A e-science e as atuais práticas de pesquisa científica

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between new practices of collaborative production of scientific knowledge and the development and use of technological platforms for support to collaborative research, a movement known as e-Science. This was done considering the divergent views, perspectives and interests of actors within these practices, also considering their options of use and adherence to the e-Science platforms as well as the definitions related to the rights of access and usage of research data and results in those practices. The concept of e-Science explored here is related to a movement that requires the design of a data-intensive science and collaboration through research-based advanced computing platforms. The methodological approach involved a literature research to explore the history, concepts and examples of practices related to e-Science. As a second step, an empirical approach was developed, with the study of an e-Science experience, the case of Conseil Européen pour la Recherche Nucléaire (CERN). We interviewed a group of researchers who collaborate in CERN based projects and other research programs related to e-Science. The interviews were analyzed based to categories and key-concepts evidenced from the primary research questions and the supporting literature. One of the main results highlighted throughout the work is the perception of governance as a significant dimension in the context of e-Science. Another highlighted result is the discovery of implications regarding the conditions of research funding and forms of organization of actors and research groups to enable collaboration, as well as the discovery of data as important assets in the processes of science production and how it affects the structures assessment and measurement of outcomes in these processes. In general, it was possible to observe the convergence of the proposed objectives and covered topics and as major challenge to the work is the lack of Brazilian studies and publications on the subject. As future prospects of study, there is the potential for developing a framework for analysis and study of the governance in e-Science focusing on opening up the processes of data creation and processing, and the proposal of Brazilian scientific community initiatives aligned to these processes, guaranteeing to it a strategic position in the field of e-Science collaborations.