Data-intensive science requires more laboratory automation and collaboration between different stakeholders, says Daniela Quaglia.

Guest contributor Daniela Quaglia

As computers become more powerful and new technologies are more able to harness the complexity of biological life, data-intensive research is becoming more prominent. As a result, the way in which life scientists deal with data must also change. In particular, it is necessary to approach data collection and storage differently, and collaboration becomes key, both for the initial data gathering, and later for data interpretation. The sooner scientists will be ready to embrace the change, the faster science will continue to progress.

I believe that three main aspects are core to a successful transition to this new world of big science.

Automation of data collection and storage

Data-intensive research can be considered a synonym for labour-intensive research (read lab-slavery – an unappealing concept for many early-career researchers!), and thus data collection becomes the bottleneck of laboratory-based work. Continue reading →