Biology Goes Open Source

Biology Goes Open Source
Matthew Herper and Robert Langreth
Forbes February 12, 2007

Excerpt:
Some of the world's biggest drug companies are finding that their genetic research is worth more to them if they give it away.

Novartis (nyse: NVS - news - people ), the Basel, Switzerland, drug giant, has helped uncover which of the 20,000 genes identified by the Human Genome Project are likely to be associated with diabetes. But rather than hoard this information, as drug firms have traditionally done, it is making it available for free on the World Wide Web.

"It will take the entire world to interpret these data," says Novartis research head Mark Fishman. "We figure we will benefit more by having a lot of companies look at these data than by holding it secret."

hmmm....if it'll take the entire world to interpret the data, does this sound like there could be a role here for Chemists Without Borders?

Thanks to Peter Suber of Open Access News.

This post reflects my personal opinion only and does not represent the opinions or policy of the BC Electronic Library Network or the Simon Fraser University Library.

$100 computer

Here is another approach to personal computing for those who cannot afford a PC.

ELMO

Hello from Sweden

1Posted by: "Nuria" nuria_parera@yahoo.com 1 nuria_parera 2

Sat Feb 3, 2007 4:50 am (PST)

Hej
My name is Nuria Parera Pera, I just found this group, and I think is
a really good iniciative. Im a PhD in organic Chemistry, and not long
time ago I got in contact with Mangosteen, I don't know if you know
this webpage, otherwise you should visit it:
http://www.mangosee.com/mangosteen/index.htm3
You might find a very interesting subjects there.

Best regards,

Núria

EU Petition in Support of Guaranteed Access to Published Results of Research

Please sign the Petition in Support of Guaranteed Access to Published Results of Research

This is an initiative to support a European Union policy requiring open access to the published results of research funded by any member of the EU. Organizers welcome international as well as EU signatories. So far, there are over 16,000 signatories, including European universities, research organizations, individual researchers, libraries and library associations.

Details about the initiative can be found on Peter Suber's Open Access News

The Chemists Without Borders Open Chemistry Position Statement is posted on our homepage.

This post reflects my personal opinion only and does not represent the opinions or policy of the BC Electronic Library Network or the Simon Fraser University Library.

Used equipment available

I have several older (10 years or so) probes for chemistry labs with software if anyone could use them. This is from LabWorks and may include a limited colorimeter, pH probes, temperature probe and others. I have not yet done a complete inventory. The software requires Windows 95.

Contact me directly if you are interested. Remove the $$ from the email: $$lon$gley@Uni$$ty.edu$