Dr. Rachel Ankeny (Professor,University of Adelaide; Dr. Ankeny is a historian and philosopher of biology and medicine) will give a lecture on the "Bermuda Principles of human genomics and the ideal of 'open science'."

Abstract:This paper explores the sociocultural history of the 'Bermuda principles' (drafted in their initial form in 1996-7) for scientific data sharing, considered by many to be a model of collaboration within science. The principles require researchers to post their genomic data publicly within 24 hours for unconditional use by others. The Bermuda principles are often cited as critical to the ethos of contemporary biomedical research, and many emphasize the communitarian motivations related to the desire by some researchers to foster public science as being central to their drafting. However much less attention has been paid to a variety of pragmatic considerations which underlay the drafting of the principles, including the need to develop coordination mechanisms for biomedical research which was occurring on an unprecedented global scale (perhaps the best example of 'big science'(TM) within biomedical research) as well as at a relatively rapid speed. Using historical and sociological research techniques, we explore the epistemological and pragmatic values underlying the principles as well as their effects on scientific practices particularly within large-scale genomic research.

For futher reading:

"Bermuda Rules: Community Spirit, With Teeth," by Elliot Marshall

Location:	C-102 Holmes Hall [map]
Price:	Free
Sponsor:	Lyman Briggs College
Contact:	Robert Bell bellro@msu.edu
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