e-research: scope and implications

the Virtual knowledge studios is AWESOME, and Paul Wouters was really amazing to hear from - he talked to us about how e-search is working at the moment and various approaches social scientists have in viewing technology....covering things like how we are currently swimming in data and have less of a need for models. Also the shift from a scientific method sort of approach, and five areas of research that are emerging at VKS:

• from data scarcity to data flooding: new methods in data analysis
• computational modeling: for those who hate math/science, new solutions for this
• visual culture: "Can you see what I know?"
• telling stories in new media: new formats of communication, publication, and representation
• social neuroscience: pairing brain study with social dimension/behaviors

OMG. Such good stuff to think about. And then he even ate lunch with us and shared more of what he's working on.

I really think great people are those who are welcoming and listeners and want to be fully alive, and Paul Wouters is definitely one of those.

And also, he mentioned at the end that there were more women working at VKS than men, and not to believe anybody who told us that you have to lower quality of work to fill certain spots, because it's not true. And this made me like him more, of course.