Collecting Experiments: Making Big Data Biology

Databases have revolutionized our lives, collecting information on a massive scale. This has led to a reassessment of knowledge, how it is produced, who it belongs to, and who can be credited for it. Collecting Experiments traces the development and use of data collections in the experimental life sciences, showing that the current revolution is best understood as the coming together of two older ways of knowing: collecting and experimenting. Databases function as digital museums for the twenty-first century, serving as knowledge repositories and indispensable tools for producing new knowledge.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 392 pages
Publication date: 17 June 2019
Publisher: The University of Chicago Press

Databases have undergone a remarkable transformation, revolutionizing nearly every aspect of our lives. The sheer volume of information being collected on a massive scale is staggering, spanning from giants like Google and Facebook to numerous other platforms. However, with the exponential growth of database content, we are compelled to reevaluate our understanding of knowledge, its production, ownership, and attribution.

In the realm of scientific research, databases have become an indispensable tool for generating scientific knowledge. They have surpassed the usage of microscopes, voltmeters, and test tubes in popularity, and the vast amount of data available has necessitated significant changes in research practices. It has sparked profound reflections on the appropriate roles of data producers, collectors, curators, and analysts within the scientific community.

Collecting Experiments, a comprehensive book, delves into the historical development and widespread use of data collections, particularly in the experimental life sciences, from the early twentieth century to the present. It reveals that the current revolution can be best understood as the convergence of two older ways of knowing: collecting and experimenting, as well as the museum and the laboratory.

Bruno J. Strasser, the author, argues that databases serve as both knowledge repositories and vital instruments for generating new knowledge. They function as digital museums of the twenty-first century, preserving and disseminating information for future generations.

In conclusion, databases have transformed the way we access and utilize information, reshaping our understanding of knowledge, its production, and its dissemination. As the amount of data continues to grow, we must remain vigilant in assessing the ethical implications and ensuring that the proper roles and responsibilities of data producers, collectors, curators, and analysts are upheld. By leveraging the power of databases as knowledge repositories and tools for innovation, we can unlock new insights and drive progress in various fields.

Weight: 624g
Dimension: 154 x 228 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780226635040