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Reinventing Discovery: The New Era of Networked Science (Princeton Science Library, 91) Hardcover – October 23, 2011

by Michael Nielsen (Author)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 68 ratings
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How the internet and powerful online tools are democratizing and accelerating scientific discovery

In Reinventing Discovery, Michael Nielsen argues that we are living at the dawn of the most dramatic change in science in more than 300 years. This change is being driven by powerful new cognitive tools, enabled by the internet, which are greatly accelerating scientific discovery. There are many books about how the internet is changing business or the workplace or government. But this is the first book about something much more fundamental: how the internet is transforming the nature of our collective intelligence and how we understand the world.

Reinventing Discovery tells the exciting story of an unprecedented new era of networked science. We learn, for example, how mathematicians in the Polymath Project are spontaneously coming together to collaborate online, tackling and rapidly demolishing previously unsolved problems. We learn how 250,000 amateur astronomers are working together in a project called Galaxy Zoo to understand the large-scale structure of the Universe, and how they are making astonishing discoveries, including an entirely new kind of galaxy. These efforts are just a small part of the larger story told in this book―the story of how scientists are using the internet to dramatically expand our problem-solving ability and increase our combined brainpower.

This is a book for anyone who wants to understand how the online world is revolutionizing scientific discovery today―and why the revolution is just beginning.

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  1. Print length
    272 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Princeton University Press
  4. Publication date
    October 23, 2011
  5. Dimensions
    6.5 x 1 x 9.75 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0691148902
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0691148908
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

In Reinventing Discovery, Michael Nielsen introduces us to the new world of the modern scientist, where the Web is amplifying communication and accelerating discovery in unexpected ways, making for extraordinary problem solving. This is a unique and valuable book. -- Victoria Stodden, Columbia University

Review

"[Reinventing Discovery] opens with a fantastic account of what we can learn about the future of science from explorations such as the Polymath Project and 'the greatest chess game in history,' Kasparov vs. the World. But what really distinguishes it is its nuanced, intelligent descriptions of just how these projects work, noticing what is important about them in a way that few popular summaries do. . . . Highly recommended!"―Tim O'Reilly, Founder and CEO of O'Reilly Media

"Anyone who has followed science in recent years has noticed something odd: science is less and less about a solitary scientist working alone in a lab. Scientists are working in networks, and those networks are gaining scope, speed, and power through the internet. Nonscientists have been getting in on the act, too, folding proteins and identifying galaxies. Michael Nielsen has been watching these developments too, but he's done much more: he's provided the best synthesis I've seen of this new kind of science, and he's also thought deeply about what it means for the future of how we understand the world. Reinventing Discovery is a delightfully written, thought-provoking book."―Carl Zimmer, author of A Planet of Viruses and The Tangled Bank: An Introduction to Evolution

"This is the book on how networks will drive a revolution in scientific discovery; definitely recommended."―Tyler Cowen, author of The Great Stagnation

"Science has always been a contact sport; the interaction of many minds is the engine of the discipline. Michael Nielsen has given us an unparalleled account of how new tools for collaboration are transforming scientific practice. Reinventing Discovery doesn't just help us understand how the sciences are changing, it shows us how we can participate in the change."―Clay Shirky, author of Here Comes Everybody and Cognitive Surplus

"This wonderful book is a pleasure to read. Michael Nielsen writes in an authoritative yet clear, concise, and accessible style, making an informative and compelling case for open, networked science and how to achieve it."―William Dutton, director of the Oxford Internet Institute

"In Reinventing Discovery, Michael Nielsen introduces us to the new world of the modern scientist, where the Web is amplifying communication and accelerating discovery in unexpected ways, making for extraordinary problem solving. This is a unique and valuable book."―Victoria Stodden, Columbia University

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Princeton University Press; First Edition (October 23, 2011)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 272 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0691148902
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0691148908
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.16 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.5 x 1 x 9.75 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 68 ratings

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Michael A. Nielsen

Michael A. Nielsen

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Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
68 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the content fascinating and surprising, with solid analysis of examples of failures and successes. They also appreciate the tight narrative structure.

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ContentNarrative structure
6 customers mention "Content"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the content fascinating, interesting, and inspiring. They also say the book is a fantastic summary of the uneasy meeting of research science.

"...and the cases and critiques of on-line research coordination are quite fascinating if not rather surprising...." Read more

"Nielsen has written an important and very engaging book...." Read more

"...A tight narrative, some fascinating examples of successes where science has dipped its toe into the online collaboration world, and solid analysis..." Read more

"...All in all this is an inspiring book, and a challenge to the practice of science." Read more

3 customers mention "Narrative structure"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the narrative structure tight and heavy with intriguing vignettes, anecdotes, and exemplars.

"...He ties together well all of the stories and descriptions of the scientific process and by the end, I think he's done a great job of convincing us..." Read more

"...The book is heavy with admittedly intriguing vignettes, anecdotes, and exemplars, but quite lacking in programmatic or technological specifics...." Read more

"...A tight narrative, some fascinating examples of successes where science has dipped its toe into the online collaboration world, and solid analysis..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

Steven J. Koch
5.0 out of 5 stars A fascinating read and great introduction to the untapped power of open science
Reviewed in the United States on October 28, 2011
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I read Nielsen's new book cover to cover on my flights to / from an Open Access Week event in Tucson this week and I give it my strongest recommendation for a pleasurable read about a crucial topic. I am a scientist and my students and I practice open science as much as possible--open notebook science, open protocols, open data, open proposals, etc. I have also seen the author, Michael Nielsen speak a couple times, and I have read many of his blog posts. So, before reading this book I didn't necessarily expect to learn much or certainly to be further convinced of the possibility of transforming science in this new era. From the moment I started reading, though, I was captivated. Many of the stories were not new to me (such as Galaxy Zoo or the polymath project), but I hadn't heard them in such detail before and I enjoyed learning a lot more about those successful crowd- or citizen-science projects. There were also many success and failure stories in open or collaborative science that I hadn't known about, such as the Microsoft-sponsored "Kasparov versus the world" chess event, or the research into how small groups can make bad decisions if the collaborative conditions aren't set up correctly. I learned a lot from these new stories, and remained captivated throughout.

In any of the topics that I am deeply familiar with, such as the current reward system for academic scientists (peer-reviewed publications are gold), I can say that Nielsen is spot-on and insightful. He ties together well all of the stories and descriptions of the scientific process and by the end, I think he's done a great job of convincing us all of his main point: We have a tremendous opportunity to transform and multiply the power of scientific research in the coming decades. But it won't happen automatically and there are some attitudes and policies that need to be changed to ensure we achieve this revolution. Nielsen gives concrete specific solutions to the barriers to the revolution. Furthermore, he gives advice to all of us as to what we can do as individuals to promote a change in science. My students and I in our teaching and research labs have taken the leap towards open science, and it has been tremendously rewarding. So I encourage you to read this book and to take your own small steps towards transforming science, whether you're a scientist, a fan of science, or an interested supporter of science (taxpayer!).

I rate this book 5 stars. Incidentally, I almost rated it with 4 stars because I was so frustrated at the black and white photos that I desperately wanted to see in color when I was on the plane! I realize this is a cost issue, but DARN! I was able to cancel this negative factor by adding in a bonus star for a truly excellent job Nielsen does with sourcing his information. He does such a good job that you can even read the "notes" section and understand what he's talking about and learn further information beyond the text. Kudos to Nielsen for an excellent book!
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Dennis B. Mulcare
4.0 out of 5 stars From Intriguing Reportage/Analysis to Sentimental Exhortation
Reviewed in the United States on March 30, 2014
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Overall, the book is quite interesting and the writing is exceptionally good. It is a provocative, informative, and worthwhile selection for general readership. More specifically, the book starts out strong, but then gets somewhat wearisome due to lack of depth and closure. PART 1 of this book is entitled “Amplifying Collective Intelligence”, and the cases and critiques of on-line research coordination are quite fascinating if not rather surprising. Moreover, the author’s analysis of the collaboration phenomena is impressive and convincing. PART 2, “Networked Science”, however, takes an unexpected trajectory. It really doesn’t describe networked science in much detail or focus beyond disparate problems and anecdotes. Especially in view of the strong first part, I was expecting a rather more definitive characterization or encompassing vision of networked science per se, as for example a coherent projection of the touted “new paradigm” of research.

In PART 1, the rather familiar concept of collective intelligence is rendered quite tangible and concrete. Through a variety of exemplars, many non-professional persons are shown to successfully perform substantive scientific work. Vital features of collaborative practice are described, the most impactful of which is that of “shared praxis”. It is noted to be the fundamental requirement for collective intelligence – basically having all collaborators working together toward a common goal via shared groundrules and methods. Furthermore, shared praxis is noted to have prevailed among professional mathematicians in working so well together in the Polymath Project.

Other operative factors in achieving collective intelligence include mutual access to relevant data in a tractable form, along with shared analysis tools that are suitable for assessing such data. A coordinative on-line site then manages the reconciliation and compilation of incremental work submissions from various participants. These work contributions are integrated into the evolving research baseline according to predefined progress criteria. To ensure that all participants are proceeding with the latest information, the on-line site continually reports the project status and baseline configuration. Accordingly, a single on-line environment for a given project is the hub that logs, synchronizes, and facilitates cooperative work among multiple remote participants. As recounted in Part 1, significant non-trivial research has been accomplished through such on-line cooperative efforts in a variety of domains, largely on ad hoc bases.

Apparently, such demonstrated capabilities and successful projects provided the motivation for the aspiration of extending or adapting comparable on-line facilities for scientific research in general. Regrettably, PART 2 of the book does not make a very strong case for pursuing such an agenda, nor does it even enunciate such an agenda explicitly. In particular, there is a lack of an integrated concept of networked science, say a strawman architecture, one that establishes a shareable tangible vision or an enabling framework. Furthermore, this part lacks: justification of the implicit vision; substance and depth regarding the means of practical realization; and a clear focal message. It would seem that the author considered the particular success stories of the first part to serve as justification and the model for the general extrapolation pursued in the second part. In any case, the ostensive aspirations of the latter part require appreciably more in the way of specificity, rationale, and justification.

Ultimately, the rather sketchy warrant advanced for scientific information and publication sharing seems to be largely sentimental and unduly idealistic. The book is heavy with admittedly intriguing vignettes, anecdotes, and exemplars, but quite lacking in programmatic or technological specifics. The last chapter is entitled “The Open Science Imperative”, but it does not exhibit a forceful sense of discursive convergence or thematic closure. What constitutes the imperative is essentially each reader’s own subjective construal of a largely insinuated realm of universal networked science. Its nature, pursuit, and value are barely examined directly in the book.

In all, this is a well-written book, but one that ideationally is weakly formed. Disappointingly, it does not cohere a substantive message, albeit it describes some appealing and proven concepts (architecture of attention/shared praxis/common tools). In short, the message stops short of a well-formed characterization of networked science that would enable the public scrutiny and deliberative refinement of the author’s intent. Accordingly, he needs to articulate an explicit if merely notional architecture for networked science, together with a outline plan for its realization. Only then need he critique its pending problems and potential benefits. Nevertheless, his still vague proposal clearly appears to hold promise, and his bringing the matter into broader consideration is itself a valuable contribution. In any case, networked science would seem to be an increasingly practical reality, even if it is evolving on a largely unorchestrated basis. Maybe that is the best of all courses anyway, as perhaps supported by ad hoc working groups to resolve logistical and interoperability issues.
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Nick Drengenberg
5.0 out of 5 stars Important, lucid and entertaining
Reviewed in the United States on April 24, 2013
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Nielsen has written an important and very engaging book. I remember Bruno Latour saying quite a few years ago now that science was shifting away from a model of operation that sometimes (simplistically) gets called 'the scientific method' towards a model of research. Where society increasingly doesn't just act as the recipient of scientific work, but is involved right from the earliest stages, helping to determine what scientific work gets done, and how it gets done. A concrete realisation of the understanding of science that Latour has been describing so beautifully for decades. Nielsen charts this shift from the inside, in fascinating detail.

The zeitgeist is increasingly about collective phenomena - wisdom of crowds, open organisations, etc. Nielsen's book shows how science itself is being changed by these ideas. Highly recommended.
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Mathlete
5.0 out of 5 stars Crucial knowledge for the science world
Reviewed in the United States on February 20, 2013
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This book is a fantastic summary of the uneasy meeting of research science and recent trends in online collaboration technology. A tight narrative, some fascinating examples of successes where science has dipped its toe into the online collaboration world, and solid analysis of the examples of failures. Hopefully the hypothetical scenarios he describes will come to pass, and we'll all be better for it, but first more people need to hear what he's saying about the cultural roadblocks that still need to be overcome.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars A New View of Science
Reviewed in the United States on February 23, 2015
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This is an aspirational view of how science can move forward in an era of "big data". Of course, the challenge is the tension between two human traits: the drive to compete and the need to collaborate. The author provides several examples of how networking can create new discoveries. All in all this is an inspiring book, and a challenge to the practice of science.
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Dr. Mandaar Pande
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book
Reviewed in India on April 25, 2018
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Excellent book which brings out the impact of the internet on the next generation of scientific collaboration. Should be read by all scientists across disciplines.
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Shirlei
5.0 out of 5 stars Interessante
Reviewed in Brazil on March 5, 2015
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Muito bom o livro. O autor explica como as ações mudam um cenário e o resultado é surpreendente. Adoro ser surpreendida por coisas boas.
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Carlos Vazquez Quintana
3.0 out of 5 stars reiterante
Reviewed in Spain on January 3, 2016
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Este libro propone algo que al principio entretiene, y además es importante: se puede sustituir a los genios o talentos individuales, sobre todo en ciencia, pero también en juegos como el ajedrez, por la colaboración vía telemática de mucha gente que no tiene nada de genial, incluso mediocre, siguiendo el precepto de que "cuatro ojos ven más que dos". Parece que el autor tiene experiencia en este importante campo y es un entusiasta. El problema es que pese a ese entusiasmo, no se oculta que toda esa colaboración, en general no ha ganado a los grandes expertos profesionales, individuales. Kasparov, campeón del mundo en 1999, venció al grupo formado por miles de usuarios en ajedrez. Otros, en Física, han aportado hallazgos importantes, porque en Astronomía ningún observador individual puede ver tanto como muchas personas juntas. Sin embargo queda ese lastre de una cierta impresión de mediocridad y de dudas acerca del valor real de estos métodos, que parece sirven para algunas materias más que para otras. El autor se entusiasma con algo que al lector no le suena que sea para tanto. Aun no.
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DC
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant book - ever world leader should read and get people working on it
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 5, 2013
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Brilliant book - ever world leader should read and get people working on it.

The top ***** reviews are spot on about how good it is.
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Mercier
5.0 out of 5 stars Très bon livre
Reviewed in France on May 16, 2013
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Un bon livre sur un des fonctionnements de la recherche, clair et facile à lire, je le conseille - -
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