A Generalized and Structured Analytical Workflow for Reproducible and Openly Scientific Projects
2020-01-14
Part 1 Overview
1.1 Vision
Our dream is a future where the default for science is to be reproducible and open. We hope that one day, researchers will conduct their scientific activities following open scientific principles not as an active choice but because it is the proper and easier way of doing science.
Our focus is in three branches: software, teaching, and support networks.
- For our software, we aim to automate what we can, simplify and streamline the rest. We aspire to be similar to devtools[^devtools], which is an R software package designed to make it easier to create other R packages, for doing reproducible and open science.
- For our learning material, we aspire to be a “go to” reference for learning the exact steps and processes for doing reproducible and open science, and for knowing and staying updated on which tools and services to use.
- For our support network, we hope to link and connect with all the amazing research groups throughout the world who are working hard to practice and promote reproducible and open science. Through this connection, we hope that it will provide others with real-world examples and role models for how science should be done.
We are (mostly) biomedical researchers, so our main focus and expertise is in biomedical science.
1.2 Mission
To acheive our vision, our mission is to create a highly opinionated, practical, and process-oriented ecosystem of software tools and accompanying documentation, tutorials, and learning materials, supported by a network of practitioners (researchers), that informs on how to conduct open and reproducible science.
Our mission is divided into multiple parts based on the organizations’ branches:
- Software: We aim to create an ecosystem of interconnected packages and software tools, by either developing these tools or by linking existing ones. This ecosystem of tools aims to reduce the burden on researchers in conducting open and reproducible science through automation and programming. We hope to emulate the principles and structure of the tidyverse ecosystem, as they are a great role model for creating a functioning and solid ecosystem.
- Learning material: (still being developed.)
- Support network: (still being developed.)
In all project branches, our aim is to design the software and learning material to be comprehensive, carefully considered, and scientifically-informed by emphasizing usability and simplicity.
Our current focus is on the data analysis and publication side of scientific activities.