文化の違いのせいで、インターネット上での日本人研究者の認知度が低くなっている Cultural differences reduce Japanese researchers' visibility on the Web Masao Ito and Torsten Wiesel doi:10.1038/ndigest.2007.070107 Original source: Nature 817-817 (2006); doi:10.1038/444817a
As scientists, we are keenly aware that the world is developing into a single 'laboratory without walls', in which information passes as easily to the other side of the world as to the person working in a neighbouring institute. Although some people may be uneasy with this, to the brightest minds it is an enormous opportunity for progress, particularly in fundamental research. Yet information-sharing is not necessarily symmetrical, and depends on the tools that each contributor has available.
Our experience in managing the international research projects sponsored by the Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP) illustrates the problem.
This organization ― of which we are president (M. I.) and secretary general (T. W.) ― was established more than 15 years ago by Japan as an international programme for research into fundamental life processes. The HFSP secretariat, which is based in Strasbourg, selects postdoctoral fellows and research projects via international review committees.
Publication databases and powerful search engines allow the secretariat to update information regularly and to find it readily. However, it has become obvious that not all institutes and countries are on an equal footing in this respect (see http://www.hfsp.org/pubs/HFSP_articles/websites-scol.php).
In the case of Japan, it has become apparent that many scientists suffer from a lack of international visibility, in that they are very difficult to find by search engines and indeed in publication databases.
As a consequence, Japanese scientists are less likely to be invited to participate in collaborative projects or to become reviewers, which deprives them of a full international experience. Three main issues need to be addressed.
First, internationally comprehensible web pages must be constructed, to make a scientist's research interests, research group and publications immediately clear to anyone who visits the site. Many traditional Japanese-language scientists' websites start with a description of their philosophy and artistic interests, which in Japan are recognized as important in a potential mentor. Although this is culturally appropriate for Japanese students and postdocs, its relevance is, unfortunately, lost on the international visitor, who is accustomed to the succinct presentations typical of Western research institutes and universities. One simple remedy would be for Japanese researchers to have a Western-style page within their website, easily accessible and clearly signposted, in English, on the homepage.
Second, many academic institutions have websites based on their curricula, which are appropriate for Japanese students, but are of limited interest for international visitors. It is important that the homepage of such institutional websites provides a clear option headed 'research', in the English language, that leads to a page summarizing the research in a style that is familiar to international visitors.
Third, in many regions of the world, numerous scientists have similar or identical family names and initials, making literature searches in PubMed very difficult or impossible. This is certainly an issue in some Asian countries, including Japan. Some concerted effort is necessary to resolve this problem ― perhaps by the addition of laboratory codes, or a 'zip code' for the initials of individual scientists ― to allow these scientists to compete fairly on the international level.
All of these are pressing issues in global science communication. Frontier-level international research is becoming concentrated in those institutions and laboratories that have the maximum visibility on the World Wide Web.
Nature 445, 256 (18 January 2007) | doi:10.1038/445256d; Published online 17 January 2007
Need to speak English puts burden on Asian scientists
Ian Smith1
Shikanodai-Nishi 3-6-10, Ikoma, Nara 630-0114, Japan
Sir:
Masao Ito and Torsten Wiesel point out in Correspondence that factors such as non-standard design or a lack of English on homepages make it harder for the Human Frontier Science Program to identify potential project collaborators or reviewers ("Cultural differences reduce Japanese researchers' visibility on the Web" Nature 444, 817, 2006). However, it is surely not the case that only those whose details are easily found through Web-based searching will be able to compete effectively. Inhomogeneities in the ability of scientists and institutions to perform internationally competitive research have been with us for many decades, and I doubt whether use of the Web has perturbed this pattern to any substantial extent.
I would also dispute Ito and Wiesel's contention that perfecting English-language homepages is a 'simple remedy'. Having to communicate in English to survive, let alone flourish, in the international scientific arena places enormous additional burdens on scientists throughout Asia. Working in a young science-based university in Japan, I see these obstacles being confronted every day. Reading the literature, writing manuscripts, giving oral presentations at conferences ― all of these are difficult enough for native speakers of English, but they are fearsome tasks for Asian scientists. In my experience, most English-speaking scientists are blissfully unaware of their magnitude.
The brightest minds in Asian science, adept not only as scientists but also as linguists, will easily possess the wherewithal to create homepages that do them justice. It is with their equally scientifically gifted but less linguistically capable colleagues that we should be concerned.