Dear All SysBio's: I'm agreeing with Mark's comments with all my heart and mind; me too wants this group to succeed, so as Mark put it so pointedly,
>"what can WE (1), (2), (3) do to make these calls as useful to you as they will be to us?" I understand that you're probably >already talking to each other, since this field is your "baby", and thus these calls have the potential to offer you little >benefit beyond your existing email (etc.) chats! ...So... what can we do, as the broader-community, to provide >value/feedback/etc. that would ensure we all - experts and noobs alike - get something useful out of this group and enjoy and >value the hour that we spend together every couple of weeks? let's set the focus on common expectations for this group! Erich -----Original Message----- From: Mark [mailto:ma...@illuminae.com] Sent: Thursday, May 24, 2012 8:18 AM To: public-semweb-lifesci@w3.org; Jun Zhao Subject: Re: Reminder: SysBio Wednesday 11AM ET / 4PM GMT / 5PM CET Hi all SysBio'ers! I know it isn't really my place to be saying anything, but... when has that ever stopped me ;-) The last conference call was... odd?... and while Jun's extraordinary efforts to keep it moving forward were greatly appreciated (!! well done !!) I think it might be worth having a very open discussion about what our expectations are from this group, since it was a fairly small group and apparently with a wide range of experience and expertise. From what I could hear, there were four "tiers" of expertise in the group. Starting from the bottom: 1) People like me, who know nothing at all beyond that the SysBio/Modeling community have worked hard on putting together standards and technologies that are bearing fruit; and that I (as a mere potential user of the tech) need to become MUCH more aware of what they're doing in order to successfully pursue my own research interests. So... I'm the ultimate lurker on the call. 2) People like Erich, who know *a lot* about what's going on in the field (because this is their company's business!) but, as a vendor, isn't going to be the first one to speak in a call like this because it might come-off sounding like a sales-pitch. He's likely interested in both how the technology is evolving (to ensure their products stay current) as well as listening to the needs of the community (so that their products stay relevant), but I don't expect him to lead the discussion if for no other reason than he's simply too polite to "take-over" :-) 3) People like Jun, who has put in a lot of time learning what's out there, has a deep and genuine interest, and wants to discuss the pro's and con's of the various pieces at some level of detail with people who have at least tried to use it. (...but there weren't many! ...so she was speaking to herself most of the time...) 4) The full experts in the domain, most of whom were not able to make the call, unfortunately. And I don't say that in any way as an accusation, but rather, looking forward, I see a potential "boredom problem", which is what I think needs to be discussed. At least one of the domain experts who did attend, left the call mid-chat on the basis that it was "too simplistic" (exact quote from IRC)... so if we don't find a way to engage you, the experts, we might be in for some disappointing meetings! What I'd like to ask the SysBio community - especially category (4), since it seems to me that they are the critical ones to have on these calls, is: "what can WE (1), (2), (3) do to make these calls as useful to you as they will be to us?" I understand that you're probably already talking to each other, since this field is your "baby", and thus these calls have the potential to offer you little benefit beyond your existing email (etc.) chats! ...So... what can we do, as the broader-community, to provide value/feedback/etc. that would ensure we all - experts and noobs alike - get something useful out of this group and enjoy and value the hour that we spend together every couple of weeks? If I'm speaking out-of-turn, please flame me :-) I can take it! LOL! I just want to see this group succeed, and I am willing to stick my neck out to see if I can help! :-)===={ ^^^ my neck Best wishes all! Mark
