Molecular Biology and Internet

Virtual Communities

Modes of electronic communication:

• Asynchronous (e-mail, Usenet, WWW)

• Synchronous (teleconferences, MOOs)

Computer-mediated communication (CMC) in science:

• Elaborate discussions

• Interdisciplinary environment

• Equalized status of participants

• Absence of power relations

Mailing lists

Controlled communication environment and conflict of interests:

• open vs closed

• moderated vs nonmoderated

• 'purely research' vs 'research and education'

Resourses

BioMOO, the biologists' virtual meeting place
BioMOO is a virtual meeting place for biologists, connected to the Globewide Network Academy. The main physical part of the BioMOO is located at the BioInformatics Unit of the Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel. BioMOO is a professional community of Biology researchers. It is a place to come meet colleagues in Biology studies and related fields and brainstorm, to hold colloquia and conferences, to explore the serious side of this new medium.

BIOSCI
BIOSCI is a series of freely accessible electronic communication forums intended to promote communication between professionals in the biological sciences.