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Mahboob Imtiyaz

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A Journal (Journal of Errology) that creates a repository where researchers share their experiences, learned mostly via mistakes

The reasons I am keen about such a Journal are:

* Utilizing human ability to share experiences
* Reducing wastage of time, resources and effort
* Minimizing the learning curve involved and avoiding innovation stagnation

The average at which researchers make any significant contributions to science is fast increasing. This is apparent from the average age increase of Nobel prize winners since the past 5 decades.

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Topics: mistakes
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    Ivana Gadjanski 500+

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    TED FellowTED TranslatorTEDx Organizer
    Jan 10 2012: Journal of Errology is a really great idea. Undoubtedly, it would have one of the highest impact factors ever, since everybody makes mistakes. But, I am not so sure how willing people would be to report their own mistakes...it's a matter of ego and vanity, unfortunately very ubiquitous in the competitive field of science...or any other field, for that matter. However, I strongly support this idea. It was always my belief that by reporting only positive results we lose a significant amount of data. Negative result, as well as a mistake, but the mistake which has been analyzed and accounted for, that we know what to attribute to, that can give a lot of very valuable information. But I keep wondering what the reviewers in that Journal would ask for the revisions:))) To repeat the same mistake? :D....on that topic: http://www.ted.com/conversations/6727/mistakes_are_necessary_aren_t.html

    • Mahboob Imtiyaz

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      Jan 10 2012: A really important point raised by Ms. Ivana, about scientists not able to share their mistakes and stumbles, only because of their ego and vanity. This is something that we are dealing with a lot right now, with researchers asking us if they can anonymously submit their mistakes.

      I would like to point out Edison's quote here "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." this is the kind of attitude that researchers need to garner.

      Our biggest challenges will be to get researchers to overcome their ego and share their mistakes.

      Thank you again Ivana.

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