Lucilla PiccariJan 13, 2023
Question for all my academic friends: where do you look for data on #academic #journals?
Specifically, #ImpactFactor and #Quartile in previous years?
I often find conflicting information online and would like to know if there is a "gold standard" source that is reliable when I'm updating my CV or listing publication for a grant proposal.
Thanks!
Show threadGabriele PollaraJan 13, 2023
@LucillaPiccari
I think all these metrics are flawed, and have been distorted further by Covid publications and their disproportionate impact.
Show threadLucilla PiccariJan 13, 2023
@gpollara I completely agree. In fact, I never understood how this could have been thought of as a good idea in the first place... "let's count the merits of science by a simple number!" 🙄
Sadly, they are still required in CVs, grant applications and official documents sometimes.
It seems that the #academic world has gone in a direction where masochistic practices are rife but scientists are caught in a vicious circle from which they can't break free.
I actually think about this a lot.
Show threadMathieu DesgroseilliersJan 13, 2023

@LucillaPiccari @gpollara
I’m not in academia but I agree 💯

Impact factor seems more often like a “followers contest” than a “science impact”

Probably that system might be due to be rethink 🤷‍♂️

Interesting read on peer-reviewing

https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.01.04.522570v1

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-04504-8

Show threadLucilla PiccariJan 13, 2023
@matdesgro @gpollara thank you, very interesting articles!
I love the methodology board proposal, I guess in small labs this is sometimes done during lab meetings but in medical research this is not always available. Reminds me of the time when as I young researchers I assumed labs would all have a statistician that would systematically consult on research... so naive!
I'll read the preprint article, of which I know tangentially one of the authors... very curious!
Show threadMathieu DesgroseilliersJan 14, 2023

@LucillaPiccari @gpollara

Your “naivety as young researcher” 😂 made me think…
What if labs were “federated” in ressources ? Statisticians, ressources, equipment, data, etc all accessible to a “hub” of ressources for researchers.
This would certainly help cut cost between researchers or optimize ressources for public funded researchers. It could stimulate research & science 🤔

I’m kinda brainstorming here 😅

Show threadLucilla PiccariJan 14, 2023
@matdesgro @gpollara well, I work in a place that is like that in some respects! It's called Parc de Recerca Biomédica de Barcelona (PRBB) and it's a huge building with many research institutes and foundations involved in biomedicine. Each of these owns a series of machinery and equipment and they all share them with each other.
For now I don't know of shared human resources (statisticians, methodologists etc.) but maybe in the future?
It really is an idea to expand!
Show threadMathieu DesgroseilliersJan 15, 2023

@LucillaPiccari @gpollara
Wow that’s an amazing setup !

This could definitely be an inspiration for here !

Show threadLucilla PiccariJan 16, 2023
@matdesgro @gpollara Of course it is not a perfect system, some services are underpowered for instance and obviously sharing facilities means that there is the potential for conflict... but it's a brilliant principle that I would like to see expanded, to be honest.
Show threadMathieu Desgroseilliers

@LucillaPiccari @gpollara

That’s really awesome !

It’s probably already the case, but an idea to minimize potential conflicts on using facilities (or simply optimize time used ressources) would be an optimal (maybe AI) timeblocking scheduling 🤷‍♂️
(I’m still brainstorming so apologies if already the case or sound silly)

Jan 16, 2023 at 1:58pmWeb
Show threadLucilla PiccariJan 16, 2023
@matdesgro @gpollara not at all, yeah it's a good idea! I think that for now there is a good old-fashioned "booking system" for equipment (e.g. microscopes). Oh, and I failed to mention that the use of facilities and equipment is not free! It is paid by the hour by the using researcher/institute to the renting one (I presume this is to cover for costs of maintainance and replacement of parts). So yeah, still a lot of room for improvement 😬
Show threadMathieu DesgroseilliersJan 18, 2023

@LucillaPiccari @gpollara

Nothing is free 😂

Maybe this could be turn in a “subscription” model with unlimited access to equipement 🤷‍♂️(even premium rate for access to statistician 😂)

This would certainly be in phase with everything else going to subscription 😂

Show threadLucilla PiccariJan 18, 2023
@matdesgro @gpollara "research blue" 😂😂😂
Why not?
Beats not having a statistician...