and also allows others to ask novel questions of existing datasets. Despite this, the majority of researchers across a variety scientific disciplines report that lack of access to data detracts from the progress of research in their field, yet 64% admit to not making their data easily accessible. So what’s stopping them? Continue reading →