Kudos for clever science and inventing valuable technique to answer important biological questions. Unkudos for minimizing impact by keeping other scientists from duplicating, improving, and simplifying the methods. - Steve Koch

It occurred to me at the time, that this was the opposite attitude of Bjorn, who is so frustrated that his instrument is overly complicated and not available to other researchers around the world. http://friendfeed.com/the-lif... - Steve Koch

Of course, I do realize that this is why the speaker enjoys a lot of federal funding for his research. And this is why he was giving me that advice. And it's true. Too bad. - Steve Koch

If no one can replicate it, I am not sure I trust it... - Bill Hooker

I haven't bothered to read anything, but based on interaction, I'd guess that I'd trust the research. And I'd guess (just a guess) that they publish enough of the methods to make it reproducible. It's just the attitude that's disappointing, that you haven't "arrived" as a scientist in the US until you've built up enough "secret sauce" that you can keep the grants coming in without too much worry. But practically, of course, he is exactly right. And it does seem scientists should do their best to employ their unique talents in order to provide new information. It just sucks balls that it's fiscally irresponsible to make sure the rest of the world can try to do the work better than you. I have no problem with businesspeeps doing that. But it's obviously perverse that it's the same for publicly-funded scientists. Yes, I know I'm not saying anything new, just venting and hoping Bill will reply with some f-bombs. - Steve Koch

It's a damn shame that the incentives are set up this way, but you can do open science too. Some people just have a competitive streak and look for an advantage however they can get it. - Mr. Gunn

@MRGunn hello? F-bomb please? :) No, you're right though, most definitely can do open science and there are superstars that are good at it. - Steve Koch

I'd say some techniques just are difficult. I know how some techniques work and the methods are impeccable, but I just never would want to do them. I suppose this would still be similar if my machine weren't so damn complicated: my dream is to get a run of 50 or so machines produced, which would probably saturate the market for 40 years :-) - Björn Brembs